[ NIHON BUNKA KENKYUU ] BUNKEN 101: Reviews, comments, and insights on Japanese pop culture.
J-rock – as the genre is known outside of Japan, is one of the fastest growing subcultures on the international music scene. From Boston to Bangkok, from Moscow to Manila, music fans are getting hooked on its distinctive sound and cutting-edge imagery.
Contemporary J-rock has its roots in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the Visual-kei movement swept through the Japanese music industry. Visual-kei translates literally to “visual-mode” or “visual-type”, and is a style of Japanese rock that equally emphasizes image and music. Taking its cues from the Punk and Glam Rock scene of 1980s London, Visual-kei artists began donning make-up and ladies wear to distance themselves from their pop-rock contemporaries. They also developed a heavy, driven sound that had a dash of goth, a bit of progressive, a heavy undertone of metal, and was liberally sprinkled with glam.
While VK influences can still be seen here and there, J-rock has evolved beyond the trappings of the Visual-kei movement; J-rock can be likened to a savvier, worldlier older brother, as opposed to VK’s rebellious and somewhat idealistic younger brother. Contemporary J-rock bands now prefer a more casual look, their music feels more radio-friendly, and the scene now appears more mainstream that it was years ago. However, this is not to say that the genre has gone stale or soft; on the contrary, there is more recognition for J-rock in the international music community today, and more fans are flocking to scene than ever before.
Before diving headfirst into the heady brew of music and mayhem, pick up some essential knowledge on the bands that defined the genre. Grab your headphones, your eyeliner, and your platform boots – and get acquainted with five of the biggest and most influential bands on the scene.
X JAPAN
V: Toshi
G: hide
G: Pata
B: Heath
D: Yoshiki
Founded in 1982 in Tokyo and then known simply as “X”, the band is responsible for single-handedly establishing the entire VK (and subsequently J-rock) genre. After creating their own label Extasy Records and releasing their fist album “Vanishing Vision” (1988), they signed up for a stint with major recording firm Sony Records, where they released their smash albums “Blue Blood” (1989) and “Jealousy” (1991).
After a line-up change and signing up with their new label Atlantic Records, the band was renamed “X JAPAN” to distinguish them from an American punk band also called “X”. Their last two records “Art of Life” (1993) and “Dahlia” (1996) were released under their new label. The group had officially disbanded in 1997 and played their final live at Tokyo Dome, and all plans to re-group came to a screeching halt with the death of hide in May of 1998.
Currently, only Yoshiki is still active in the music industry, working as a producer as well as collaborating with other famous musicians in a number of side projects.
Recommendations: “Art of Life” is not just a fan favorite but is also by far the most influential X JAPAN studio album released; grab a copy and you won’t be disappointed. If live compilations are more your thing “The Last Live” – a recording of their final concert released in May 2001, is a sure winner. And just to drive the last two points home, watch the “The Last Live Video” (2002) and “Art of Life: 1993.12.31 Tokyo Dome” (2003) on DVD, and experience X JAPAN at their best.
LUNA SEA
V: Ryuichi
G: Sugizo
G: Inoran
B: J
D: Shinya
LUNA SEA was founded in Kanagawa in 1989 by high school buddies J and INORAN, and were signed on by X JAPAN drummer Yoshiki’s label Extasy Records after their guitarist hide heard the band perform. They released their first album “LUNA SEA” in 1991, and were subsequently snapped up by Universal Records. Under their new label, the band released their next four best-selling studio albums “Image” (1992), “Eden” (1993), “Mother” (1994), and “Style” (1996).
After touring nonstop and releasing five albums in the space of six years, the band decided to call it quits in 1996. This decision was short-lived however and the band reformed to record and release “Shine” (1998) and “Lunacy” (2000). The band ultimately held their last live in December of 2000, to thousands of screaming fans in back-to back Tokyo Dome dates.
Currently, all five former LUNA SEA members are enjoying successful music careers. SUGIZO is currently involved in a project with ex-X JAPAN drummer Yoshiki, while Ryuichi and INORAN have gotten together for a side project called TOURBILLON with popular producer and songwriter H. Hayama.
Recommendations: While “Shine” spawned the most number of hit singles, “Style” can be considered the best album LS ever produced. “Style” has a musical panache and distinct style that is exclusively LUNA SEA’s, and deserves to be included in every J-rock collection. The band has released only one live album -- the massive double-disc compilation “Never Sold Out”, which is another great listen. To see for yourself why LUNA SEA is one of the best J-rock acts of all time, pick up “Lunatic Tokyo” (2002) or “The Final Act: Tokyo Dome” (2001).
