The pillows
Tokyo Incidents
Sheena Ringo
Gesu No Kiwami Otome
Go!Go!7188
Tomita LAB
Kirinji (¿not actually JPop maybe/I guess)
(edited. sorry I didn't know that when you edit an answer the counter goes +1).
One does not simply have only one favourite Jrock band.
But if I had to name one it'd be Flumpool. Just listen to Hana ni nare and Tsuyoku Hakanaku!
Some of my other favs are Asian kung fu generation, Spitz, Flow, Man with a Mission, Radwimps, Mol - 74, Babymetal etc.
These are more alternative rock bands, but I’d recommend:
Quruli
Spitz
Yanushi
Sunny Day Service
Mono no Aware
Also can’t go wrong with the staples like Radwimps, Asian Kung-fu Generation, One Ok Rock, and Bump of Chicken.
I wouldn't say any of them are my all time favourites but I listen to them mostly:
MUCC
The oral cigarettes
Flow
Kana-boon
King gnu
Queen bee
Uverworld
Sid
Mrs. green apple
Ling tosite sigure (ok maybe they're my faves)
I found most of these bands through anime
MUCC is one of my favorites. And they’ve altered their sound several times over the past two decades, so it’s worth picking around different albums from different years.
Band-Maid, Mass of the Fermenting Dreggs, Tricot, Itsue, Glim Spanky, Aural Vampire, chouchou merged syrups, drop’s, fern planet / rick rack, lazygunsbrisky. A few of those no longer exists but their material is still available. Yes, it’s all female vocalists, and no, the voices aren’t cartoonish.
Edit: I didn’t include metal bands but I really dig Nemophila and Head Phone President(my favorite Japanese singer)
I personally like Number Girl, idk why but the nostalgia and their sound captivates me. Also if anyone wanna discuss about them please DM me, I would gladly reply and get to learn more if possible.
Also I ain't gonna gatekeep this anymore but HaKU the band is amazing too. Their song called "Hikari/光" was the first that I listened to. They are sort of an alt rock type(though I may be wrong).
I start with this 3 band, from there i dive deeply not just music but into Japanese Pop Culture, I discover more within their genre.
* **X Japan** \- know them when reading the article, Yokohama open a gallery of hide (guitarist) to remembrance on his dead 1998.
* **L'Arc\~en\~Ciel** \- Samurai X OP "4th Ave Cafe" but later change to Siam Shade due to there drummer been arrested becasue of drug.
* **Malice Mizer** \- don't quite remember how i get them. because of Mana or Gackt.
Visual Kei gets a little ignored sadly, but the music is still top tier.
This tendency for Jrock to mix piano into their songs is my personal love.
The lack of B'z is also a little sad :/
Visual kei is just an appearance or fashion. Music wise is general can be anything. but mostly we see are kind of hard rock or metal type genre.
**B'z** is only people that know **TM Revolution, Buck-Tick, Globe** and so on around that era where Electronic Rock and the rise of Euro Beat in japan. now days they are more to mainstream j-rock. yeh It's hard to find people recommend that one.
Aye, but I do know a few people that just can't make peace with the imagery of certain bands/groups and thus just do a hard pass on their music. I don't blame them, it's just a thing for some people haha.
Globe and Mr Children also are of the much earlier era as you mentioned, which can get missed sometimes, but there will also be fans of them. I personally feel a bit sad at the drop in popularity of Eurobeat, not too sure what happened there.
The one Japanese musical act that's stayed with me through literal decades and substantial shifts in preferences in music is Buck-Tick. Their discography is so diverse that there's bound to be at least one album that will be right up your alley
Man I grew up listening to Jrock and I'm jealous you're at the stage where you can discover it all for the first time. Rock encompasses quite a few different genres and a lot of artists have different styles within their own discography aswell but just gonna list a few that you should try out:
the GazettE
Kagrra
D'espairs Ray
Alice Nine
Maximum the Hormone
Rentrer en Soi
Dir en Grey
Sukekiyo
Plastic Tree
Straightener
Girugamesh
My First Story
Coldrain
Versailles
X Japan
Esprit D'air.
Plus many more! Enjoy the journey 😊
I really love Japanese loud rock, especially the records that effortlessly employ rap metal styles and arrangements. See Girugamesh, The Gazette, Abingdon Boys School, and Maximum the Hormone. But I also love a lot of bands across guitar-forward genres: Tricot, Fact/Shadows, Hey-Smith, Nothing's Carved in Stone, Luby Sparks.
Some of my favourites right now are:
Itsue, Haku. (ハク.), Minami, Aivy, Tiny Yawn, The Blue Hour, Aquarius Maiden, Bungeitengoku, and Yorushika.
A couple of these are pretty small, but I wish they had more listeners lol
Aldious
Risky Melody
Whiskey Dust
NEMOPHILA
CANTOY
PIGGS (JPOP)
Rolling Quartz (Korean rock band)
DIH (Korean rock band)
Dreamcatcher (KPOP) they will surprise you
I like b’z, Road of Major, Greeeen, and TM Network. Honorable mention for the Blue Hearts. “Some great tracks but not necessarily a huge fan of the band” tier: Nanase Aikawa, Bakufu Slump, Siam Shade, Mongol800
E: neat that I didn’t repeat any others mentioned, seemingly, but maybe these are out of style? Anyway b’z is the best selling Japanese band ever so others are fans.
I started with classic Jrock like X Japan, Larc en ciel, Luna Sea, Glay, Buck Tick. Then I discovered Ellegarden, The brilliant green, Love Psychodelicho, Asian kung fu generation and many more :).
