Japanese Bands

[EpsilonX]

So, the "Awesome australian bands" topic inspired me to do this. I've always liked japan and j rock, but it wasn't until the beginning of this summer that I started to actually go out and try to find japanese bands. Anyways, here are some bands I know of from Japan, and what I think of them.

I'll start things off with one of the most influential acts to ever come out of Japan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39gRzFE_8nQ

Here's another rather popular band from japan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7IXmV6A6Bk

These guys are basically the Misfits of japan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6CFL2hcSzM&feature=related

I love j pop and japanese girls:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edyARJq9sgM

my computer wallpaper is a picture of those girls. Anyways, I guess this could be considered japanese ska, but i'm not quite sure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H0Z70FmX8E

Everyone knows this song as the opening of Full Metal Alchemist, but I like it because it's a great song, not just cuz its the FMA opening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HImiohyVYw

Getting a bit heavier:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZHIE7LvLK8

And heavier:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vkm2nMM3-Q&feature=related

Of course, the japanese would be the ones to properly combine metal and techno/trance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oi-8xl7uZs

some more j rock/visual kei stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQoyN5HRU8A

And what is probably my favorite song by a japanese band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOBKU5wVEgo

Anybody have any other sweet Japanese bands they want to share?

[Psychotray]

Nice bands man, have you listened to Maximum The Hormone?

[EpsilonX]

i've heard of them but never listened.

[Psychotray]

i've heard of them but never listened.

Check them out, they're good. If your a fan of Nu Metal.

[EpsilonX]

Not so much a fan of Nu metal, but you should listen to this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOTjqi5ZjGU

and this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9WWL5kDhwo

[Synge]

Haven't listed to them all, but I'm not really feelin most of what I've heard so far.

I like these guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5eMUCSZCjc

[EpsilonX]

Listen to Crossfaith, Coldrain, and Blood Stain Child. They may be more your thing compared to the VK bands.

[foof]

Marty Friedman counts as a Japanese artist.

[EpsilonX]

Maybe his newer stuff, cuz he does like j rock now, but when I think Marty I think 2 things. 1. Megadeth 2. his solo albums Dragons Kiss and Scenes, which were both made in america.

[foof]

He has been touring in primarily Japan ever since he was in his first big band, Cacophony. He's pretty much Japanese now.

Japanese culture as a whole love that type of guitar. Very technical.

[Psychotray]

Haven't listed to them all, but I'm not really feelin most of what I've heard so far.

I like these guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5eMUCSZCjc

The lead singers clean voice is awesome, he doesn't sound Japanese, strange, he sounds more American than anything.

[Muffincat]

I've been listening to mostly Japanese music since middle school...so...

Dir en grey has already been mentioned, who are one of my absolute favorite bands <3

We can start with one of the most famous pop/rock stars in Japan, Gackt (with his possibly most famous song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-OrqyUgelU

Another Gackt song, more reminiscent of his Malice Mizer days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlpM15ByRR4&feature=related

For reference, some Malice Mizer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOBeRv5-vM&feature=related

Here are a few songs by another one of my favorite bands, MUCC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKVjyHdHVWU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWL1s4H8mjo&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWWaNFeXjB8

Another good band, D'espairsRay (and great live):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuFXLwXXrl8

Korean/Japanese pop/R&B singer, BoA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRT7ZSm09uQ

Can't talk about Japanese music without mentioning possibly the most famous pop singer ever there, Ayumi Hamasaki:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AF8AFhvwjQ

Another famous pop singer, Utada Hikaru (you know her from "Simple and Clean" from Kingdom Hearts):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqPXNz_h8J4
(absolutely beautiful song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1ecQqYbNas
(I love this one)

This is the only song I have heard by this band (Cynical Biscuit), but I love it and their name:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ismAh_LC6Ys

Another one of my favorites, Miyavi (quirky and <3):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Vq1svWg6E&feature=fvst
(the intro of this song is awesome and you should all watch it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-qqyg06FOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Zt2-jTAXQ
(this video is hilarious because of that moustache)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AUyw33mc78

(<3)

You already mentioned X Japan, but I'll show another great band (that Dir en grey took a lot of inspiration from - the vocalist was a roadie for them)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXM--eMU0F4&feature=fvst

The singer from Kuroyume, Kiyoharu, went solo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuxSzqLmioA

He also has another band, SADS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pisr1S_cXQ4

A Japanese ska band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHic7cq9Mgw

There's a singer names Tomoko Kawase, who has a few projects... Tommy heavenly6:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsYUpMDKH5o

and Tommy february6:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azd-bMIaDFo

She is also the singer for The Brilliant Green:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9138l1zOOZE

Similar to Gackt, Hideto Takerai (Hyde) is a really good singer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w1FD10KKU8&playnext=1&list=PL3F982869A1CD72F0

Hyde and Gackt were in a movie together (Moon Child; it's about vampires) and they sang this song together:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwrqzAF-zGU

One of the most respected old musicians (he died - he was the guitarist for X Japan) in the scene, hide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EItnwC_DDrc

He also made a band called Zilch before he died:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-4EzKLpJT0

I think I'll stop for now... I can keep going forever. The majority of the music I listen to is Japanese.