GLAY
V: Teru
G: Hisashi
G: Takuro
B: Jiro
GLAY – one of the scene’s most prolific bands, was founded in Hokkaido in 1989, but their final line-up was not set until 1991 in Tokyo. The band was added to the roster of Extasy Records acts after X JAPAN drummer Yoshiki saw one of their shows. Later, they signed on with Platinum Records and subsequently Toshiba EMI to release an impressive streak of ten studio albums and a record 161 singles.
GLAY is best known for their killer sold-out lives. Their most impressive concert to date was the GLAY EXPO ’99 SURVIVAL LIVE at Makuhari Messe, where 200,000 fans got together for one of the biggest gigs in J-pop history. Two other GLAY EXPOs were held after that: one in 2001 where the combined attendance of all three venues reached 280,000; and another in 2004 where all 100,000 tickets were sold off in under fifteen minutes. The band also held a sold-out concert in Beijing – reportedly the most expensive show ever hosted in the Chinese capital, with over 35,000 screaming fans in attendance.
The band is still very active after all these years, having just released a single in January 2007, with another one slated for April. Another nation-wide tour also appears to be in the works.
Recommendations: While GLAY has more singles than all the other bands put together, the best ones are undoubtedly from their 1995 studio album “pure soul” (1998). If you want to see them play, pick up a copy of “GLAY EXPO ’99 SURVIVAL LIVE in MAKUHARI” or “GLAY DOME TOUR 2001-2002 ONE LOVE” and get a sneak peek on what it feel like to play for 200,000 rabid fans.
L’ARC EN CIEL
V: Hyde
G: Ken
B: Tetsu
D: Yukihiro
L’ Arc~En~Ciel was founded by Tetsu in Osaka in 1991; the quartet released their first album “Dune” (1993) under Danger Crue Records, and were later signed on by Sony Record’s Ki/oon label. Despite their quick rise to the top, the band went through a horrific phase earlier in their career (which almost led to their demise): the controversial replacement of their original drummer Sakura, who was held under arrest for drug charges in 1997.
L’ Arc~En~Ciel has since regained their momentum, releasing a solid string of ten best-selling albums, with another one slated for later this year. A number of the band’s singles have enjoyed immense popularity as themes in popular animation titles such as Full Metal Alchemist and Final fantasy: The Spirits Within. In 2004, Hyde, Ken, Tetsu, and Yukihiro joined the handful of Japanese acts to successfully hold shows in North America. And in November of 2006, the band celebrated their fifteenth anniversary by holding back-to-back gigs at Tokyo Dome.
After a slew of successful solo projects, L’ Arc~En~Ciel is currently finalizing the release of their newest single in two years, ‘Seventh Heaven”. The single will also be featured as the theme for the upcoming NHK-BS animation series “Seirei no Moribito”.
Recommendations: You can’t go wrong with their 1999 double release “ark” and “ray” – almost all current LARUKU fans profess to having been reeled in by these two albums. If gigs are what you want, 1999’s “Grand Cross Conclusion” will not disappoint, as well as the more recent “ASIALIVE 2005”.
DIR EN GREY
V: Kyo
G: Kaoru
G: Die
B: Toshiya
D: Shinya
Dir en Grey was formed in 1997 after four members of the disbanded La:Sadie’s recruited a new bassist to form the group’s final line-up. They released their first studio album “Gauze” in 1999 under Free Will Records, who also released their five other albums “Macabre” (2000), “Kisou” (2002), “Vulgar” (2003), “Withering to Death” (2005), and “marrow of the Bone” (2007).
Dir en Grey has distinguished itself from other bands in the scene by being the first truly international J-rock band. DEG has successfully played in Europe and the US, both in large-scale music festivals as well as sold-out one-act lives. The band’s first Europe outing was with Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Berlin and Paris. Dir en grey has played alongside Korn in the successful 2006 Family Values Tour, and sold out their US club tour dates. Back in Japan, the band has also played in the Loud Park festival with metal legends Megadeth and Slayer.
More tour dates can be seen in the band’s immediate future, with Dir en Grey opening for the Deftones US tour, as well as making appearances in several major European festivals.
Recommendations: Fans are at odds as to whether “Macabre” or “Marrow of the Bone” should be the definitive DEG album; in any case, get both and decide for yourself. As for live DVDs,”-Gauze62045-“ and “Retou Gekishin Angya” are both solid picks.
This article also appears in truncated form in COSPLAY MAGAZINE. COSPLAY MAGAZINE is available in selected book stores and from the OngakuSociety website.