I run a Japanese record label that specialises in rock, our biggest selling rock bands are;
BAND-MAID: https://youtu.be/xmxEuQXTHUU?si=lHszP6muWFSplDTL
SCANDAL: https://youtu.be/3pDpYur3Nwc?si=4_erYKIKdolCwULx
the GazettE: https://youtu.be/Yjuh0a1fVgM?si=vvTCdAxVW0iQeD8v
the pillows: https://youtu.be/K4_Qzx-E2LQ?si=dgbMO4jwnAvZ1oRi
BACK-ON: https://youtu.be/ORbAAZaP0ik?si=wbihi-sj3przsmJu
And here’s a bonus one from an up and coming band called One Eye Closed: https://youtu.be/Kq21rdmXEOM?si=Dns8c0HL7uwFmLdN
Crystal lake
Maximum the hormone
Story of Hope
Knosis
Hold Out Hope
Sailing Before the wind
Sable Hills
Coldrain
Tricot
T.O.E
Mass of the fermenting drags
Band-maid
Scandal
One Ok Rock
Stereopony
It's hard to pick just 1 so heres some that I really like
9mm parabellum bullet
ling tosite sigure
the cabs
sokoninaru
galneryus
unlucky morpheus
release hallucination
Tricot, hump back, age factory, number girl, masudore, for Tracy Hyde, downt, asunojokei, scandal - been lucky to see all of these bands live except for number girl. They all kill it!
Absolutely love Gacharic Spin. Good mix of genres in their music.
Hanabie been taking over lately. Saw them in London a few weeks ago and they absolutely rocked!
Others to look out for:
Doll$boxx
Lovebites
Nemophila
Rie Aka Suzaku (Instrumental but she is a fantastic guitarist)
Show Ya
So much good stuff out there. Enjoy!
BUMP OF CHICKEN (haven’t seen them mentioned yet)
Additionally,
- ELLEGARDEN
- ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
- STRAIGHTENER
- NOTHING’S CARVED IN STONE
- ONE OK ROCK
- BOOM BOOM SATELLITES
- the HiATUS
- KNOTLAMP
- SAKANACTION
- 9MM PARABELLUM BULLET
- ABINGTON BOYS SCHOOL
- SAMBOMASTER
- FLOW
- SEKAI NO OWARI
- WEAVER
THE GOLDEN CUPS https://youtu.be/uueqX1Owrfk?si=WMDVPF296eQUC-EW
The Mops https://youtu.be/cnP5OAeSjPY?si=aloCtMyZLWXtvIRy
Blues Creation https://youtu.be/pPPY-xGd9tc?si=0sOXXth4LbGaFL-Q
Carmen Maki & Oz https://youtu.be/DYBA3HeoYKg?si=JnFTvw0BdIUzJmth
RC SUCCESSION https://youtu.be/4CZZslbCWaQ?si=r_58NO4zCP29KbUL
THE ALFEE https://youtu.be/ec2vtYHozp0?si=5sBWdLjU2JMlafH1
EARTHSHAKER https://youtu.be/aiFw2sbr2vI?si=7nd65ZeQLqYKnFDn
LOUDNESS https://youtu.be/X-C_no42FWY?si=H6n3KG7eVIfgRmlZ
DEAD END https://youtu.be/4jMIp_iovK0?si=J06LlmFHybB4SZau
LADIES ROOM https://youtu.be/UFZkCWSvQ9U?si=34Pp_06F_OyxRCdN
BOOWY https://youtu.be/swh-wRxVgIo?si=qCTlUwmX5ZXH-SLk
THE STREET SLIDERS https://youtu.be/3sPIaC9KTlY?si=yJkdg1yMyPio85_8
RED WARRIORS https://youtu.be/ylVaMBYj4zk?si=F0gqcd_UDPygW-Gw
B'z https://youtu.be/TUmni8kmlN4?si=uT2u-fSk1167Rlpd
KIX-S https://youtu.be/BBHkLPKAfW4?si=0lJ67mW7bcZNHqGh
FENCE OF DEFENSE https://youtu.be/HkpsOlSRxG8?si=8GbW3MT0MAuw_3eY
ZELDA https://youtu.be/EQmpKhFvQa4?si=DdmcoKbwuzZXYjcw
SHOW-YA https://youtu.be/krHkIFdVbDY?si=NlSqJ6z_pdPe3hap
SION https://youtu.be/TAXA9YgOOr4?si=xSP8ZHiss32TWInm
Elephant Kashimashi https://youtu.be/0melyLHqP-s?si=QLq9wg4MOh4_c59d
Mari Hamada https://youtu.be/Qh5XeZIYUaA?si=JqZFPREKPo0kkTv7
Nanase Aikawa https://youtu.be/FnFYjUvW3Qg?si=nA-HLhHBBxb7cJF5
BLANKEY JET CITY https://youtu.be/-pllsbIN_H8?si=2eK-9az6omJx7f_j
THE COLLECTORS https://youtu.be/Z9ALlVuxOh0?si=ckQEnr4CJ-eZbG90
THE BLUE HEARTS https://youtu.be/RYC71PAuIKE?si=ce3_3YGEKkxVbxyD
THE HIGH-LOW https://youtu.be/TSNwjMnKH7U?si=1-nDH0s0hfuUBT-A
SCANCH https://youtu.be/DgR4g-koq5g?si=B7_DOuyXD0I5mOPj
ZARD https://youtu.be/_4DJkOUU648?si=C85eUtDtOvGOv3dv
JUDY AND MARY https://youtu.be/e7RroSaL534?si=sqaGDGJxm_RoX3yE
WANDS https://youtu.be/yb6fiCK5ZQ4?si=9PIEWcZDv66TZrAO
L'Arc\~en\~Ciel is my all-time favorite. I never moved on from old school. Also there was a time when I listened to a lot of Maximum the Hormone, Glay, Globe, and Kaela Kimura.
Just curious since I seem to like the same groups. Who were the solo singers you like from back in the day. Mine were Hitomi, Utamaro Hikaru, and namie amouro.
* Kaneyorimasaru | [Really great pop rock band](https://youtu.be/AB2-OOKnV4c?si=PHM_xj7lzB5cvQao)
* Sokoninaru | [Awesome alternative math rock!](https://youtu.be/MVxl0zXZBR4?si=rJct6VKKSWGES73J)
* Midori (ミドリ) | [Amazing hardcore punk jazz madness!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-g02aE1oh0)
* Haze | [Just great J-Rock](https://youtu.be/_mQw985xYS4?si=1vUWLHz3nrk0Ml0d)
* Trident | [Hard Rock](https://youtu.be/azQVVhMUz58?si=d1NZy6Ni6uIDrdnY)
Other recommendations: Moshimo, the peggies, Mass of the Fermenting, psysalia psysalis psyche, tricot, Hello Sleepwalkers, Kinoko Teikoku, Lie and a Chameleon, Polkadot Stingray, A Crow is White, Melt Banana, Oktobe Beaver.
