The offical J-rock/J-pop discussion thread

[kanopon]

Who are your favorite Japanese singers???

I like to listen to music by See-Saw.
They sing for most of the music for dot hack.
I like the songs they made for .hack//LIMINALITY.
:)
I also like to listen to music by Megumi Hayashibara.
She's also a great voice actor and plays for a
great deal of Anime shows!! :D
Such as...Evangelion (Rei), The Slayers(Lina Inverse),
Saber Marrionnette J(Lime), and many others!!!
From what I here, she's like a big celebrity and
is VERY popular among Anime Fans. ^_^

[ytsohg]

dont know many but i ve heard like 6 songs By Asian kung fu Generation and ther'yegood uhmmmm Flow is kool... bout all i know... never heard ayumi hamasaki or somethin

[Tsugakyu]

I listen to Hifana and Buffalo Daughter

[Edit]:

Did you know swedish music is really big in Japan?
Like Carola (SUCKS!) and The Hives (RULES!)

[fire_shadow]

See-Saw is pretty good. I was into Gackt for awhile. L'arc~en~ciel is awesome! (They did the theme for FullMeatl Alchemist, FYI) I like the Gundam SEED music too, as well as the Wolf's Rain, Peacemaker, and Samurai X soundtracks....

[Cami_Kaminari]

I like Puffy Amiyumi, Rhythm, and Flow. Used to be a major fan of Gackt.

[Tsugakyu]

I know some really obscene Japanese punk bands. Just PM me if you want to know more.

[Edit]:

Har har har :D:D

[marz76]

Hmmn, just my two cents worth.

I don't know the names of the artist, but as for OST's

I like

The Naruto OST's 1 & 2 the intro songs, and ending songs are very good, but the chorus track sand beat tracks are just as good.

Best of Inuysha is another great OST. Mainly vocals.

For classical style and symphonic you can't beat Final Fantasy..any OST and
one of my current favorites is Full Metal alchemist..very good scores and symphonic music..very moving.

Of course the pillows...FLCL OST is my favorite. Great Rock and Roll JPOP style...

The last thing is ..Japanese composers and music producers are very cutting edge and yet traditionally influenced.

Okay I think i contributed more than two cents, but hey its a forum, and "they" tell us not to be vague with out responces..

Laters

[~K+]

Um, my favourites are:

Mika Nakashima, Ayumi Hamasaki, Every Little Thing, Chihiro Onitsuka, Hitomi Yaida, hitomi, Do As Infinity, Shiina Ringo, the Brilliant Green, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, L'arc~en~Ciel, Fayray, MISIA and LOVE PSYCHEDELICO.

Oh dear, forgot to put 'fra-foa' and 'CORE OF SOUL'.

[hatsuyume]

I really haven't heard that much, but I do like Ayumi Hamasaki, Maaya Sakamoto, and L'Arc~en~Ciel. For classical stuff, I like Nobuo Uematsu, Kenji Ito, and Yasunori Mitsuda.

[sperry]

For bands/singers, I'm a fan of mostly just Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Tamaki Nami, and See-Saw. L'arc~en~Ciel and T.M. Revolution are alright.

As for composers, I love Yuki Kajiura. (She's done .hack music, Noir, Madlax, and the Xenosaga II soundtrack, among other things.) Her music is so unique, which is one of the reasons I love it.
And of course, no list could be complete without Nobuo Uematsu.

[slurgeon]

I have heard numerous Japanese punk and metal bands that caught my attention. Onmyo-za is one that stood out. The female vocals over the heavy metal is kinda nice.

[eternally]

I really like the game soundtracks I've Sound produces. For artists I like move (Initial D fame), KOTOKO, and Rurutia. My fav composer is Joe Hisashi..love the Princess Mononoke soundtrack xD.

[Ketsueki]

I mainly download the songs from my favourite anime shows... downloaded an Asian Kung-Fu Generation album, Orange Range too, and quiet a few single's from One Piece's intro's and endings. It's funny, the other day I found myself quietly singing along to quite a few asian kung-fu generations songs, and I hardly know any Japanese.

