Top 10 Japanese Artists

[Son_Pan]

i know there is a thread about favorite artists, but this is about ranking them in your point of view and stuff like that.

so, yup, just post your top 10, and give a short explaination about why you picked your number 1 choice.

it will be awhile to rank my favs, so i'll post mine later. but for now, go ahead peoples!

edit: it can be anything from j-pop to j-rock, or whatever, and musical composers such as Yoko Kanno and Nobuo Uematsu can be included!

[mow]

1 - Yoko Kanno, Nobuto, Joe Hisaishi

I dont think I need to explain myself :P

2 - Nujabes

Brilliant, brilliant, brillaint. This man is a genius. With such a unique hiphop production style and soft mellow beats. He simply rocks

3 - Mono

Japanese Post-rock band, What a suprise it was to find that. Im glad to find that not all of Japan is stuck in generic J-rock/J-pop

4 - World's Best Girlfriend

^ same reasons as Mono

5 - xinlisupreme

As hardcore a noise band can get. These lads are magnificent.

[sunshine and gasoline]

4 - World's Best Girlfriend



I've done some research and I have found out that they are called World's End Girlfriend. I've been trying to get my hands on one of their albums for months now, no succes.

On topic, don't know many japanese bands, except for those moe mentioned, and I agree with him.

[explicitkarma]

1 - Yoko Kanno, Nobuto, Joe Hisaishi

I dont think I need to explain myself :P

Cowboy Bebop wouldn't be the same without them. Brilliant music.


I don't really know that many Japanese bands/artists to rank, but i'll try.

1. Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop soundtrack)
2. Koji Kondo (Mario/Zelda music composer)
3. Sambomaster (5th Naruto Opening, Awesome Musicianship)
4. Tsueno Imahori (Trigun soundtrack)
5. Toshiro Masuda (Naruto soundtrack)
6. The Pillows (FLCL soundtrack)
7. Jun Ishikawa, Dan Miyakawa (Kirby Superstar soundtrack)
8. Mong Hang (A Japanese band from New York. Very strange jazz-funk punk.)
9. Pez Stomp (Japanese Girl/Ska band)
10. Keiichi Suzuki (Earthbound soundtrack)

[Efraim Longstocking]

Don't know many... but these are the favorites of those I know

1. X-Japan (or plainly X in japan)
Really, really good metal band. Yoshiki's piano ballads are the best but they have a few good pure metal songs as ''Scars''. ''Tears'' is my favorite though. Yoshiki is one of my favorite composers and drumers.

2. Melt Banana
My favorite noise rock band. Earns this spot as my second favorite due to their shows with Mr.Bungle...

3. Orange Range
Really like the soundtrack to Bleach

4. meister
Had two songs on the soundtrack to Beck.
On his album he worked with artists like Escobar among others. I've tried to get his album. PM me if you have it, please!

5. Loudness
One of the few japanese bands to get recognition outside Japan in the 80's.

6. Asian Kung-Fu Generation
7. Beat Crusaders

Can't think of more favs right now

[Catatonik]

Sigh
Melt Banana
The Boredoms
Nobuo
Mono
Malice Mizer


Are all that pop to mind at the moment

But all of the above are brilliant

[shikon]

... i dunno about top japanese artists.. but i find Utada Hikaru and Toshiru Masuda are pretty good.
First Love by Utada Hikaru is to die for! i love it to hell!^^

[Twizted]

1) Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy series)
2) Faye Wong (Eyes on Me etc.)
3) Utada Hikaru
4) Asian Kung-Fu Generation
5) Toshiro Masuda
6) Yoko Kanno
7) Koji Kondo (MARIO!!!!)
8) The Pillows (FLCL)
9) Stance Punks
10) Kimura Yumi (Spirited Away etc.)

[Miss CCV]

So far I'm only familiar with Pizzicato Five, Ayumi Hamasaki, L'arc En Ciel, and Dir En Grey. I'll d/l other ones that were mentioned in this thread already.

[me_is_david]

1. HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR
2. Rie Fu
3. BoA
4. Nami Tamaki
5. Fiction Junction YUUKA
6. Hitomi Shimatani
7. Namie Amuro
8. melody
9. Every Little Thing
10. L'Arc~en~Ciel

1. I love this group, even though they only have 3 singles, I like all of them. OVER and RUN RUN RUN were so good, PRIDE was nice also. Planning to buy their album when they come out with one.

2. She is so good lol. I love her first album and her single. decay, Life is like a Boat and I Wanna Go To A Place... are nice =)

3. Surprised no one said this, but I love her Japanese songs. Her korean songs are alright but her Japanese ones are alot better. I have every single one of her albums. Korean and Japanese.

4. Her music is good too. Although its similar to most I still like it. Her 1st and 2nd album are good.

5. Love the music, its got a despressing/sad feel to it haha. I duno I like those =)

6. Her music is nice too, got fast and slow songs both very nice.

7. She's been out since forever. From her "Body Feels Exit" song to "WANT ME WANT ME" its all been good.

8. She is good too although I don't have much from her, what I have is nice.

9. I started running out of ppl I listened to alot so I put this group in. The 3 or so songs I have of them and their accoustic album. I like them all.

10. They are just pretty good. I haven't heard much of them but I know they are really popular and I also ran out of anyone else to put.

Gotta admit though, if it wasn't for anime the only ones I would be listening to are BoA, Namie Amuro and melody

[The 6th]

2) Faye Wong (Eyes on Me etc.)
Faye Wong is Chinese.

[Twizted]

Faye Wong is Chinese.

You are correct sir, but she sings alot of Japanese songs, and is multilingual.

[Meijin]

Damo Suzuki, vocalist of Can.

Only one I can think of right now that hasn't been mentioned.

[BakaKage]

i'll just name my faves coz i don't know a lot of Japanese bands
1. Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy series
2. Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop
3. Tomoyasu Hotei - Composer on the Kill Bill Soundtrack and other Japanese flicks like Samurai Fiction
4 & 5 Noriyuki Asakura & Taku Iwasaki - Rurouni Kenshin OST

[skunkworks]

Moe, could you possible send me some Mono and World's Best Girlfriend stuff? Much appreciated, man.

[Kiba-kun]

1) TM Revolution

Bouncy, fun, and happy - unoriginal maybe, but I can't help but love everything he does. ^_^

2) X Japan
3) Gackt
4) Dir En Grey
5) Tokyo Jihen
6) Rie Fu
7) High and Mighty Colour
8) See Saw
9) Orange Range
10) Asian Kung-Fu Generation

[Miyoko]

1. Ayumi Hamasaki
2. Utadu Hikaru
3. Namie Amuro
4. L'arc~En~Ciel
5. Gackt
6. BoA
7. Shiina Ringo
8. Koda Kumi
9. Asian Kung-Fu Generation
10. Keiko Matsui

1. Amazing artist.. I love everyone one of her songs, her voice is unique and she's extremely beautiful. Great J-Pop Queen. ^________^

2. Utada Hikaru... hmm first time I heard her album I was like wtf. But then I heard more of her songs and listened to them more often and I just love her voice and original music. I love Sakura Drops, First Love, her album Exodus is amazing... keep listening to it, it gets better.