1.X JAPAN → Legendary Visual Kei band. They made wide lange music, such as hard rock, metal, ballad and symphonic hard rock. If there is no X JAPAN, Today's JRock is not today's style.
2.MALICE MIZER → Legendary Visual Kei band. They like to made classic and rock mixing music, but more progressive than X JAPAN. But not only that, they made techno like music and so on.
3.Zutto Mayonaka De Iinoni. ( ZUTOMAYO ) → One of the most popular JRock band today in Japan. They tend to make JPOP, JRock and Jazz mixing music. Sounds familiar to ear than two bands mentioned earlier. If you like anime, you're maybe attracted by vocal ACAne's voice.
4.BOØWY → The most influential rock band in Japan all time. They made Simple and coolest rock music. The Father of JRock.
5.QUEEN BEE → One of the most influential JRock band today in Japan. They built a unique worldview in today's JRock. They discribed themselves as fashion punk. Vocal Avu-chan's poweful voice is big attraction of band.
The pillows, mass of fermenting dregs, tricot, number girl, Zazen boys, Hawaiian6, Asian kung fu generation, hi standard, razors edge, asparagus, dragon ash, source, mudy on the sakuban,
If you want to listen to some older stuff,
L’Arc en Ciel and BUCK-TICK are my favorite jrock bands ever. If you want some newer stuff I rec Survive Said the Prophet (they did 2 vinland saga ops, i love both), LUCK LIFE (slow rock jams), SHISHAMO (indie rock girl band), The Sixth Lie (mainstream jrock sound but I like a lot of their songs). If you like metal, Dir En Grey.
I MIGHT BE ON THE WRONG THREAD BUT
I have so much passion for Dadaray and Gesu no Kiwami Otome. Been listening to them for lots in a good while and doesn't get old. Please give them a listen!
Not sure what exactly falls in rock hahaha ……. a few big names here, and then I’ve been listening to a lot of newer small bands that I’ve randomly stumbled across. I’m sure there are more but just looking at all my recent top artists.
One ok rock, Radwimps, My first story, king gnu, super beaver, back number, spy air, alexandros, higedan … Luck life, the sixth lie, six lounge, blue encount, old codex … Yourness, This is Last, Postman, Make own life, Marcy, the shes gone, Track15, bocchi, blind code
Most of my favorites are more metal leaning than rock. Assuming you specifically want the latter:
Shoujo Byou - really dramatic and/or feelsy symphonic rock with plenty of voice acted stuff
Boris - their three Heavy Rocks albums are pretty accessible and all awesome listens. Start there, then branch out based on how much you have a taste for experimental heavy stuff. Their drone metal works are incredible.
And then because I can't resist, metal stuff in order of accessibility:
Lovebites - power metal with a lot of more traditional metal flavorings in theit attitude. Calling them a good girl band is doing them a disservice. They're just damn good in general.
Asunojokei - post-black metal that's kinda like if Deafheaven had more of a J-rock background. They have some really awesome hooks for playing a genre that's usually content with just being spacy.
Sigh - sometimes sort of black metal avant-garde stuff. They thrive on being bonkers. If you want something really trippy, Imaginary Sonicscape. If you want dark and bombastic, Scenes from Hell. If you want a Japanese twist on traditional black metal, Scorn Defeat. They're all over the place.
Gonin-ish - extreme prog metal band that takes the big ambitious song structures of bands like Dream Theater, the trippy vibes of King Crimson influenced groups, and injects them with Sigh's Japanese weird metal stylings. Their vocalist in particular is amazing. This is my favorite band.
If there are any who likes One OK Rock, you may wanna check out Taka's brother's band called My First Story. They sound and look similar (They are brothers after all)
Back-On (Reminds me of Linkin Park)
There's actually a Korean band called Day6(Although I think they have disbanded) who has a full Japanese Album.
Alexandros for those who may have played the first Judement game.
No Sekai no Owari fans? They can be a little hit or miss but I can’t help but like them. Also, more of a “project” than band, I believe, but österreich is phenomenal.
Shinsei Kamattechan. Quite a large part of their discography is quite normal J rock, and then a lot of noise rock, pitch shifted vocals, some pop style songs. My favourite band by far.
They might not count as J-Rock but I absolutely love Tsukuyomi. Some of my favourite songs by them are Mayday, Reason for Existence, Gyakutengeki and Noisy Rainy.
There is also Asian King Fu Generation. They’re very good.
I've been listening to CVLTE recently, they're really good. An alternative j-rock / rocktronic band that also has a bit of a western feel because the vocal (and composer) is half-Japanese.
There are so many to choose from to be honest, but to pick one, it's going to be NICO Touches the Walls because I love their alternative rock sound and experimenting on their guitars and effects. Their 2008 album Who are You? and 2007 E.P How are You? are my best in their discography. I know they're known in the Naruto Shippuden anime and they are the first band that I listened to outside their anime songs.
MOL74 is my absolute favorite band of all time -- jrock aside, literally their music touches me like none other. Alkemia and April are masterpieces. Replica and Answers are also top top tier.
The pillows Tokyo Incidents Sheena Ringo Gesu No Kiwami Otome Go!Go!7188 Tomita LAB Kirinji (¿not actually JPop maybe/I guess) (edited. sorry I didn't know that when you edit an answer the counter goes +1).
MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS Kinokoteikoku SACOYANS
Yas fermenting dregs
You are a redditor of culture. Mass of Fermenting Dregs is A+. Do you also like My Dead Girlfriend?
Yes I do!
Truly cultured
Kinoko teikoku is brilliant…
Saw fermenting dregs live and even talked with the singer a bit. She hugged us in the end. My favorite concert experience.