[DeathWolf]

i like gundam seed songs and i hav them.........like meteor..invoke..find the way etc etc etc

[shikainocho]

It's all about Yoko Kanno

[ninamori]

There's already a tread for this, I think....

Oh well, here I go:
Dir en grey
Moi Dix Mois
Malice Mizer
The Pillows
Gackt
Beat Crusaders
Shiina Ringo
MUCC
Penicillin
Peirrot
Jude
Nice Marbles
Smorgas
Bad Fish
Mr. Children
The Brilliant Green
ect. ect.

[Catatonik]

Dir En Grey
Malic Mizer and, the ultimate in expiremental metal...

Sigh

Yes, gods they are unto.

[Kiie-chan]

I really like Jap music but I listen to korean music as well! Anyway, I'll just list my favourite artists now...

Singers/bands:
Utada Hikaru
Gackt
Ryohei Yamamoto
Maaya Sakamoto
TiA
Tsukiko Amano
Tamaki Nami

Bands:
Do As Infinity
Flow
Asian Kung Fu Generation
Yellow Generation
L'arc~en~Ciel

Composers:
Yuki Kajiura
Nobuo Uematsu
Toshiro Masuda
Joe Hisaishi

[erosennin-fin]

ayumi hamasaki is the best :love
also good japanese music: utada hikaru, aikawa nanase, asian kung-fu generation

[Lacus Clyne]

Humm...let's see

Gackt
Namie Amuro
W-inds
Kumi Koda
Ayumi Hamasaki
Dir en grey
Orange Range
L'arc~En~Ciel
Asian Kung Fu Generation
Utada Hikaru

[Nyx]

I will never understand how so many people can like Ayumi Hamasaki... Her voice is just awful.

I listen to a lot of Jrock... It'd be crazy to list them all. Dir en grey is my favorite, though, especially with Withering to death in my possession. *love* I listen to a lot of older stuff, too, like Kuroyume, Buck Tick, and X Japan. Blam Honey is nice (if you can call that Jrock, I've seen them referred to as "Japanoise") when I'm in an electronic mood. I haven't listened in a while, but Malice Mizer with Klaha is great for that classical sort of thing.

That's just the short version. Heh.

[Inochi no Fushigi]

I will never understand how so many people can like Ayumi Hamasaki... Her voice is just awful.

You wouldn't believe how much I laughed when I read that. I actually agree, though I was a somewhat big Ayu fan when I was twelve. The thing is, since I was exploring new genres at that time, most of them grated on my ears to begin with. I finally got used to her and began to ignore her constant screeching and ear-piercing high notes. A while later, I grew out of her, and looking back at the one CD I have from her; I can't really understand what it was about her that inspired me so much... Ah, well. To each his own.

My list of fav Japanese singers/bands/composers:

Nobuo Uematsu
Yasunori Mitsuda
Utada Hikaru
Do As Infinity
Yoko Kanno (You will bow or DIE.)

And, since I have to be in bed in six minutes (you got a problem with me making my own bedtime?!), I will leave it there. If I forgot someone, I'm going to feel horrible for leaving them out in the morning, but so be it for now.

[Izanami]

I love....
-Dir En Grey (which is obvious..look at my avy (tis from when they were still a VK group)
-L'Arc~en ~ciel (FINALLY got their smile CD after waiting like a bajillion years -_-)
-X Japan (my heroes ^_^)
-Onitsuka Chihiro
-Gackt (HOW COULD I FORGET HIM?!?!!? :crying)
plus others but these are the groups/singers I listen to the most :love

NOTE: KYO from Dir en Grey and GACKT have EXTREMELY smexy voices :drool

[Ino-Shika-Chou]

I will never understand how so many people can like Ayumi Hamasaki... Her voice is just awful.

i agree with that dude..