3. I love Namie Amuro's RnB feel to her songs.... very modernized and I'm glad Japan's not painted with one strip of Pop and Rock. Her music has a lot of western influences but keeps that Japanese flavour in it...

4. LARUKU!! The thing that attacted me to this band was Hyde's vocals.. I absolutely love it. I love how alternative rocky and raw his voice sounds, like alotta the bands here in London... especially in the song "Honey".

5. Gackt-sama... man he's a great artist. I prefer his soft pretty songs rather than the whole rock electronic stuff. Kimi ni Aitakute, Mizerable and that amazing collab with Hyde with "Orenji no Taiyou" are great songs. ^________^

6. I first heard BoA through K-Pop... hehe I kinda prefer her Korean songs but she's great at Japanese too. One of my favs is ID; Peace B... hehe but I love it better in Korean. I like the fact she can project her voice powerfully when she wants to... like in the duet with Koda Kumi.

7. Shiina Ringo is a unique japanese artist with a unique voice. Her songs are so original and you can just TELL it's Shiina Ringo on the song when you hear it. I love her music, great J-Rock artist.

8. Koda Kumi... I love most of her songs, she's very beautiful. Hehe, guys... you would love her music videos. Uhm... Ku's songs are very catchy and enjoyable. Her voice is very distinguishable and her music videos... are awesome lol... but a bit raunchy lol. I loved her song "Cutie Honey" and all the stuff she did for FFX.

9. I love their songs and vocals. Ever since Haruka Kanata... hehehe addicted to their music... can listen to em over and over.

10. Keiko Matsui composes AWESOME songs. Seriously... just listening to her play the piano just relaxes me totally. If you love smooth songs, you need Keiko.

Hmm... thats about my favourites.... but there's much more awesome japanese artists rising.... [well ones I've just heard of]... Crystal Kay is quite good... ^^v

Okay theres my two cents... bye bye.

[Pods]

go to the
www.foolishways.com

forum and register. there, you can download a lot of chinese, japanese, and korean music. its a must have site

[cloin]

Not too familiar with Japanese bands, but Ruins is one of the best bands I've ever heard. They changed my life. Sigh is good as well.

[Iwonn]

1.Gackt
2.X- Japan
3.L~arc en Ciel
4.Yoko Kano
5.Ayumi Hamasaki
6.The Pillows
7.Asian Kung-Fu Generation
8.Dir en Grey
9.Utada Hikaru
10.Orange Range

[Kucheeky Badkuya]

Not in any order

All of the artists on the Champloo OST
Rhymester
Gackt- only two songs, the two songs he did in New Fist.
Asian Kung Fu Generation

[Lightningdwd]

Orange Range!!! :D

[endgame]

I don't listen to much Japanese music, but from the ones I've heard:
X Japan
Orange Range
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Plastic Tree (anyone heard of them? -.-)

[killkenada]

Anybody got anything by Laughin' nose?
Ive got the odd one or two songs, but i cant seem to get anymore

[Yatto]

well my favourites are:
not in order........
-asian kungfu generation,
-the pillows,
-Puffy AmiYumi,
-kagrra,
-thee michelle gun elephant,
-the brilliant green,
-shakalabbits,
-do as infinity

by the way, can anyone find me Puffy AmiYumi's 'Red Swing' and 'Toku Suru Karada' lyrics. i've been searching for it but couldn't find it. if anyone can find it, please PM me.

[canza]

1. Utada Hikaru
2. Utada Hikaru
3. Utada Hikaru
4. Utada Hikaru
5. Utada Hikaru
6. Utada Hikaru
7. Utada Hikaru
8. Utada Hikaru
9. Utada Hikaru
10. Utada Hikaru

lol if only you allowed more than 10 :laugh

[Sumoni]

1. Ayumi Hamasaki: She's my fav. jpop artist. Beautiful, silly, creative, and a unique voice. Fav Song: Hanabi

2. Utada Hikaru: I love the english/japanese thrown into her music. Plus her songs are easy for me to sing along to. Fav Song: Simple & Clean

3. Ai Otsuka:Mmm...I'm not sure how I first found her. By accident I think. But she is an amazing singer. Not to mention very cute. Fav Song. Shanbondama

4. Asian KungFu Generation- Discovered them on the AZN channel. Rewrite was the first song I heard by them and I loved it. Ever since then I've been a fan. Fav. Song: Kimi to iu Hana

5. Yoko Kanno: If this was a composer only list she'd be at the top. She is a genius, I didn't notice at first when I bought my anime OSTs that nmost of them had Yoko's name. Fav. OST: Wolf's Rain

6.BoA: mmm...not so much now as before. She was the first asian artist I ever got into. I was looking up Inuyasha and watched one of her videos. But her new stuff isn't as great as her old. Fav. Song: Every Heart

7:Origa: Mmm....okay, okay she's not japanese But she does sing some japanese music and is friends with Yoko Kanno. Fav. Song: Inner Universe

8.Kotoko: mmm...I can't find much about her. But I can't stop lisetneing to this song I found by her. Fav. Song: Wing My Way

9. The pillows: I love tem so much. Yes, since FLCL, but that's how most ppl found out about them, yeah? Fav. Song: One Life

10. Crystal Kay: Gotta give it up for the blasian singer. She's pretty and has a wonderful voice. Fav. Song: Candy

[Dao]

not in any order..

Ayumi Hamasaki

Maaya Sakamoto

Yoko Kanno

L'Arc~en~Ciel

Glay

Asian Kung-fu Generation

Utada Hikaru

Rina Aiuchi

Do As Infinity

Chemistry.


well that's my list

[ViolentlyHappy]

-Utada Hikaru (she's my all time favorite! :glomp)
-Koda Kumi
-Nami Tamaki


there are probably some more i just can't remember them... :kkbook

[azuken]

In no Order:

Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Dir~En~Grey
Larc~en~ciel
Psycho Le Cemu
The Back Horn
Bomb Factory
The Pillows
Nujabe's (Samurai Champloo OST is all i have)



If anyone has any good bittorent sites for j-rock, besides j-pop suki. Please, Please, Please PM me. Please.

[Dyroness]

So many to choose in between ^^

The Back Horn
Triceratops
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
The Pillows
Origa
Plastic Tree
Rip Slyme
L'arc en Ciel
Home Made Kazoku
Orange Range

No special order. But those keep a special place in my collections.

[Brother Wayne Kramer]

1. MxBx
2. Mono
3. World's End Girlfriend
4. G.I.S.M. (everyone forgot them for some reason.... bastards)
5. The Pillows
6. Aoki Takamasa and Tujiko Noriko

seriously, GISM is the greatest dirty crustcore band to come out of the 80's.

