Tag: rock

5 Japanese Rock Bands To Listen To

Has your phone run dry with new music? Spotify and Pandora getting boring? Looking to spice up your Japanese learning with some music out of Japan? Here’s 5 bands with large catalogues you can bite into!

Looking to jam to some new tunes? You’ve come to the right place! Here’s 5 rock Japanese rock bands you should add to your playlist this summer!

ONE OK ROCK

One OK Rock, is a Japanese rock band, formed in Tokyo, Japan in 2005. Playing a wide range of music from Pop-Rock, Pop-Punk, Alternative, Emo, and Post-Hardcore you should be able to find something that tickles your fancy. This band is first on the list because they mix a lot of English into their lyrics, so you’ll be able to belt out some lines along with the band even if you’re a complete beginner to the language!

キュウソネコカミ(KYUSO NEKOKAMI)

Kyuso Nekokami is a punk rock band that formed in 2009. They play energetic, fun music you can bounce around to. Even if you don’t much like “punk” music I recommend you give this band a try due to the humorous music videos and happy-go-lucky attitude they exude. This group is an absolute riot you won’t regret checking out. 

BLUE ENCOUNT

Blue Encount is a rock band that formed in 2004. They’re one of those bands that continuously releases music that would fit happily as an opening or ending theme for a tv show or anime. It’s really impressive and they can’t be recommended enough if you want some straight up hard rock music. 

MRS. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. Green Apple is a rock band from Tokyo. These boys (and their kick-ass female drummer) are so fun to listen to. Turn on any of their songs and you’ll find yourself immediately smiling as the songs are all really poppy and melodic. They just look like they’re having so much fun doing what they love. Even though their genre is listed as “rock” they incorporate a lot of “pop” and “electronica” into their music, give it a try!

THE ORAL CIGARETTES

The Oral Cigarettes is a four-member alternative rock band from Nara Prefecture, formed in July 2010. A big name in Japan, The Oral Cigarettes dominate the alternative rock scene. Their hooks will stay in your head while you’re trying to remember your vocabulary words. Have fun humming their songs till you fall asleep tonight! 

Hopefully you found a band or two to add to your playlist! You can find all of them on Youtube and Apple Music. It’s also worth noting that a lot of them put up their lyrics in Japanese on Apple Music so you can follow along as the song plays.