[Clouds]

I like a lot of Japanese music, although I can't understand a word they're saying or anything of the like I still love the music. The music is just so soothing, uplifting, etc etc. It's also a welcome change from hip-hop and such.

As for specific music I like... mostly stuff from video games and Anime, outside of that I don't really listen to any other Japanese music.

[dhuma]

Dir En Grey seems pretty good (i've only heard one song). Gackt isn't that great but he has a sexy voice, sowelu is really sweet, and AKG is my favorite (despite their dorky look).

[Hagi]

i'm moderately new to japanese music but i like, beat crusaders, i'm a gackt fanboy :P , asian kung fu generation, heard some L'Arc~en ~ciel and X-japan and they're really good 2.

[ghostgal]

I like L'arc~en~ciel, Malice mizer, Yutaka Ozaki, And sometimes listen to Gackt, Glay, Utada Hikaru and Ayumi Hamasaki (and some others, but I'm too lazy to write them all down) I also listen to the character songs and intro/outro of animes and Japanese films

[dmby]

I gotta go with Sambomaster ( they sang the 2nd to newest naruto opening). Those guys rock... #1 played on my Ipod

[Kagalli]

Hm.. Japanese music is all I listen to mostly lately.
My favorite band of all has got to be Orange Range. I love their song KiriKiri Mai and I can play Viva Rock on my guitar :P
Asian Kung-Fu Generation is pretty cool too and I also like alot of The Pillow's stuff too.
And Yoko Kanno has gotta be the greatest musician of all time with her compositions and stuff.

[Vivace]

I like too many Japanese artists.

Acidman
advantage Lucy
cali gari
Cornelius
Doping Panda
eX-Girl
Flipper's Guitar
Guniw Tools
Inugami Circus-dan
Kishidan
Kotani Kinya
Lily Chou-Chou
metronome
Plus-Tech Squeeze Box
Polysics
Quruli
Shiina Ringo
The Back Horn
Unicorn
Young Punch

And I like a few VGM composers too. Of course, this list isn't every artist I like from Japan. That's just all I could think of at the moment.

[Jef88]

the pillows (flcl soundtrack) they rule yeaahhh

[xHeavyArmsx]

Tamaki Nami rules. How good is her voice?!
And also X-Japan are a great rock band too.

[Yanagi]

J-rock is my life. There's just so many bands I could list

Dir en grey (best. band. ever.)
D'espairsRay
Mucc
Merry
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Gackt (especially his older albums)
Flow
Deadman

I also like a lot of Shima-Uta (Island Song), which are rather traditional sounding. Such as:

Chitose Hajime
Rimi Natsukawa
Ikue Asazaki (you might recognize her song in ep 14 of Samurai Champloo)

[Sasuke-an]

who are your favorite japanese music artists?

in my playlist there are : dir en grey, asian kung-fu generation, rip slyme, orange range, boom boom satellites, miyavi, L'Arc en Ciel, beat crusaders, high and mighty color and lots of anime Op's ans track's

[Arty]

I like Sambomaster and Beat Crusaders I guess!

[less]

Halcali and that Piana-chick (or was it Paina? I forget.) Anyway: The two rapping underage girls and the serene whispering one. :oh

[Voynich]

Garnet Crow & Rie Fu I suppose :oh Not really a big fan though. Just..it's okay..

[Cell]

I like Chicken Bowels, Bastard, The Stalin. Japan has a kick ass hardcore-punk underground.

[se7enmidori]

BoA, w-inds. & Se7en

[vanh]

BoA and Se7en are not Japanese artists . They are Korean singers :oh

[Hellion]

I am trying to get Sowelu's albums but all the sites I check have her cd's for like $30. Does anyone know of a site that sells Japanese cd's for cheap?

[DragonSlayer]

I don't listen much to Japanese music. I got a few albums by The Pillows, Akeboshi's album and then plenty of game/anime soundtracks I like. Then I got some random stuff here and there but that's pretty much it.