[pajamas]

1. Happatai
2. Happatai
3. Happatai
4. Happatai
5. Happatai
6. Happatai
7. Happatai
8. Happatai
9. Happatai
10. Happatai

YATTA!!!!!!!!

[Jink]

Well to start of witht he most obvious one...

Nujabes
What can I say? Nothing that I can will give justice to his musical talent, i'll leave it at that

Gagle
A Hip-Hop group I recently found out. I sent the album out a couple weeks back but I'm sure most people just deleted the PM ^^ Really worth a try, very unique

Midicronica
Now I'm sure no one has heard of this (yet another) Hip-Hop group, I first heard their single San Francisco and I immediatley had to buy the cd, being shipped as I type this. Amazing group, I've been jamming to their single for a while now.

Sadly thats all I really know of Japanese music, aside from Opening and Ending songs I've heard in anime :laugh

[Even]

Nobuo Uematsu:
Love this guy, best composer EVER. Favs: To Zanarkand, Aeris theme, One Winged Angel, Sairin: Kata Tsubasa no Tenshi (Advent: A One Winged Angel, from FF7:AC)

Toshiro Masuda:
the Naruto OST is great.

Orange Range:
very good group. Fav: Kizuna, Asterisk, Hana, SP Thanx (One of the most beautiful songs I know)

Asian Kung-Fu Generation:
been addicted since Haruka Kanata. Fav: E, Rewrite, Kimi to iu Hana

Utada Hikaru:
love the songs from Kingdom Hearts. Fav. Simple and Clean/Hikari

Luna Sea:
Pretty good J-rock band

Porno Grafitti:
Love the first intro of FMA

Most of the artists that have contributed in Naruto: No regret life amongst others.

[Spooky_Bunny]

1. Minawo
2. Hyde (L'arc~en~ciel)
3. Tommy February6
4. Cool Joke
5. T.M. Revolution
6. Move
7. Maaya Sakamoto
8. See-Saw
9. Orange Range
10. Malice Mizer

[Yanagi]

Dir en grey (there's nobody better out there. best lyrics, sound, stage presence. plus the fact that the lead singer never even went to high school still amazes me)

D'espairs Ray (Hizumi, the lead singer, spit in my face after I called out (in Japanese) for water when I saw them in concert. Badass!)

Mucc (get a copy of "Kuchiki no Tou". Now)

Miyavi (he plays some sick guitar...even if he's a complete spaz)

X-Japan (no list is complete without them)

Aya (Chris Novaselick (sp?) of Nirvana and Mike Cameron of Soundgarden played on her first album. She rocks!)

Gackt (I don't dig his newer stuff so much but he has written some of my fave songs...plus any interview with him is comedy gold!)

Chitose Hajime (I adore her. Especially her really old stuff when she mostly played traditional island music "shima-uta")

Kagrra. (all their music is inspired by the Heian era, which was about 1000 years ago. very original sound, not to mention awesome)

No Regret Life (they're pretty new, but their first album blew me away. great lyrics)

[Hangatýr]

Miyavi is a mediocre and highly overrated guitarist, seriously. =/

[Yanagi]

Miyavi is a mediocre and highly overrated guitarist, seriously. =/

Normally I would agree with that statement. But after hearing his live stuff, my opinion was changed a great deal. Only now it really bothers me that his albums are mixed so crappily. Nothing annoys me more than artists who mix their cds too hot -_-

[Hangatýr]

I have both heard and seen his live stuff, and I was not impressed. =/

[CrazyMoronX]

My weird top 10:

That woman that sings "Lemon Tree". Man that song's awesome!

Morning Musume. Only because of "Strawberry Pie".

Whoever the heck wrote the "Drunken Gohan Song".

Tsunami Bomb, because it's the only Japanese band I actually know the name for.

That guy that makes the music for FFT.

That guy that makes the music for FFVI/VII/CT.

That's all I got. :mad

[Rotc Girl]

1. The Pillows
2. Beat Crusaders(?)
3. Band that does the music for Beck (don't know the name, if anyone knows, can they please tell me?)

That's all I listen too, as far as Japanese music.

[destroy_musick]

i'll name five

The Black Mages
Boredoms
Guitar Wolf
Melt Banana
Bathtub Shitter

[im not a sasukefangirl]

um....
1. Utada Hikaru : I love her songs, Passion and Final Distance
2. Younha : I love her songs, Houki Boshi and Touch
3. Asian Kung-Fu Generation : i like Haruka Kanata and Rewrite
4. Orange Range : i love Asterisk and Viva Rock
5. Koda Kumi : real emotion and 1000 Kotoba
6. High and Mighty Color : i love Ichirin no Hana

i didnt put 4 more cuz i dont listen to japanese bands very often.

[Nan Desu Ka]

pretty much all I care about right now are

1. Hyde

2. Gackt

they are beautiful and make beautiful music, what's not to love?

I'm currently listening to Hyde's new album faith.

[The Black Knight]

I listen to the same ones 何ですか(nan desu ka) said.　I also like Asian Kung Fu Generation, orange range.

[Taciturnity]

Tujiko Noriko


YESSS.

In no particular order:

Tujiko Noriko (Plus collaboration with Aoki Takamasa).
Hanayo
Piana
OOIOO
Lily Chou-Chou/Salyu
Cibo Matto
Buffalo Daughter
Akira Yamaoka

[A W S M F O X]

1: Guitar Wolf
If you can imagine the most Rock'n'Roll thing ever, x it by 1000, add distortion, incredible volume, awesome solo's and a dedication to velocity, your probably listening to Guitar Wolf.

2: Boredoms
Just brilliant, chocolate synthesizer is a masterpiece

3: Melt Banana
Awesome noise rock, total awesomeness

4: Teengenerate
Great garage rock band, simply awesome

5: Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
J-rock but with garage punch and awesome sound

6: DJ Sharpnel
Just weird outta control happy core, but with accents of trance, gabba and core.

7: Gack-T
He's Gack-T, need we mention more!?

8: Puffy AmiYumi
Awesome J-Pop, but with own cartoon, and theyre so cute!!!!

9: Guitar Wolf

10: Guitar Wolf

[Suikka]

1. KOTOKO - She's been my favourite artist for over 2,5 years. She's got different kinds of songs, rock, pop and techno... She's just so awesome. And I love I've Sound artists in general.
2. RURUTIA - She's got many slow, beautiful songs and an unique voice.
3. MELL - Another member of I've. Her music kicks ass.
4. All the other I've Sound artists - Eiko Shimamiya, Lia, AYANA... Seriously, I must say that I've is the best Japanese arist group I know.
5. B'z - One of the best J-rock bands.
6. Asian Kung-fu Generation - Same as above.
7. Kenichi Ito - I haven't heard much from him, but I love his music style.
8. Iceman - Lost Complex, Shining Collection and gate I -GATE ODYSSEY- are very markable songs from Iceman.
9. YUI - <3 !
10. Move - Some kick-ass dance music.