[EpsilonX]

I was hopin you'd jump in and help lol. I coulda mentioned gackt but I don't know anything by him and i'm not gonna post about somebody i know nothin about yknow

D'espairsRay broke up, did you hear? My one friend was really sad.



He has been touring in primarily Japan ever since he was in his first big band, Cacophony. He's pretty much Japanese now.

Japanese culture as a whole love that type of guitar. Very technical.

I realise this, but he's still not something I go to when I want Japanese music. He does use a lot of foreign scales, though, so it's close. But this is about actual japanese artists, not people who moved to japan

[Muffincat]

I was hopin you'd jump in and help lol. I coulda mentioned gackt but I don't know anything by him and i'm not gonna post about somebody i know nothin about yknow

D'espairsRay broke up, did you hear? My one friend was really sad.



Haha, yeah. I've got some more I could put up but I am too lazy right now. I will another time, though :P

No I didn't hear that D: I haven't been reading up much lately. That is so sad! I'm glad I got the opportunity to see them live before that :(

[BitterKingSkyler]

I don't listen to Japanese bands too often, but some of these actually sounded pretty cool.

[Metallica1983]

nice list I've been obsessed with Japanese culture since I was a child mostly because of anime and manga I had been trying for a while to find some good J Rock thanks for the info

[EpsilonX]

nice list I've been obsessed with Japanese culture since I was a child mostly because of anime and manga I had been trying for a while to find some good J Rock thanks for the info

yea, same here. I've always liked anime/manga, jrpgs, jrock, japanese girls, styles popular in japan (like clothing and hair) the way the language sounds, its just a fascinating country.

[Muffincat]

Some more... can't believe I missed these in my first post @_@ I love all these bands too... Went through my music list pulling out some more bands I forgot.



Abingdon Boys School:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=647Lr9agHyI

Acid Black Cherry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEY0WClTKL0

(song starts at like ~1:18)

Asian Kung Fu Generation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upeWJSxrEEw

B'z (SUPER influential old band)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygZ6CAsX3FA

BUCK-TICK (HOW DID I FORGET THESE GUYS WTF)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHkclCo8L2U

cali≠gari

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypxrs1N97xc

Clazziquai (these guys are Korean, but I think they deserve some exposure here. They are a fun pop/groove/electronica band and they sing beautifully <3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbQ0STtQoOY

D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlf8CfUSQWk

(god I love this song)

D'erlanger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjtAeLA9-xo

GLAY (I don't know how I forgot them, either o_o They are super popular)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9HbtgwUSq0

Janne Da Arc (I couldn't find the song I wanted on youtube...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naMQ4y12Tn4

Lareine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjUrQ9PZe24

Luna Sea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6QpDsXeE_I

The Pillows (I don't know how I forgot them, either o_o Very popular. Did the music for FLCL)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r1VlZzVlI0

Plastic Tree

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2yB-gPAyb0

Shiina Ringo (You will probably hate her xD Her voice is.... yeah)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KghkO5nYG0

T.M. Revolution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eglOHNFUDZs

okay... I'll...stop again...now XD

[Synge]

The lead singers clean voice is awesome, he doesn't sound Japanese, strange, he sounds more American than anything.

Yeah, all the Japanese bands I actually like are ones you can't tell are Japanese :P

[EpsilonX]

Yeah, all the Japanese bands I actually like are ones you can't tell are Japanese :P

I started looking up japanese bands cuz I wanted bands that sounded japanese, and so my friend showed me crossfaith, blood stain child, coldrain, and some other metal bands that sounded completely american. and i'm like i dont wanna listen to that i want bands that sound japanese. And then i started listening to em my friend is like SEE YOU DIDNT LIKE IT BUT NOW YOU DO and is going on and on and on and i'm like "i wanted japanese bands that sounded japanese not japanese bands that sound american...thats why i didnt wanna listen to it"