[Sprint]

Lemme see...
1. Gazette
2. Alice Nine
3. Gackt
4. Ayumi Hamasaki
5. Utada Hikaru
6. Namie Amuro
7. Dir en Grey
8. L'arc~En~Ciel

[Dark_wolf247]

Dir en Grey, Ayabie, AnCafé, the GazettE, Danger Gang, 12012, Panic Channel, and Alice Nine, Asian Kung Fu Generation, Orange Range, and UVERworld.

[NaraShikamaru]

I have all the Asian Kung-Fu Generation Albums + Singles + A few live songs. They are the best J-Rock band ever. I also have all Orange Range albums and 1 High and Mighty Color album - Groover. These are probably my favourite Japanese bands.

[Iruka-kun]

Orange Range, Asian Kung-fu Generation, T.M Revolution, Dream, Do As Infinity, BoA, Every Little Thing, V6

[QBnoYouko]

BACK-ON
BRACE;d
dream
FLOW
HOME MADE Kazoku
KOTOKO
Kitade Nana
Kuribayashi Minami
Okui Masami
L'Arc~en~Ciel
Rie fu
Sambomaster
SNoW
Takahashi Hitomi
Tamura Yukari
Younha
Yousei Teikoku
YUI
UVERworld

[Portaljacker]

i like gundam seed songs and i hav them.........like meteor..invoke..find the way etc etc etc
OMG! I lover those songs! They're from T.M. Revolution by-the-way. I love that band!

[cursemagician]

I don't know any japanese singers, but I do know BoA and Rain, and Se7en, they may not be japanese but they do sing some songs that are japanese

[warcraft]

my favourite J-rock bands are

Mad Capsule Markets
Polysics
The Pillows
Hide *he's sooo awesome*

they all come out with amazing songs that are just so freaking awesome like

Mad Capsule Markets - Good Girl
Polysics - Baby Bias
The Pillows - Ride On Shooting Star
Hide - Rocket Dive

[Kurenai-neko]

*rubs head*um i'll prolly miss a few (read: a lot) but the ones off the top of my head are

L'arc-en-Ciel
High and Mighty Color
Dir en Gray
Gackt
12012
Malice Mizer
D'espairs Ray <~I'm so their fangirl XD.
Orange Range
Nana Kitade
Yellow Generation
Two-Mix
UVERworld
Home Made Kazoku
Utada Hikaru
Mika Nakashima
ANNA
Oliva
*last two i'm not sure if that's their full 'stage-name' I just know 'em from NANA.

I really listen to more of the stuff by Charcter Seiyuu's, like Paku Romi, Tomakazu Seki, Yamaguchi Kappei, and Sakurai Takahiro.

[shady0008]

my fave jap songs are the ones in animes such as

Two Mix- Rhythm Emotion, White Reflection, Just Communication
Bana- Shell, Half-pain
Asian Kung Fu Generation- Rewrite, Hakane Kinata,
Akeboshi- wind
Narutos 3rd opening
Most of the ones in Full Metal Alchemist and cowboy bebop

[freakshow420]

I like some Japanese music. I really got into Larc en ciel(I don't knowhow to spell it sorry!!!) and Nana Kitade

[Miss CCV]

If someone can pimp me Ayumi Hamasaki, Gackt, Dir En Grey, Pizzicato Five, and L'arc~En~Ciel, I will give you a cookie! :)

[jkingler]

I, too, really want the bands CCV mentioned (mostly Gackt and L'arc, though).

Also, I will put out for some Melt Banana pimping. :oh

[Anego]

You might not heard them yet.. I know them 10 years ago, nowdays, i don't know they're still singing or not:
- Southern All Stars
- Imai Miki
- Mr. Children
- Tube
- DEEN
- Mari Hamada

For new jpop:
- Akeboshi
- Utada Hikaru

[Belldandy]

My favorite Japanes singer are Tommy Feburary6, Tommy Heavenly6, miyavi, Morning Musume,V6, Tackey & Tsubasa, & a lot more.