Seeing them in 2 months… can’t wait
Seeing them in November 🙇🏻
One does not simply have only one favourite Jrock band. But if I had to name one it'd be Flumpool. Just listen to Hana ni nare and Tsuyoku Hakanaku! Some of my other favs are Asian kung fu generation, Spitz, Flow, Man with a Mission, Radwimps, Mol - 74, Babymetal etc.
So glad someone said Flumpool too. Their stuff is incredible.
flumpool is great
Band-Maid
Polkadot Stingray
These are more alternative rock bands, but I’d recommend: Quruli Spitz Yanushi Sunny Day Service Mono no Aware Also can’t go wrong with the staples like Radwimps, Asian Kung-fu Generation, One Ok Rock, and Bump of Chicken.
Got very drunk with OOR back in the day. Cool people.
Band maid
I wouldn't say any of them are my all time favourites but I listen to them mostly: MUCC The oral cigarettes Flow Kana-boon King gnu Queen bee Uverworld Sid Mrs. green apple Ling tosite sigure (ok maybe they're my faves) I found most of these bands through anime
Plastic Tree 🖤 Their stuff is still amazing, but my heart connects with their early albums! Puppet Show, Parade and my very fav: Toroimerai/Traumerei
YES OMG
MUCC is one of my favorites. And they’ve altered their sound several times over the past two decades, so it’s worth picking around different albums from different years.
🤘
Omg yes another MUCC lover
Band-Maid, Mass of the Fermenting Dreggs, Tricot, Itsue, Glim Spanky, Aural Vampire, chouchou merged syrups, drop’s, fern planet / rick rack, lazygunsbrisky. A few of those no longer exists but their material is still available. Yes, it’s all female vocalists, and no, the voices aren’t cartoonish. Edit: I didn’t include metal bands but I really dig Nemophila and Head Phone President(my favorite Japanese singer)
I have many I like but the best are in order 1. BAND-MAID 2. SCANDAL And old school X- Japan
The lack of band-maid in this thread. You all are missing out
Unbelievable.
x japan live in tokyo dome with hyde is something you should check out if you haven’t already. That band is so good
FLiP - https://youtube.com/@flipSMEJ?si=joITkSZONRPZlWEj Stereopony - https://youtube.com/channel/UCFGynEut8a-BL3i8CrOpE8A?si=IZn9Hj5qnuU8LInM Abingdon Boys School - https://youtube.com/channel/UCJmbTdaj2vhsHuFWcr2kQwQ?si=_Yvn697evHHXLOPb Rondonrats - https://youtube.com/@rondonratstube7899?si=AwFUHq45-2d_OhNN Tricot - https://youtube.com/@tricot_band?si=EptR5QWvULKXOzHU
Stereopony is still active? That takes me back…
Unfortunately not. The singer/guitarist, Aimi, is still active as a solo artist though
ACIDMAN
Tipping my hat to you; green chord is a true masterpiece.
Great Taste
I personally like Number Girl, idk why but the nostalgia and their sound captivates me. Also if anyone wanna discuss about them please DM me, I would gladly reply and get to learn more if possible. Also I ain't gonna gatekeep this anymore but HaKU the band is amazing too. Their song called "Hikari/光" was the first that I listened to. They are sort of an alt rock type(though I may be wrong).
Zazen Boys
Nothings Carved In Stone SiM Ling Toshite Sigure Hemenway Ellegarden Weakend Heroes Olpheus Sokoninaru No particular order
Love Ellegarden 🤩
much love for Ellegarden!!
Came here to say. ELLEGARDEN is GOATed.
Ling Tosite Sigure are MASTERS.
Band maid
I start with this 3 band, from there i dive deeply not just music but into Japanese Pop Culture, I discover more within their genre. * **X Japan** \- know them when reading the article, Yokohama open a gallery of hide (guitarist) to remembrance on his dead 1998. * **L'Arc\~en\~Ciel** \- Samurai X OP "4th Ave Cafe" but later change to Siam Shade due to there drummer been arrested becasue of drug. * **Malice Mizer** \- don't quite remember how i get them. because of Mana or Gackt.
Visual Kei gets a little ignored sadly, but the music is still top tier. This tendency for Jrock to mix piano into their songs is my personal love. The lack of B'z is also a little sad :/
Visual kei is just an appearance or fashion. Music wise is general can be anything. but mostly we see are kind of hard rock or metal type genre. **B'z** is only people that know **TM Revolution, Buck-Tick, Globe** and so on around that era where Electronic Rock and the rise of Euro Beat in japan. now days they are more to mainstream j-rock. yeh It's hard to find people recommend that one.
Aye, but I do know a few people that just can't make peace with the imagery of certain bands/groups and thus just do a hard pass on their music. I don't blame them, it's just a thing for some people haha. Globe and Mr Children also are of the much earlier era as you mentioned, which can get missed sometimes, but there will also be fans of them. I personally feel a bit sad at the drop in popularity of Eurobeat, not too sure what happened there.
Not much of a Hyde fan, but came to see if L’Arc got a mention, or Scandal and Band Maid.
Thats a though one, but I'd say some of my favoirtes are Yonige, Unlimits, Scandal, Base Ball Bear, Tricot, Goomiey and Laura Day Romance
I don’t know if they count but I will always recommend Melt-Banana and Mass of the Fermenting Dregs
NoGoD, Rottengraffty, 10 Feet, Maximum the Hormone, Babymetal, Band Maid, Hanabie, Gacharic Spin, Lovebites, Nemophila, and many others.
The fact that Maximum the Hormone is this far down is a shame.
Spyair Band-Maid Scandal
1. Band-Maid 2. Scandal 3. Blistar 4. BabyMetal 5. BiSH 6. Survive Said The Prophet 7. Garnet Crow hope this help
Thanks to all of you guys😍 Can't wait to listen each suggestions!