[Pretty_Vacant]

1. Scudelia Electro
2. Nana Kitade
3. COOL JOKE
4. Porno Graffiti
5. The Strummers

I only got five! WOO HOO!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/Deppy_legs_/Smileys/Shifty2.gif

[Cell]

*Melt Banana

*Confuse

*Chicken Bowels

*Gauze

[Dr. Boskov Krevorkian]

Some amazing bands have been mentioned, but have my efforts gone unnoticed?

Koenjighyakkei! Come on, guys, check it out!

[Haruka]

1) MUCC
2) Merry
3) The Pillows
4) Art School
5) Penicillin
6) X
7) Janne Da Arc
8) Kagrra
9) Sex MachineGuns
10) Pierrot

[BlueCheese]

A bunch of artists that aren't in any one elses lists (apart from Nujabes) probably cos they are nearly all jazz.

1. Sleepwalker
2. Nujabes
3. Soil and Pimp Sessions
4. Kyoto Jazz Massive
5. Fumio Itabashi
6. Quasimode
7. Jazztronik
8. Studio Apartment
9. DJ Mitsu the Beats
10. Mondo Grosso

[Brother Wayne Kramer]

soil and pimp sessions in japanese?!
holy shit, no wonder it's such rad music.

[BlueCheese]

Yeah they are. They have a new album called Pimpoint coming out in March.

[Sasuke unlimited=)]

tetsuya nomura is the all time numba one artist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i kno its not music but i love him i just had to say it
hes soo cool because he made KH and FF7

[pek]

shing02 gets no love? >_>

[BlueCheese]

Yeah I thought that was strange pek too. He's on my list.

[hitai-ate]

Mine list: (rated according to international fame)

> Uematsu
> Kanno
> Masuda
> Utada
> Hamasaki
> L'Arc~en~Ciel
> Asian Kung-Fu Generation
> Orange Range
> Puffy AmiYumi
> Shonen Knife

My opinion. Peace out. :grin

[chaosakita]

This is really hard, but...

10. Kawabe Chieco
9. Utada Hikaru
8. Angela Aki
7. Asian Kung-fu Generation
6. Nakashima Mika
5. Anna Tsuchiya
4. Kana
3. Kitade Nana
2. Rie fu
1. Onitsuka Chihiro

[GrenGoddess]

yoko kanno is a genius. same with yuki kajiura. i love the fiction junction YUUKA songs. i have their cd smile-big

[Dr. Boskov Krevorkian]

Wow, my list is probably well into the 40s now.

[Lamb]

Boris
Guitar Wolf
Soil & Pimp Sessions
World's End Girlfriend
Electric Eel Shock
Melt Banana
MONO
The 50 Kaitenz
Shonen Knife

only ones I can name off my head that I really really love

though Mutyumu is getting close

[dilbot]

Don't listen to much Jap music actually...

1. X-Japan - FUcking download it...now!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Nujabes

3. Gagle

4. Clammbon

At first I thought Clammbon was just plain old boring J-Pop but I've been spinning them a lot lately and I'm in-fucking-love. Harada Ikuko's voice is so unique and warming, and the composition of their songs isn't half bad (it's good but nothing ground breaking). You can tell in their songs that they love music and that they love having fun with it. You can clearly imagine them writing some of their songs under a tree on a nice spring-summer day.

[escamoh]

envy
mono
world end girlfriend
nujabes
mutyumu
koh otani
clammbon
boris
324
noboe uematsu (however you spell his name)

that's from what i know and i don't listen to much japanese music

[Jove]

hmmmm, I don't listen to as much as I'd like to, but...

5. Luminous Orange
4. HERMIT
3. Cornelius
2. Fujifabric
1. Shugo Tokumaru

[NingyoHime]

Thats really hard to choose since I have alot of Japanese Artists on my ipodXD

1.Kumi Koda-I Love her voice, shes got an amazing Singing voice and I Love her music:]
2.Hamasaki Ayumi
3.Hikaru Utada
4.BoA
5.Asian Kung-Fu Generation
6.GazettE
7.Namie Amuro
8.UVERworld
9.Miyavi

[Shibo]

I dont really have a specific order but some of my faves are Hajime Chitose, beautiful music. Im a big Supercar fan, Nujabes is also great, Akira Yamaoka ( think silent hill ), whoever made Crisis Core's music is pretty cool too, Plastic Tree, The Pillows, Hagakure, Kaggra... cant really think of others atm.

I admire Gackt a lot for what he is and can do, and he has a beautiful voice and cool songs, but his music tends to bore me after a while. However he's just a cool person, he can do anything.

[Hangatýr]

Thats really hard to choose since I have alot of Japanese Artists on my ipodXD

1.Kumi Koda-I Love her voice, shes got an amazing Singing voice and I Love her music:]
2.Hamasaki Ayumi
3.Hikaru Utada
4.BoA
5.Asian Kung-Fu Generation
6.GazettE
7.Namie Amuro
8.UVERworld
9.Miyavi

BoA is Korean. =p

[mow]

this thread reminded me how much i utterly love Xinlisupreme and the fact i havent spun them or pimped them in the md

this shall be remedied soon

[Perverse]

OK, let's see, in no particular order...

Nujabes
Nomak
Mutyumu
Mono
World's End Girlfriend
Samon Kawamura
The 50 Kaitenz
Shin-Ski
Haruka Nakamura
Les Rallizes Denudes

They're 10 I love, off the top of my head.

[Mrs.Lovett]

Uyama Hiroto
Nujabes
Yoko Kanno
Shiina Ringo
Mutyumu
Gackt
Utada
The PIllows
L'arc~en~Ciel
Monkey Majik

[Nny]

Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Maximum the Hormone
Yoko Kanno
miyavi
The 5 6 7 8's
BEAT CRUSADERS

[Lamb]

BoA is Korean. =p

or if you want to actually be cool they're British =p

[NingyoHime]

BoA is Korean. =p

She sings Japanese Songs too.Not Just Korean.

[Un-Chan]

I only gots 6 :arg

6. Nana Kitade : Probably one of the best J-Artists ever. I dunno why. :oh
5. Hideki Naganuma : For all JSRF fans, it should be obvious why I put him there.
4. Nightmare : As you can tell, I'm a Deathnotetard.
3. HoneyBee : Listen to No Rock No Life and get back to me.
2. Cool Joke : I originally liked them more than L'Arc, but now I like them less. :LOS
1. L'arc~En~Ciel : The first Japanese band I ever heard, and I still love them. :pek

[Altron]

1.Tamaki Nami
2.Two-Mix
3.Taku Iwasaki
4.SABOTEN
5.Stance Punks
6.Flow
7.Yuko Goto
8.Kaori
9.L'Arc-En-Ciel
10.The Back Horn

[Lord Yu]

1.Boris
2.Sigh
3.Nujabes
4.Soil & Pimp Sessions
5.World's End Girlfriend
6.Mutyumu
7.Koenji Hyakkei
8. Sleep Walker
9. Super Junky Monkey
10. Le Silo

[Lolitalush]

1.Dir En Grey
2.Gackt
3.L'Arc en Ciel
4.HYDE
5.Utada Hikaru
6.HOMEMADE Kazoku
7.Ayumi Hamasaki
8.Nana Kitade
9.Hearts Grow
10.Rurutia

[delirium]

Shiina Ringo

FUCK YEAH SHIINA.