[Cell]

Japanese music is rarely good. But, Chicken Bowels rule pretty hard.

[Keollyn]

Currently Utada Hikaru and Mika Nakashima. Both are hawt too.

[Father Anderson]

do you guy like j-rock likr dir en grey, l~Arc~en~Ciel and asian kung fu generation

[GangstaKakashi]

i dont own any l~Arc~en~Ciel or asian kung fu generation cd's but the only songs i like are Ready Steady Go and Rewrite. Those songs are cool. Know any other songs by them that i might be interested in?

[Low-fi Boy]

L'arc en Ciel bore me bar a few songs (Seppun, Ready Steady Go, Spirit Dreams Inside). Asian Kung-Fu Generation are fantastic, the whole album "Sol-Fa" was excellent. The Pillows are also pretty big, anyone like them?

[GangstaKakashi]

hell yea i like the pillows. They have to be the best of the best.

[Black Swan]

I like music that I can correlate to certain images, so usually music from my favorite anime i like, b/c everytime i listen to the songs i remember that anime. BTW the pillows are awesome they were great in flcl.

[Dark_wolf247]

I'm in love with J-rock. I'm more into Visual and Oshare Kei, like Diru and Ayabie and Gazette, though. >_>

[azuken]

I listen to j-rock. Alot of stuff you guys have said "Huh" "Who Is That" to.

J-rock I listen to is mostly Visual Kei And Oshare Kei. But I mix in some metal and punk.

Bands You May Have Heard of:
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
L'arc En Ciel
Dir En Grey
Beat Crusaders
The Pillows

Bands you most likley Havent heard of:
Zazen Boys
Bomb Factory
The Gazette
Ichigo69
DeathGaze
12012
Bazra
The Backhorn
Melt Banana

[Aether]

Yea the Pillows are great I have all their albums :nod Uverworld and AKFG are great also

[azuken]

Uverworld isnt J-rock. They are Pop. But eh.

[Cell]

Chicken Bowels. :)

[Kurenai-neko]

I listen to j-rock. Alot of stuff you guys have said "Huh" "Who Is That" to.

J-rock I listen to is mostly Visual Kei And Oshare Kei. But I mix in some metal and punk.

Bands You May Have Heard of:
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
L'arc En Ciel
Dir En Grey
Beat Crusaders
The Pillows

Bands you most likley Havent heard of:
Zazen Boys
Bomb Factory
The Gazette
Ichigo69
DeathGaze
12012
Bazra
The Backhorn
Melt Banana

ah! you like 12012 too? Awsome! smile-big Which song is your favorite? Mines Burn. :)

I'm surprised no one's really mentioned D'espairs Ray 'cept for me... :(

[Stormshadow]

The Black Mages....nuff said.

[Nan Desu Ka]

anybody happen to catch one of HYDE's concerts in California?? I was hoping to find some video, but so far nothing =/

[azuken]

ah! you like 12012 too? Awsome! smile-big Which song is your favorite? Mines Burn. :)

I'm surprised no one's really mentioned D'espairs Ray 'cept for me... :(


Gallows is an awesome song.

D'espairs Ray is eh. Tollerable.

[Mojim]

I loves J-rock :love
Here are my list:
-L' Arc En Ciel
-Asian Kung-fu Generation
-Orange Range
-Do as Infinity

I have a question bout Do as Infinity.Is this band still active in the Japanese music scene? :huh
Thanx in advance if someone can answer this for me :nod

[shatteredlike]

Everybody seems to like L'arc en Ciel... I like them too.
But if you're going to ask me I think HY is my personal favorite.
And I also listen to random JMusic mostly are from anime soundtracks.

[Oyasumi_Gaara]

Hahahah my, my don't we all have things in common? Some of my favorites are: Dir en Grey, Larc en Ciel, Nightmare, Mika Nakashima..and i still listen to Glay...and An Cafe.

