Joan Jett & the Blackhearts covered a song by the first westerner to achieve pop start status in Japan.  When was that song first recorded?
Alan Merrill Alan Merrill (born Allan Preston Sachs; February 19, 1951) is an American vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, actor and model. In the early 1970s Merrill was the first westerner to achieve pop star status in Japan. He is the lead singer of the first ever released version and co-author of the song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by the Arrows in 1975.
Departures (Globe song) "Departures" (styled "DEPARTURES") is a single by Japanese pop band Globe. It was released on January 1, 1996. It was number-one on the "Oricon" Weekly Singles Chart. It was the second best-selling single in Japan in 1996, with 2.271 million copies sold and it is the 15th best-selling physical single in Japan, having sold a total of 2.288 million copies.