@hamburger-n5p
1:45 that bassist is on another planet
@SoundsByBoom
If you get a chance to go back, I would definitely recommend visiting an area in Tokyo called Ochanomizu. There's an entire street dedicated to guitar stores (and other instruments).
@kuwahataryougo8551
I play drums in the band at the beginning of the video. There are some videos of the band on my channel, if you are interested. Thanks for featuring us🙇
@iliyannikolov5489
2:35 the bassist is just so active
@seansnaider6628
One of the things that stand out to me is the build quality of their guitars, I have a vola strat model and the thing is amazing. I was underestimating the hand built in japan until i got my hands on it. Shows the craftmanship and the care they have for guitar in Japan
@AndrewMasters
Mike cole has unlocked a new level.
@GaleonGuitar
Started digging into the Japanese guitar rabbit hole back in 2010 and never stopped. It's like a complete different planet when it comes to music, and I honestly feel like the stuff they are creating in the last 15 years is way more interesting than what is happening in the western rock/metal scene...
Great metal bands, great solo guitarists, well established artists doing collabs with animes for opening themes, all-female-bands actually mastering their instruments and not just cashing on their looks, they are the real deal. I will list a few artists I discovered over the years and I highly recommend.
Starting with the amazing solo guitarists behind Babymetal's instrumentals (Kami Band), it's worth checking their previous works:
-Takayoshi Ohmura (Great solo albums, amazing picking technique and also played for the bands Liv Moon and Baby Metal)
-Leda Cygnus (Galneryu's bassist who switched into lead guitar for bands like Deluhi, Undivide, Far East Dizain and Baby Metal)
-ISAO (has done a lot of solo works, game soundtracks and Baby Metal)
-Mikio Fujioka (For a lot of japanese guitarists he was a legendary/mentor figure, passed away in 2018 while in Baby Metal, often referred as "Sensei" by other artists like Takayoshi Ohmura, he did a lot of instructional materials for Young Guitar Magazine since the early 2000s. Known for his use of pinch harmonics and whammy bar, "Harmony X" is one of his popular songs).
Takayoshi Ohmura composed a song as a tribute to Mikio Fujioka before he passed away, it's called "Hill of Wisteria". (Hill of Wisteria = Fujioka).
To name a few bands:
Versailles (You will probably never see something like that, Metal meets french aristocracy meets vampire tales. Amazing guitar duo Hizaki and Teru, beautiful harmonized solos, check the song "Ascendead Master")
Galneryus (One of the best japanese Power Metal / Progressive Metal bands, Syu is known for his amazing guitar solos).
Deluhi (it's the first band Leda joined as a guitarist after leaving his role as bassist in Galneryus, great riffs and solos)
Wagakki Band (Metal/Rock meets traditional japanese music, one of my favorites lately, check their songs Senbonzakura and Homura if you want to get a feel of what they sound like)
Unlucky Morpheus (Started as a Touhou cover band, turned into one of the best active japanese metal bands, Fuki is the female vocalist, she has one of the craziest vibratos I've seen in a metal band, no screams, just high quality opera singing style. To top it off they have 2 amazing guitarists and a violinist called Jill, they often do harmonized guitar+violin solos). The songs I would recommend from them to start out are "The Black Death Mansion Murders", "CADAVER", "Change of Generation" and アマリリス ("Amaririsu", it's their anime opening type of song).
If you are into beautiful and melodic guitar solos, you will probably love everything I mentioned on that list. 😂
Also, there is a recent "boom" of all-female japanese bands and as usual, their instrumentals are amazing.
So you might want to check them: Nemophila, Hagane, Band-Maid, East Of Eden.
One last thing worth mentioning, Marty Friedman (Megadeth's legendary guitarist) moved to Japan after he left the band and he is kinda well known in the japanese music scene, he is a host on "ROCK FUJIYAMA channel" , it's a youtube channel where they interview popular japanese musicians (mainly guitarists, bassists and drummers).
@DenisChangMusic
I’m a guitarist on an artist visa in Japan. It’s crazy to see the music culture in Japan but the music scene is indeed completely different in so many ways. Despite being here for a number of years as a musician, it’s still a process for me to get used to the scene here. It feels like another planet compared to other countries that I’ve been to. A lot of people say the same thing
@TheTektronik
Music scene in Japan is a totally different theme.
@Jabezrtpp
I went to Japan earlier this year but unfortunately missed out on going to the flagship stores. Thanks for showing them and some of the local things in the video!
@GaryonWheels
I'm an American Expat in the Philippines and make occasional trips to Japan. About 3 months ago I picked up a Fender Japan Hybrid II Telecaster. Awesome guitar! Lots of talented guitarists in Japan and their dedication is awe inspiring!
@pathosattrition
I played shows all over Okinawa in 2009-2011, and am moving back to mainland Japan in March. It's an amazingly supportive culture and society toward musicians.
@wren23_bass-synths
I’m a expat living in Japan and a full time musician. The music scene is japan is a varied as the different genres they are. It’s so much easier to make a living here than it was in the states. Especially for us jazz musicians. No other place besides Europe is better for us than Japan.
@WanderingMonk55
That's pretty cool Japan is a country of so many guitar players! Great to see some of the music scene there, and enjoyed the footage of live bands. Thanks for taking us along!
@marcocruz6210
Make more traveling music videos its a win win you get to travel we get to see the music culture right along with you!
@Sen-v6r
I went to Japan 3 times and brought a guitar home on 2 of those, its just unbelieavable the guitars they have at a more than reasonable prices. Everyone loves music there and the metal rock culture is more alive than in other countries
@mob6469
4:40 THose guys are from MYANMAR! They're singing Burmese song.
@stoneybass5981
This was enjoyable and reminded me of my times in Japan. Thanks for this. Ochanomizu is music store heaven. I bought a bass there many years ago. Great memories. Thanks for sharing your journey,
@travgpeters1
Been to Japan 4 times . im a guitar player as well , its always fun to jam out in clubs in Tokyo , Bauhaus Club in Roppongi and also Gigabar in Shibuya are my fave spots to jam out with musicians , and also Guitar Street Ochanomizu is awesome !
@InsensitiveUncle