[Envy]

Humm...let's see

Gackt
Namie Amuro
W-inds
Kumi Koda
Ayumi Hamasaki
Dir en grey
Orange Range
L'arc~En~Ciel
Asian Kung Fu Generation
Utada Hikaru

Thanks for listing all of my favorite Jrock/Jpop bands. =] I thank you for saving me the trouble.

Kumi Koda and Ayumi = <3

[iggyspeedstars]

Orange Range O.O ... anyone know any good songs of theres, the only ones i like soo far is Asterisk(only because i heard it on bleach XD), and Hana.

[Cero]

Humm...let's see

Gackt
Namie Amuro
W-inds
Kumi Koda
Ayumi Hamasaki
Dir en grey
Orange Range
L'arc~En~Ciel
Asian Kung Fu Generation
Utada Hikaru

My exact fav Jrock/Jpop Bands, Thanks Lacus :love

[byooki]

12012
MUCC
Moi Dix Mois
Schwarz Stein
Dir en Grey
The Candy Spooky Theater
Guniw Tools
DOREMIdan
Plastic Tree
Ayabie
miyavi


ect.

[8018]

well, i'm just going to name
who i have in my iPod

-Akeboshi
-AnCafe
-Asian Kung-fu generation
-Buck-Tick
-Chieco Kawabe
-FLOW
-GOOFY'S holiday
-Junko Takeuchi
-Last ALLIANCE
-little by little
-Miyavi
-Move
-ORANGE RANGE
-T.M.Revolution
-Utada Hikaru

[Shunsuii]

EVERY GUNDAM SEED/DESTINY OP/ED ARE THE BEST IMO
I love all of them there all so perfect even though now the series are old i still listen to them and I got more music from those band like:

TM revolution
See-saw
Nami Takami
High & Mighty Color
Chemistry
& Mika Arisaka

Also Eureka 7 op 1 & 2 rox
And Initial D Stage 4 op 1 & 2 are AWESOME

[Shizuka...]

Dir en Grey
Malice Mizer
the pillows
Morning Musume
Miyavi
L`arc~en~ciel
Utada Hikaru
FLOW
Gackt

There are more, but I can't remember right now...

[KunoichiTenten]

L'Arc~en~Ciel
Hyde
Ayumi Hamasaki
Utada Hikaru
T.M. Revolution
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
FLOW
UVERworld
Mika Nakashima
BRACE;d
Ai Otsuka
Akeboshi
little by little
Maaya Sakamoto
Yumi Shizukusa
Namie Amuro
SAYAKA

This is all I can remember ^_^;

[Feh]

X Japan - If you really know almost nothing about japanese music, you have at least heard of them... that has to count for something!

L'Arc~en~Ciel - Laruku is just... damn this guys are just talented as hell. Producing excellent music since 1991 it never gets boring with them.
Hydes voice range is just amazing, as is Kens guitar play.
No wonder they hit the top positions in the ORICON charts even with their solo works.
What really amazes me about them is are there live performances... if you want to really judge this band, go watch their Lives.

Gackt - Well it's Gackt. He is a dork, but a talented one

SID - shido are.... special. Outwardly belonging to the VK category, their music does sound really refreshing and new in comparison with other VK bands. Sometimes almost going in the direction of blues, sometimes in the directon of experimental rock. I highly recommend their first album.


The Gazette - VK as its best. Rukis vocals rock your socks.

Miyavi - He's crazy, as is his music. At least listen to a few songs and you will know what I mean. It's hit or miss. But hell, its Miyavi, he is out of his mind *lol*.

[303aegiszx]

I'm just going to name a few..

Yamashita Tomohisa - NEWS
ORANGE RANGE
Remioromen
High and Mighty Color
CHEMISTRY
Mai Kuraki
Aya Kimiki
Ueto Aya
Utada Hikaru (Hikki)
Koda Kumi
Ayumi Hamasaki