Rakujitsu is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

[sel]

She sings Japanese Songs too.Not Just Korean.

Still makes her Korean. Orquesta de la Luz sing in Spanish but they're still among my top Japanese artists.

[RugaRell]

Dont really know that many, but i like most the hiphop/triphop stuff

1. Nujabes
2. Giant Panda
3. Uyama Hiroto
4. M-Flo
5. Teryaki Boyz
6. Tsutchi
7. Force Of Nature

[Anego]

1. Nakashima Mika
beautiful voice, can sing various kind of music.

2. Mr. Children
great j-pop group from long time ago

3. Southern All Stars
veteran group, I guess from 70s, and they are still popular in japan until now

4. S.E.N.S
great duo, producing mass of instrumentalia

5. DEPAPEPE
great duo guitars

6. KOKIA
very talented person

7.Hajime Chitose
unique voice

8. Kousuke Atari
he is the man version of Hajime Chitose (same voice style)

9. Hajime Mizoguchi
one of my very favorite composer

10. DEEN and TUBE
2 good groups that I know from long time ago.

[Knives And Lint]

Umm people have already named most of what I know and like.
Some of my faves are Shiina Ringo and CHARA.
And I've heard a little bit of YUKI too, liked her.

[Eldritch]

1. Keno
2. Utada Hikaru
3. Koda Kumi
4. Back-On
5. ZZ

others are meh

[Loulabelle]

1) TM Revolution

Bouncy, fun, and happy - unoriginal maybe, but I can't help but love everything he does. ^_^

I LOVE TMR :argh
He's so ghey and embarassing, but I love him :3



*Sigh*
I'm going to sound typical but

1) Dir en Grey
-I've loved nearly every single song they've done. Kyo's lyrics are amazing and I don't think there's anyone else like them.

2) the GazettE (though I still say Gazette 'cause I'm badass)
-I'm such a GazeFag. :sag Same as Diru, really, and it's been really fun to see them evolve.

3) 12012
-Wah, there's been some controversy about this band ever since Wataru got himself arrested (LOL) but I don't think any less of them and I really enjoy their material.

4) An Cafe
-I'm really surprised I actually liked this band the first time I heard them and that I'm still a fan now. Though I don't approve of how Miku's slowly becoming more feminine, seemingly only to take Bou's place, I still like they're music. I think it's awesome they're liked by both VK and Jpop fans. <3 Shouldn't be this high up though. :sweat

5) Gackt.
What a guy, lulz. He's been around forever, and his voice is still gorgeous.

6) アリス九號. (alice nine.)
-I'm a huge Arisu fan. I love all of their stuff and will definitely stick with them for a long time.

7) しゃるろっと (charlotte)
-This band is pretty popular, but I only got into them recently. I really love their happy-go-lucky attitude, and their sound's pretty good too.

8) Miyavi
-He's really not meant to be this low down on my list, I just forgot about him. :sag Myv is incredibly popular and in my opinion, for good reason. Though I'm one of the fans that's unsure about his new album (we all hate his little hype man :notrust). There's just no one like him. ^__^

9) LM.C
-Awesome. I love their look and I think Maya and Aiji work well together. Aiji is, of course, awesome and although Maya isn't the best vocalist out there, he's still pretty good and definitely unique. These guys are so happy o3o

10) Maximum the Hormone
-These also shouldn't be this far down 'cause they're awesome. I'm running out of stuff to say so I'm just gonna say they're brilliant and again, definitely unique.


There's more I want to add :argh


:sweat Wrote too much. Lots of tl;dr :sag

[animebutterfly]

I don't have ten fav Japanese artist, but I really like on Japanese artist a lot and she's Ikimono Gakari. Yup, I think I spelled her name right. :sweatdrop

[|)/-\\/\/|\|]

1-Utada Hikaru
2-Utada Hikaru
3- ...

You can figure the rest. I've fallen in love with her voice and performance the day I listened to First Love and Automatic. I tried to listen to her new songs but they were really different from the old.

I tried to listen to other popular Japanese artists and couldn't stand it at all. Her voice just pierces through my heart and senses.

There are some other japanese artists that I listen to but they can't compare to how admire utada so I won't be mentioning any.

[MrChrono]

1. Nujabes
2. Nomak
3. Uyama Hiroto
4. Cro-Magnon
5. GAGLE

After this it gets hard, about any artists in BlueCheese's Japanese music thread, GUIDO, Yasunori Mitsuda, Asian Kung Fu Generation, Eccy, SOIL & PIMP Sessions etc

[Altron]

Stance Punks
One Ok Rock
Ore Ska Band
The Pillows
The Back Horn
Inoue Joe
Knotlamp
HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
UVERworld

[RyRyMini]

1. Amuro Namie
2. Hamasaki Ayumi
3. Do As Infinity
4. the brilliant green
5. Utada Hikaru
6. GReeeeN
7. Perfume

The others that I'd consider to be favorites aren't ethnically Japanese so I won't count them. =\

[chaosakita]

Stance Punks
One Ok Rock
Ore Ska Band
The Pillows
The Back Horn
Inoue Joe
Knotlamp
HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
UVERworld

It looks like someone only listens to anime bands.

[Chemistry]

Finally a good thread in this excuse of a section!

1. AKFG
2. Chemistry
3. Emi Hinouchi
4. Hikaru Utada
5. Ai Otsuka
6. m-Flo
7. Ayumi Hamasaki
8. Perfume
9. Crystal Kay
10. Tohoshinki

Personal preference of course =D

[Dr. Boskov Krevorkian]

lololol fucking Japanophiles.

[Altron]

It looks like someone only listens to anime bands.

Your point? Bands are bands, and i could care less what you think. :zaru :fu

[Dr. Boskov Krevorkian]

Your point? Bands are bands, and i could care less what you think. :zaru :fu

YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG

[Cax]

YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG

dfghdfghdfghdfg

[Chemistry]

Hey Dr. Boskov Krevorkian why is your ava a picture of me?

[Dr. Boskov Krevorkian]

Because it's an awesome picture.

[musiclovr89]

Teriyaki Boys. That is all.

[chaosakita]

Your point? Bands are bands, and i could care less what you think. :zaru :fu

lol ur so edgy

Not.