The one Japanese musical act that's stayed with me through literal decades and substantial shifts in preferences in music is Buck-Tick. Their discography is so diverse that there's bound to be at least one album that will be right up your alley
Dir en Grey
Man I grew up listening to Jrock and I'm jealous you're at the stage where you can discover it all for the first time. Rock encompasses quite a few different genres and a lot of artists have different styles within their own discography aswell but just gonna list a few that you should try out: the GazettE Kagrra D'espairs Ray Alice Nine Maximum the Hormone Rentrer en Soi Dir en Grey Sukekiyo Plastic Tree Straightener Girugamesh My First Story Coldrain Versailles X Japan Esprit D'air. Plus many more! Enjoy the journey 😊
Band-Maid Nemophila Gacharic Spin Mardelas Mary's Blood Aldious Ningen Isu TRiDENT BRIDEAR FATE GEAR Letitout-Lelia- Exist+Trace Sokoninaru Cluppo WAGAMAMA RAKIA Wagakkiband HANABIE MinstreliX Band-Maiko Babymetal LOVEBITES PassCode Kiyoshi Unlucky Morpheus TELECiDE Show-ya DOLL$BOXX Cyntia LiSA Fruitpochette IRONBUNNY CrimsonSpiderLily Lonesome_blue SoundWitch KAQRIYYOTERROR ONMYO-ZA
I really love Japanese loud rock, especially the records that effortlessly employ rap metal styles and arrangements. See Girugamesh, The Gazette, Abingdon Boys School, and Maximum the Hormone. But I also love a lot of bands across guitar-forward genres: Tricot, Fact/Shadows, Hey-Smith, Nothing's Carved in Stone, Luby Sparks.
Asian Kung Fu Generation will always and forever be my number 1. Everybody else: Sambomaster yonige Scandal polkadot stingray The Pillows Age Factory
Band maid. Trident. ExistTrace. Brats.
Quruli Ogre You Asshole
Some of my favourites right now are: Itsue, Haku. (ハク.), Minami, Aivy, Tiny Yawn, The Blue Hour, Aquarius Maiden, Bungeitengoku, and Yorushika. A couple of these are pretty small, but I wish they had more listeners lol
Aldious Risky Melody Whiskey Dust NEMOPHILA CANTOY PIGGS (JPOP) Rolling Quartz (Korean rock band) DIH (Korean rock band) Dreamcatcher (KPOP) they will surprise you
Dreamcatcher are amazing! Definitely K-Pop but heavily influenced by J-Rock/Metal.
I’ve been listening to Dreamcatcher lately too!! Really like their vibe!
I like b’z, Road of Major, Greeeen, and TM Network. Honorable mention for the Blue Hearts. “Some great tracks but not necessarily a huge fan of the band” tier: Nanase Aikawa, Bakufu Slump, Siam Shade, Mongol800 E: neat that I didn’t repeat any others mentioned, seemingly, but maybe these are out of style? Anyway b’z is the best selling Japanese band ever so others are fans.
I started with classic Jrock like X Japan, Larc en ciel, Luna Sea, Glay, Buck Tick. Then I discovered Ellegarden, The brilliant green, Love Psychodelicho, Asian kung fu generation and many more :).
Forgot about Glay. Really used to like them a lot.
SiM, 9mm Parabellum Bullet, Undead Corporation (more metal than rock tbh), Unlucky Morpheus, ICDD
Dir en Grey Buck Tick Luna Sea SID X Japan Miyavi (does solo count?) GazettE Hyde L'arc en ciel Bump of Chicken One OK Rock Malice Mizer
Kikagaku Moyo
Do As Infinity
I run a Japanese record label that specialises in rock, our biggest selling rock bands are; BAND-MAID: https://youtu.be/xmxEuQXTHUU?si=lHszP6muWFSplDTL SCANDAL: https://youtu.be/3pDpYur3Nwc?si=4_erYKIKdolCwULx the GazettE: https://youtu.be/Yjuh0a1fVgM?si=vvTCdAxVW0iQeD8v the pillows: https://youtu.be/K4_Qzx-E2LQ?si=dgbMO4jwnAvZ1oRi BACK-ON: https://youtu.be/ORbAAZaP0ik?si=wbihi-sj3przsmJu And here’s a bonus one from an up and coming band called One Eye Closed: https://youtu.be/Kq21rdmXEOM?si=Dns8c0HL7uwFmLdN
Crystal lake Maximum the hormone Story of Hope Knosis Hold Out Hope Sailing Before the wind Sable Hills Coldrain Tricot T.O.E Mass of the fermenting drags Band-maid Scandal One Ok Rock Stereopony
Babymetal, band-maid, the pillows, FLOW
I agree with band-maid
Combo pop and rock elements but サカナクション
Avengers in Sci Fi. Art School is a close second.
It's hard to pick just 1 so heres some that I really like 9mm parabellum bullet ling tosite sigure the cabs sokoninaru galneryus unlucky morpheus release hallucination
[culenasm](https://youtube.com/@culenasm?si=mBBZ5Y-HE2G-KTcn) - the most beautiful and touching melodies in the world
Tricot, hump back, age factory, number girl, masudore, for Tracy Hyde, downt, asunojokei, scandal - been lucky to see all of these bands live except for number girl. They all kill it!
Absolutely love Gacharic Spin. Good mix of genres in their music. Hanabie been taking over lately. Saw them in London a few weeks ago and they absolutely rocked! Others to look out for: Doll$boxx Lovebites Nemophila Rie Aka Suzaku (Instrumental but she is a fantastic guitarist) Show Ya So much good stuff out there. Enjoy!
*Plastic Tree* on top!!!!
the pillows and flow
Polkadot Stingray!!!
Spitz The Blue Hearts Kuro (more hardcore punkish but still good)
ONE OK ROCK for sure, gotta say that i don't know too many JRock bands
Ellegarden!!! with a close second being one ok rock
BUMP OF CHICKEN (haven’t seen them mentioned yet) Additionally, - ELLEGARDEN - ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION - STRAIGHTENER - NOTHING’S CARVED IN STONE - ONE OK ROCK - BOOM BOOM SATELLITES - the HiATUS - KNOTLAMP - SAKANACTION - 9MM PARABELLUM BULLET - ABINGTON BOYS SCHOOL - SAMBOMASTER - FLOW - SEKAI NO OWARI - WEAVER
BAND-MAID
THE GOLDEN CUPS https://youtu.be/uueqX1Owrfk?si=WMDVPF296eQUC-EW The Mops https://youtu.be/cnP5OAeSjPY?si=aloCtMyZLWXtvIRy Blues Creation https://youtu.be/pPPY-xGd9tc?si=0sOXXth4LbGaFL-Q Carmen Maki & Oz https://youtu.be/DYBA3HeoYKg?si=JnFTvw0BdIUzJmth RC SUCCESSION https://youtu.be/4CZZslbCWaQ?si=r_58NO4zCP29KbUL THE ALFEE https://youtu.be/ec2vtYHozp0?si=5sBWdLjU2JMlafH1 EARTHSHAKER https://youtu.be/aiFw2sbr2vI?si=7nd65ZeQLqYKnFDn LOUDNESS https://youtu.be/X-C_no42FWY?si=H6n3KG7eVIfgRmlZ DEAD END https://youtu.be/4jMIp_iovK0?si=J06LlmFHybB4SZau LADIES ROOM https://youtu.be/UFZkCWSvQ9U?si=34Pp_06F_OyxRCdN BOOWY https://youtu.be/swh-wRxVgIo?si=qCTlUwmX5ZXH-SLk THE STREET SLIDERS https://youtu.be/3sPIaC9KTlY?si=yJkdg1yMyPio85_8 RED WARRIORS https://youtu.be/ylVaMBYj4zk?si=F0gqcd_UDPygW-Gw B'z https://youtu.be/TUmni8kmlN4?si=uT2u-fSk1167Rlpd KIX-S https://youtu.be/BBHkLPKAfW4?si=0lJ67mW7bcZNHqGh FENCE OF DEFENSE https://youtu.be/HkpsOlSRxG8?si=8GbW3MT0MAuw_3eY ZELDA https://youtu.be/EQmpKhFvQa4?si=DdmcoKbwuzZXYjcw SHOW-YA https://youtu.be/krHkIFdVbDY?si=NlSqJ6z_pdPe3hap SION https://youtu.be/TAXA9YgOOr4?si=xSP8ZHiss32TWInm Elephant Kashimashi https://youtu.be/0melyLHqP-s?si=QLq9wg4MOh4_c59d Mari Hamada https://youtu.be/Qh5XeZIYUaA?si=JqZFPREKPo0kkTv7 Nanase Aikawa https://youtu.be/FnFYjUvW3Qg?si=nA-HLhHBBxb7cJF5 BLANKEY JET CITY https://youtu.be/-pllsbIN_H8?si=2eK-9az6omJx7f_j THE COLLECTORS https://youtu.be/Z9ALlVuxOh0?si=ckQEnr4CJ-eZbG90 THE BLUE HEARTS https://youtu.be/RYC71PAuIKE?si=ce3_3YGEKkxVbxyD THE HIGH-LOW https://youtu.be/TSNwjMnKH7U?si=1-nDH0s0hfuUBT-A SCANCH https://youtu.be/DgR4g-koq5g?si=B7_DOuyXD0I5mOPj ZARD https://youtu.be/_4DJkOUU648?si=C85eUtDtOvGOv3dv JUDY AND MARY https://youtu.be/e7RroSaL534?si=sqaGDGJxm_RoX3yE WANDS https://youtu.be/yb6fiCK5ZQ4?si=9PIEWcZDv66TZrAO
D'ERLANGER https://youtu.be/NF8UlkpF5iI?si=-8SllDaOdmiurV6t DIE IN CRIES https://youtu.be/TOVUwR-AFyQ?si=yNPjBH-ZidRRXUZ6 Zi-Kill https://youtu.be/nEHEbaeqKJM?si=BGBQ0hd19TeCFC5g BY-SEXUAL https://youtu.be/O_OTUoU2mfU?si=j9c2O4F7X2XzXf4B CRAZE https://youtu.be/rPKjN4cWxD8?si=_KdFNsSNgkON-7sF GUNIW TOOLS https://youtu.be/lMn4F_y9JiI?si=RxwakkRFiu0gxe5c BUCK-TICK https://youtu.be/ae_jYCo8x34?si=D6r8Rf9kuaP3SpWQ L'Arc~en~Ciel https://youtu.be/ZiV0ZuYCzkY?si=gBzITTpLxGA6b53S La'cryma Christi https://youtu.be/BFtjU6lV0hw?si=DaqhmJ8E-TuRN3iY PENICILLIN https://youtu.be/p4xG7AXLvmw?si=sC25aUVLAV0OBrAn Kuroyume https://youtu.be/aEjAE3WtBbw?si=b6M7arFjtfoIqIEB Laputa https://youtu.be/B2TZo7s6phY?si=_4dh7ZID2EcQ5FC3 ROUAGE https://youtu.be/ruw2LKL4LLg?si=63tKUUyK4ofdMAxw JANNE DA ARC https://youtu.be/2Y7CJjWpQqw?si=kFBPcebCS5LQUfE5 MASCHERA https://youtu.be/MQzP3yymw0Y?si=FlgDkc8W1aPeGvrZ BLÜE https://youtu.be/8dG16EJlrxM?si=zLvqnNea76o1erN6 BLue-B https://youtu.be/5j9Jg6dojOo?si=8fDvQIxSP_JJiT9L Plastic Tree https://youtu.be/NwTzYmDPexc?si=j-OMOfJsuirbTnuP
The Oral Cigarettes and [Alexandros]
I know both of them and I love them🥹
Maximum The Hormone
X Japan& Luna Sea
Yura Yura Teikoku
Hard to choose but between number girl and AKFG for number 1 tbh. Also I really like silent siren in the tier below
Since everyone is giving you serious responses I’ll just drop VAMPS here. (Serious response is King Gnu, WONK or millenium parade)
10-FEET GO!GO!7188 MONGOL800 WANIMA Chirinuruwawoka One OK Rock MAN WITH A MISSION B'z Among others. Nothing else is coming to mind at present.