If you're only listening to bands because of that song they did for anime, I really fail to see how you could know that much about them.

[Daedus]

1. The Seatbelts
2. Birushanah
3. Sigh
4. DMBQ
5. Gonin-Ish
6. Dir en grey
7. Toe
8. Kashiwa Daisuke
9. Mutyumu
10. Intestine Baalsim

[Mrs.Lovett]

Yoko Kanno, Joe Hisaishi, and the guys from HYDEOUT productions. Freaking love the whole sound they have going.

[Chemistry]

Because it's an awesome picture.

Oh thanks!

[Al-Yasa]

carl douglas ? his not japanese ....but still

[chaosakita]

carl douglas ? his not japanese ....but still

But this thread is the "Top 10 Japanese Artists" thread.

[zoro_santoryu]

Utada Hikaru
Ayumi Hamasaki
YUI
Kat-tun
BoA

Their all good!!

[Jaejin]

Koda Kumi
Yuna Ito
m-flo
OLIVIA
YUI
Nakashima Mika
EXILE
Utada Hikaru
_____

alan (Tibetan singing Japanese ♥)
Tohoshinki (Koreans singing Japanese; among the top artists)
BoA (Korean singing Japanese; among the top artists)
Younha (Korean singing Japanese)
Jero (Afro-American singing Japanese-enka; among the top artists) -> He's kinda cool :|

[Bluebella]

shion tsuji
Alice Nine
LM.C
Rurita
Ruvir
Every little thing
Abingdon boys school
Ikimono-Gakari
Acid Black Cherry

[Major]

Sorry to lazy to list... but I would say at the top on my list is Kodo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPdOmY1BjAU

I love their music. :kloff

[KawpyNinja]

UBER WORLD!!!....its the only japanese band i kno..... -_-...but i stil like em.

[fabio]

1. 宇多田ヒカル
2. 山崎まさよし
3. ellegarden
4. maximum the hormone
5. 愛大塚
6. mr children
7. southern all stars.
8. 井上ジョー
9. polysics
10. 中島美嘉

i really like green i guess green can be part of my list as a half. i like other music, but too much to list. I really enjoy going to rockin' on japan, summer sonic, fuji rock,(jp) and pentaport rock (kr) festivals. i haven't seen hikaru since shes always sold out. i can make a different top ten for shows i've seen quite a few bands. i like you all's list though, it seems all the same. i'm assuming because of video games and or anime? right?
貴方たちは日本語わからないね　どうしてはその日本のうたが好きですか　てめがあほかねへんで っしょね

[spikes31]

i don't know ten japanes bands but
Maximum the Hormone and Supercar are the shit. you should really check them out. Supercar is definitely the best thing i've ever heard that ever came out of japan.

[chaosakita]

1. 宇多田ヒカル
2. 山崎まさよし
3. ellegarden
4. maximum the hormone
5. 愛大塚
6. mr children
7. southern all stars.
8. 井上ジョー
9. polysics
10. 中島美嘉

貴方たちは日本語わからないね　どうしてはその日本のうたが好きですか　てめがあほかねへんで っしょね

lol, you like Otsuka Ai but you hate Ayumi?

and lol too at the pretentious stuff in Japanese

So it's like "anata tachi wa nihongo wa (shouldn't it be は) karanai ne doushite wa sono nihongo uta ga suki desu ka teme ga aho ga ne hen de (stuff)"

Because it sound nice.

And I can read your message after all. No need to put it in white next time.

And always, wtf at people who like to talk formal on English-based message boards.

[fabio]

lol, you like Otsuka Ai but you hate Ayumi?

and lol too at the pretentious stuff in Japanese

So it's like "anata tachi wa nihongo wa (shouldn't it be は) karanai ne doushite wa sono nihongo uta ga suki desu ka teme ga aho ga ne hen de (stuff)"

Because it sound nice.

And I can read your message after all. No need to put it in white next time.

And always, wtf at people who like to talk formal on English-based message boards.

wakaranai not wa by itself ;) why would wa be there if obviously anatatachi was marked by wa and clearly is the subject? so if you read what i said, what did i say? the correct particle would be "ga" that would have followed nihongo but i chose not to put it there. whats up with all the wierd word breaks? like wakaranai turned into wa by itself or ahoka turned into aho ga? can you really read what i'm saying? or are you just trying to one up me somehow mr babelfish reader?
also what are you talking about talking formal? its everyday speech.

i do like ai otsuka her songs sound more charming to me and she has a nicer rather soothing voice. ayumi is trash.

[chaosakita]

wakaranai not wa by itself ;) why would wa be there if obviously anatatachi was marked by wa and clearly is the subject? so if you read what i said, what did i say? the correct particle would be "ga" that would have followed nihongo but i chose not to put it there. whats up with all the wierd word breaks? like wakaranai turned into wa by itself or ahoka turned into aho ga? can you really read what i'm saying? or are you just trying to one up me somehow mr babelfish reader?
also what are you talking about talking formal? its everyday speech.

After taking no formal schooling in Japanese whatsoever, it's something like "You guys can't read Japanese. Why do you like those songs? You are stupid/a fool and strange." Or something like that for the last sentence.

Like I said, I haven't taken any Japanese at all, so I don't claim to be right all of the time. So thanks for correcting me.

The word breaks are there to mirror your breaks.

Desu is a polite copula. Maybe it's everyday speech in Japan, but we're on an internet forum.

i do like ai otsuka her songs sound more charming to me and she has a nicer rather soothing voice. ayumi is trash.

Funny, Aicchin is one of the first people that are mentioned when they're asked who's voice do they dislike the most. The next is Chara.

[dilbot]

Fabio since you do reside in Asia, how's the popularity of X-Japan?

[chaosakita]

Fabio since you do reside in Asia, how's the popularity of X-Japan?

Those guys haven't released an actual album in more than a decade, haven't they?

[fabio]

how do they mirror my breaks? i didn't cut my words in half.
would you rather me say da rather than desu? i can use da if you'd like

more of

you guys don't know japanese right why do you like japanese songs? what the fuck? weird isn't it?
ahoka can be used as stupid but in this context i can be used as more of a what the fuck. by the way i didn't take any formal schooling either, i guess i picked it up the same way i did english being constantly around it.

i really could care less what other people think of her, i mean her albums do sell don't they? people still go to her show. If i think i like her voice then i guess i like her voice.

[chaosakita]

how do they mirror my breaks? i didn't cut my words in half.

Then that's just a mistake on my part.

would you rather me say da rather than desu? i can use da if you'd like

Yeah whatever.


more of

you guys don't know japanese right why do you like japanese songs? what the fuck? weird isn't it?


Sure.

ahoka can be used as stupid but in this context i can be used as more of a what the fuck. by the way i didn't take any formal schooling either, i guess i picked it up the same way i did english being constantly around it.