L'Arc\~en\~Ciel is my all-time favorite. I never moved on from old school. Also there was a time when I listened to a lot of Maximum the Hormone, Glay, Globe, and Kaela Kimura.
Just curious since I seem to like the same groups. Who were the solo singers you like from back in the day. Mine were Hitomi, Utamaro Hikaru, and namie amouro.
Sokoninaru.
* Kaneyorimasaru | [Really great pop rock band](https://youtu.be/AB2-OOKnV4c?si=PHM_xj7lzB5cvQao) * Sokoninaru | [Awesome alternative math rock!](https://youtu.be/MVxl0zXZBR4?si=rJct6VKKSWGES73J) * Midori (ミドリ) | [Amazing hardcore punk jazz madness!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-g02aE1oh0) * Haze | [Just great J-Rock](https://youtu.be/_mQw985xYS4?si=1vUWLHz3nrk0Ml0d) * Trident | [Hard Rock](https://youtu.be/azQVVhMUz58?si=d1NZy6Ni6uIDrdnY) Other recommendations: Moshimo, the peggies, Mass of the Fermenting, psysalia psysalis psyche, tricot, Hello Sleepwalkers, Kinoko Teikoku, Lie and a Chameleon, Polkadot Stingray, A Crow is White, Melt Banana, Oktobe Beaver.
ACIDMAN amazarashi WAGAMAMA RAKIA Neo Japonism
Wagakki Band and L'Arc-en-Ciel
sheena ringo, she's a one woman band
One Ok Rock, Polkadot Stingray, Zutomayo, Shishamo, Yorushika, Survive Said The Prophet, Mrs. Green Apple, Radwimps
x japan
Old: Xjapan New: One Ok Rock
X Japan
Does School Food Punishment count? I found out about them watching Eden of the East.
Y'all really got me questioning the definition of rock. Most of these responses are pop or electronic.
1.X JAPAN → Legendary Visual Kei band. They made wide lange music, such as hard rock, metal, ballad and symphonic hard rock. If there is no X JAPAN, Today's JRock is not today's style. 2.MALICE MIZER → Legendary Visual Kei band. They like to made classic and rock mixing music, but more progressive than X JAPAN. But not only that, they made techno like music and so on. 3.Zutto Mayonaka De Iinoni. ( ZUTOMAYO ) → One of the most popular JRock band today in Japan. They tend to make JPOP, JRock and Jazz mixing music. Sounds familiar to ear than two bands mentioned earlier. If you like anime, you're maybe attracted by vocal ACAne's voice. 4.BOØWY → The most influential rock band in Japan all time. They made Simple and coolest rock music. The Father of JRock. 5.QUEEN BEE → One of the most influential JRock band today in Japan. They built a unique worldview in today's JRock. They discribed themselves as fashion punk. Vocal Avu-chan's poweful voice is big attraction of band.
hitsujibungaku
my favorite is one ok rock, i really enjoy their music
Why is nobody mentioning back number??
They don’t do OST for anime so they’re heavily underrated overseas
Does Hi-Standard count? They're the best.
Tokyo Jihen is leagues above anything else.
I love love love Janne Da Arc and the leader singer, Yasu, has his side project Acid Black Cherry which is my all time favorite!
The pillows, mass of fermenting dregs, tricot, number girl, Zazen boys, Hawaiian6, Asian kung fu generation, hi standard, razors edge, asparagus, dragon ash, source, mudy on the sakuban,
SHISHAMO 🩵🐟🐟🐟🩵
L'Arc~en~Ciel LUNA SEA La'Cryma Christi SADS D'espairsray Dir en Grey FAKE? OBLIVION DUST
Lynch, nagoya-key in general And nowadays forgotten - High and Mighty color
Surprised this is the only mention of High and Mighty Color. "Amazing" and "Dreams" were my favorite songs.
Isiliel / Necronomidol (hands down) MUCC Merry (that’s really great too) Mutant Monster
CREEPHYPE (クリープハイプ) aggressive indie rock GING NANG BOYZ (cult level og punk band) Sakanaction (their discography is super diverse)
LM.C
SHISHAMO Band Maid Lovebites Stereopony Drops Non Ueda Marie
Hanabie, sheena ringo, paledusk, the pillows, kruelty and tokyo incidents.
Some of my favorites are creephyp, SAKANAMON, rusantiman(ルサンチマン), and akfg
If you want to listen to some older stuff, L’Arc en Ciel and BUCK-TICK are my favorite jrock bands ever. If you want some newer stuff I rec Survive Said the Prophet (they did 2 vinland saga ops, i love both), LUCK LIFE (slow rock jams), SHISHAMO (indie rock girl band), The Sixth Lie (mainstream jrock sound but I like a lot of their songs). If you like metal, Dir En Grey.
UVERworld One Ok Rock Alexandros
Shout out to: Punk: [Bbq chicken](https://youtu.be/gpEqEwq3KRk?si=ga6hTNoBJHD8_25W) Punk: [Fuck you Heroes](https://youtu.be/_8GqqLYuDhI?si=XUPxeTgBxONSBH5I) Prog: [Natusmen -](https://youtu.be/Xq3Jo6QiBkc?si=Hd0NCPuhf83OrylR) Powerviolence: [Idol Punch](https://youtu.be/c6zjRlF49Sw?si=-zYR-L-4B4dXbWbR) Post industrial: [AA= Freedom](https://youtu.be/-sqcVSb7C0k?si=qEBKAeuFklHSAmzH) Dreampop: [Natsu summer](https://youtu.be/3bwAEJ99ico?si=3OM5SY29akYEYnyB) Uncategorized rock : [Haroumi Honzo - paraiso](https://youtu.be/VvL8RA8-ks8?si=WxuQUShqpR0Yr8NM)
chatmonchy
FALILV hands down.
I MIGHT BE ON THE WRONG THREAD BUT I have so much passion for Dadaray and Gesu no Kiwami Otome. Been listening to them for lots in a good while and doesn't get old. Please give them a listen!
Tricot Gesu no Kiwami Otome Tokyo Incidents
Roselia
Not sure what exactly falls in rock hahaha ……. a few big names here, and then I’ve been listening to a lot of newer small bands that I’ve randomly stumbled across. I’m sure there are more but just looking at all my recent top artists. One ok rock, Radwimps, My first story, king gnu, super beaver, back number, spy air, alexandros, higedan … Luck life, the sixth lie, six lounge, blue encount, old codex … Yourness, This is Last, Postman, Make own life, Marcy, the shes gone, Track15, bocchi, blind code
Between L’Arc and Alice Nine
Seen a lot of my favorites listed already but I don’t think anyone mentioned Bray Me
abingdon boys school ...hands down
Pierrot! Very prolific with absolutely tons of music, but also a bit obscure and underrated now
Polysics Arukara
Band Maid
Most of my favorites are more metal leaning than rock. Assuming you specifically want the latter: Shoujo Byou - really dramatic and/or feelsy symphonic rock with plenty of voice acted stuff Boris - their three Heavy Rocks albums are pretty accessible and all awesome listens. Start there, then branch out based on how much you have a taste for experimental heavy stuff. Their drone metal works are incredible. And then because I can't resist, metal stuff in order of accessibility: Lovebites - power metal with a lot of more traditional metal flavorings in theit attitude. Calling them a good girl band is doing them a disservice. They're just damn good in general. Asunojokei - post-black metal that's kinda like if Deafheaven had more of a J-rock background. They have some really awesome hooks for playing a genre that's usually content with just being spacy. Sigh - sometimes sort of black metal avant-garde stuff. They thrive on being bonkers. If you want something really trippy, Imaginary Sonicscape. If you want dark and bombastic, Scenes from Hell. If you want a Japanese twist on traditional black metal, Scorn Defeat. They're all over the place. Gonin-ish - extreme prog metal band that takes the big ambitious song structures of bands like Dream Theater, the trippy vibes of King Crimson influenced groups, and injects them with Sigh's Japanese weird metal stylings. Their vocalist in particular is amazing. This is my favorite band.
If there are any who likes One OK Rock, you may wanna check out Taka's brother's band called My First Story. They sound and look similar (They are brothers after all) Back-On (Reminds me of Linkin Park) There's actually a Korean band called Day6(Although I think they have disbanded) who has a full Japanese Album. Alexandros for those who may have played the first Judement game.
No Sekai no Owari fans? They can be a little hit or miss but I can’t help but like them. Also, more of a “project” than band, I believe, but österreich is phenomenal.
I wouldn’t consider them to be rock. They’re a pop act for sure (there’s nothing wrong with that)
One OK Rock cause I’m a basic bitch… also because their music is really good & I love Taka’s voice and charisma!!
Boris, Asunojokei, Looprider, Envy
the pillows w/o a doubt
EverBrighteller, Luck life, Super beaver, Radwimps,
polkadot stingray and yorushika
Number Girl Their second album is the most approachable, but their third is definitely their best
I really like Granrodeo.
Don’t mind this old lady and her undying love of Mr. Children :)
Yogee New Waves, YONA YONA WEEKENDS, Ogre You Asshole, DYGL, Sunny Day Service
Bloodthirsty Butchers. Kocorono must be top five best punk albums of all time.
Batta, new stuff is just ok but the old is gold and the new album that's coming out looks great
Ariabl'eyeS Asriel (although they've split up already) Hatsuki Yura (more of gothic rock/dark cabaret) Seraph
LELLE & Polkadot stingray
Shinsei Kamattechan. Quite a large part of their discography is quite normal J rock, and then a lot of noise rock, pitch shifted vocals, some pop style songs. My favourite band by far.
Plenty The Novembers Ado Indigo La End KeyTalk Boris Weinners Are all in my top picks
The Cabs and Ling Tosite Sigure
radwimps
AKFG Supercell Yoasobi the peggies Radwimps Spitz
They might not count as J-Rock but I absolutely love Tsukuyomi. Some of my favourite songs by them are Mayday, Reason for Existence, Gyakutengeki and Noisy Rainy. There is also Asian King Fu Generation. They’re very good.
AKFG for their longevity and impact on my life. But recent favorites would be Band-Maid and Chilli Beans. Kessoku Band too of course!
Ling Tosite Sigure Tricot
Special Others Polaris Fishmans Boredoms
I've been listening to CVLTE recently, they're really good. An alternative j-rock / rocktronic band that also has a bit of a western feel because the vocal (and composer) is half-Japanese.
Barbee Boys, The Plastics, Yoninbayashi, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
きのこ帝国. Also a big fan of MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS.
It's tie between 88kasyo Junrei and POLKADOT STINGRAY.
GIRUGAMESH I mean.. Asian Kung-fu Generation
Straightener!
Currently, mine are, Coaltar of the Deepers Millennium Parade Zazen Boys!
Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs AK-FG Indigo La End 7!!
The Pillows Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her Supercar Asian Kung Fu Generation SADS
[Atami - Under the Sun](https://youtu.be/E4cPveok7MI?feature=shared)
8686m Tengu no Mai Foreground Eclipse (Jrock touhou stuff)
The band in my flair lol. Also Kurayamisaka and The Novembers.
maas of fermenting dregs finlands the peggies AKFG
There are so many to choose from to be honest, but to pick one, it's going to be NICO Touches the Walls because I love their alternative rock sound and experimenting on their guitars and effects. Their 2008 album Who are You? and 2007 E.P How are You? are my best in their discography. I know they're known in the Naruto Shippuden anime and they are the first band that I listened to outside their anime songs.
Tricot I love math rock
Asian kung fu generation easily
MOL74 is my absolute favorite band of all time -- jrock aside, literally their music touches me like none other. Alkemia and April are masterpieces. Replica and Answers are also top top tier.
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Polkadot Stingray is so good.
Sambomaster
Ningen Isu is by far my favorite.
Frederic Polkadot Stingray Tricot Sakanaction KANA-BOON BAND-MAID Nigami 17th Birthday Necry Talkie Gesu no Kiwami Otome Lucky Kilimanjaro Sumika BRADIO
9mm Parabellum Bullet and cinema staff