I actually don't have the fortune of experiencing Japan besides the airport (which is really nice by the way).

i really could care less what other people think of her, i mean her albums do sell don't they? people still go to her show. If i think i like her voice then i guess i like her voice.[/QUOTE]

Love Letter got number three. Someone said it was a flop.

Otsuka composes for herself, but Love Piece sounded repetitive. Kurage was better though, although there still is a weird feeling of sameness in her music.

[Tseka]

Maria Ozawa is the most beautiful porn star I've ever seen.

I consider porn an art.

[ZarakiLee]

maximum the hormone, teriyaki boyz, m-flo, rip slyme

[fabio]

i especially like planetarium by her, and that one song she sung for new years eve, actually to be honest i liked ayumi's as well

ummm which airport? i like narita more than nagoya. k back to work peace out

[64palms]

Did I answer this as well?
1. Gauge Means Nothing
2. Sigh
3. Intestine Baalism
4. Coaltar of the Deepers
5. Nitro Mega Prayer
6. Endzweck
7. Nervous Light of Sunday
8. Acidman
9. Slick Scratch
10. Crystal Lake

Something like that.
I know it said artists, but I wrote bands.

[chaosakita]

ummm which airport? i like narita more than nagoya. k back to work peace out

I went to Narita. Maybe sometime I'll be able to leave it.

[abstract]

1. nujabes
2. nujabes
3. nujabes
4. nujagbes
5. nujabes
6. nujabes
7. nujabes
8. nujabes
9. nujabes
10. nujabes

[Lamb]

Did I answer this as well?
1. Gauge Means Nothing
2. Sigh
3. Intestine Baalism
4. Coaltar of the Deepers
5. Nitro Mega Prayer
6. Endzweck
7. Nervous Light of Sunday
8. Acidman
9. Slick Scratch
10. Crystal Lake

Something like that.
I know it said artists, but I wrote bands.

CTtS reference?

[Intrepid]

Love Psychodelico
Gackt
Hikaru Utada
Yuna Ito
Ai Onitsuka
w-inds
Brilliant Green
Tommy february

[Megatonton]

Just gonna dive right in, now, do I? :argh

1. Chemistry
2. Shimizu Shota (I kinda like his voice.)
3. Yuna Ito
4. Hyde
5. Gackt
6. Asian Kung-Fu Gen
7. Utada Hikaru
8. Mr. Children (Though I need more samples, still a great band.)
9. Uverworld (Some hits and misses.)
10. w-inds

[Ralphy♥]

well i don't have a top ten but my favorite japanese band is Supercar. There music is amazing and they have so many singles. I especially like the work they did on Eureka Seven. To bad they broke up :(

[Table]

1.) Dir en grey
Love them because it seems with each album they evolve musically. I can find a song of theirs to match any mood I'm in. They may not be the most talented band, yet somehow when they're all put together, it's just brilliant to me. I find a lot of their songs to be very expressive emotionally.

2.) D'espairsRay
Their songs just get me going. And I love Hizumi's vocals. Amazing live.

The following artists aren't in any particular order...

3.) Aural Vampire
Gothic electropop. Just really good music to dance and work out to.

4.) The Candy Spooky Theater
The name explains it all, in my opinion. They put on a great show. It's more about the theatrics at times, than the music. But it's lighthearted, eerie fun. And always brings me to Halloween.

5.) Balzac
I love good horror punk.

6.) the GazettE
They have good range in their varying songs, good vocals as well, and catchy tunes.

7.) Toshiro Masuda
I just like the songs he did for Naruto... very good.

8.) Gackt
I mean, he is just Gackt. He's almost godlike.

9.) Utada Hikaru
'nuff said.

10.) Euthanasie

Makes me want to go to some BDSM nightclub in Japan xD

[Jove]

Certainly is uplifting to see more references to Supercar. "Otagi Nation" is a masterpiece, an ideal song.

[rukahanase]

Haido-sama's birthday is comming up! My top ten?
1. The Gazette
2. SUG
3. KRA
4. ANCAFE
5. HYDE/VAMPS
6. GACKT/MALICE MIZER
7. FICTION JUNCTION
8. TM REVOLUTION/ ABINGDON BOYS SCHOOL
9.ALI PROJECT
10. MIYAVI/MYV

[chaosakita]

Haido-sama's birthday is comming up! My top ten?
1. The Gazette
2. SUG
3. KRA
4. ANCAFE
5. HYDE/VAMPS
6. GACKT/MALICE MIZER
7. FICTION JUNCTION
8. TM REVOLUTION/ ABINGDON BOYS SCHOOL
9.ALI PROJECT
10. MIYAVI/MYV

There's more to Japanese music besides visual kei.

[rukahanase]

yap.. uhh but I'm looove them the most though I listen to utada , chemistry ,orangerange, once in a while... we have diff. tastes in music havent we (^_^)

[Amuro-ro-ro]

Haven't posted here for quite a long time.

1. Namie Amuro (The artist that I respect the most.)
2. Koda Kumi (Hot mess, but I can't help but love her!)
3. Ayumi Hamasaki (She was my favorite before Namie came along. She'll always hold a special place in my heart.)
4. Tohoshinki (Korean, I know, but they have a Japanese career as well. I'm not one for boy bands really, but they changed my mind. They're actually really good!)
5. Nobuo Uematsu (What's not to love, honestly?)
6. Takeru Ishimoto (Composed some beast shit for Crisis Core.)
7. Utada Hikaru (Who doesn't?)

And I'm not sure who to put as my next three. I have a bunch of JP artists that I listen to, including Seiko Matsuda, TOKIO, m-flo, Teriyaki Boyz, Ken Hirai, Gackt, Tsuchiya Anna - I'm not sure!

[chaosakita]

yap.. uhh but I'm looove them the most though I listen to utada , chemistry ,orangerange, once in a while... we have diff. tastes in music havent we (^_^)

I think someone doesn't realize other artists exist.

[Yakushi Kabuto]

1. Radwimps
2. Inugami Circus-dan (such power <3)
3. The Pillows
4. Plastic Tree (was my favorite band for the longest time before Radwimps)
5. Angela (it was instant love upon hearing the vocalist)
6. Kra
7. globe (ah, now that's a classic I haven't seriously listened to in awhile)
8. Tsubaki
9. shing02
10. Kagrra

[64palms]

CTtS reference?
I can't imagine otherwise.

[Ralphy♥]

Certainly is uplifting to see more references to Supercar. "Otagi Nation" is a masterpiece, an ideal song.

Yea i especially like the songs Planet, Lucky, Recreation, Yagami Last Boy, and Story Writer.

[Ayer]

Last Alliance.

They probably take up the most space in my iPod.

Some songs I really like are:

Solitude

Muso Jidai

Mujuuryoku ONEWAY SHUTTLE

[Dattebayo-chan]

I don't know 10 japanese artists, but I love Gackt. Asian Kung-fu Generation are also good and Toshiro Masuda made great music for the Naruto anime. :X3

[Baub]

Susmu Hirasawa is up there on my list along with P-Model.

[blueangel326]

1. Ayumi Hamasaki (she was my first favorite, and shall always continue to be, even if I don't listen to her most recent stuff. She's a great lyricist, and her songs are so original and moving.)
2. UVERworld (Takuya is hot and is an awesome vocalist, rapper, beatboxer, guitarist. While they are a band, Takuya really does make the band. They come in as a close second.)
3. Do As Infinity (I was SO upset when I heard they were disbanding just as I was getting into them.)
4. BoA (She got me into J-Pop more than I thought I would be.)
5. HIGH and MIGHTY Color (Love the mixed rock and metal with the soprano singer - good combination)
6. abingdon boys school (TM Revolution in a rockband = WIN)
7. Orange Range (their weird style is what makes me like them)
8. Asian Kung-Fu Generation (when they come out with a really good song, they come REALLY come out with a good song)
9. Tommy Heavenly6 (She has dark songs, but they're very interesting)
10. Back-On (just recently discovered them, and they are really good)

I know this thread is pretty old, but meh.

[Ennoea]

Poly ABC and School Food Punishment are what im mostly listening to lately, pretty good.

[Adachi]

Ayumi Hamasaki, Utada Hikaru, and Remioromen for me only so far

[Bellatrix]

Well I don't know many of them, but I love YUI, Gackt and Nobuo Uematsu.

[Alex.]

Ayaka. :high She'll probably my top favourite for a long time.

Mika Nakashima

Hoshimura Mai

Ai

Ai Otsuka

Arashi

That's kinda it..we'll edit if I remember anybody.

[Nightforce]

DJ Shimamura
Betwixt & Between
DJ Guld
REDALiCE
DJ Sharpnel
M-Neko
Buzzmasta
Kenta-v.ez.
RoughSketch
t+pazolite
...

There are so many great japanese artists out there =]

[HakusGirl154]

Okay, here's my top:

1. Ayumi Hamasaki
In my eyes, a musical genius. Her voice is gorgeous, and her fashion sense is unparalelled.

2. Miyavi
The hottest visual kei man to ever rock this world. I'm just waiting for him to come to Rhode Island ¬.¬

3. Gackt
I have never met a song of his I didn't like. From Speed Master to December Love Song, just complete perfection.
By the way, December Love Song is mine. I was born in December, so my friends consider it Gackt's birthday present to me^^

4. Mana
My favourite extreme visual kei guy. Without him, Malice Mizer was not extreme enough.

5. Malice Mizer
I love the musicians separately, but the band needed a little credit, too. They made me love harpsichord and organ in a death-metallic sort of way.

6. Yoshiki
Cheers to the best man to team up with Hello Kitty (Yoshikitty, anyone?). Pretty much the leading lord of S.K.I.N. (the most thoughtful superband of Sugizo, Yoshiki, Gackt, and Miyavi).

7. Sugizo
Sugizo is my idol for the violin, as he does it sooooooo well. I could not find a better J-rocker on violin.

8. Kami
Kami, my man, you passed so young. He died in his sleep in 1999. Hence my alias, Kami-chan. I am Kami's little girl. 'Nuff said.

9. X Japan
Again, the band needs a little credit. Another super-cool visual kei band.

10. Home Made Kazoku
Thank you very much for making me cry at Shooting Star. The story behind that is, that song seriously reminded me of my best friend. So when I went to Indiana, listening to it made me considerably homesick and I just bawled my eyes out.

11. HalCali
Long Kiss Good-bye is up there in my favourite songs now. This bubblegum-rap duo is incredible. Need I say more?

Sorry for putting in 11. I coudn't help myself ^^'.

[Hentai]

Gackt
Hyde ->
L'Arc en Ciel
Bonnie Pink
kotoko
Yoko Kano

[Kage no Yume]

1. Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Mitsuda: more for Chrono Trigger than Final Fantasy.

2. Yoko Kanno: The Bebop soundtrack alone puts her near the top

3. Maaya Sakamoto: Not sure why, but I really like that style of music.

4. Utada Hikaru: Kinda my intro to J-pop.

5. Mika Nakashima: Yuki no Hana is one of the most beautiful songs I've come across.

6. BoA: Loved the Inuyasha openings/endings.

7. Ayumi Hamasaki: Also has great songs.



I'm thinking I need to look up some of the artists mentioned here.

[mystictrunks]

Not sure if its 10

DJ kentaro - Beast on the turntables
Nujabes
Go!Go!7188
The Pillows
Teryaki Boyz
Nigo
Ore Ska Band
Pizzicato 5
Boris

[forumer147]

Arashi -coz I like their songs so much when I listen to them

[Lucaniel]

I dunno if I have enough.

In no particular order:

Boris
LITE
Envy
GO!GO!7188
Sigh

...nope, haven't got enough. I'm already reaching artists I don't even like all that much :sweatdrop

[vanh]

1. Nujabes - Just too much win.
2. Kenmochi Hidefumi
3. Michita
4. Kojima Mayumi
5. World's End Girlfriend.

[sharpie]

I wouldn't say they are top 10 material. But they are my favs in no particular order...

Yui
Asian kung-fu generation
Chatmonchy
school food punishment (hot sh*t!!! Check em' out!)
Sambomaster
Mai Hoshimura
Younha (I'm more partial to her self-produced, Korean stuff tho)
Acoustic Girl
Maaya Sakamoto
and anything that Yoko Kanno has composed or had her hand in producing.

[Beowulf]

3 - Mono

Japanese Post-rock band, What a suprise it was to find that. Im glad to find that not all of Japan is stuck in generic J-rock/J-pop

Goddamn are these guys amazing! :'(

Also, WEG is awesome too, as with their collaborations with Mono, but where can I find their albums?

[Sasori]

Yui
Zeebra

[KentaLjung]

I only know a few :\

1.Galneryus
2.MUCC
3.dir en grey
4.Saboten

[Alice]

Ayaka
Utada
Gackt
Gazette
L'arc~en~Ciel
Dir en Grey
Ayumi Hamasaki

for me ;_____;

[ღ•°◦teo°◦•ღ]

1.ayumi hamasaki:iria
2.mika nakashima:haha
3.utada hikaru:love
4.nana kitade:ruri
5.onitsuka chihiro:ohpek
6.orange range
7.gackt
8.an cafe
9.uverworld
10.NEWS

[ZexionAxel]

my favoutite are:

Yui
Back-on
Gackt
Despair ray
Nightmare
Shota shimizu
Aqua timez
Mono
X-Japan
M-flo
Nujabes
Ayaka
Uverworld
Angela aki
Abingdon Boys School
Utada hikaru
Orange Range
Knotlamp
Bz
Asian Kung-fu Generation
Chemistry

yeah here it is :quite.