Though tonight marks the final of the opening San Francisco shows, which kicked off last night at Davies Symphony Hall, you can still catch legendary (and former) Final Fantasy series composer Nobuo Uematsu and a rousing tribute to FF music throughout the summer. Distant Worlds: …Read more »
Puffy AmiYumi are perhaps among the most recognizable Japanese artists to break through the American barrier, at least to those not deeply entrenched in everything J-pop. Sure, Utada's released a couple English albums, but has she ever had her own cartoon series like Hi Hi …Read more »
After my last post you may suspect shenanigans, but I don't mess around when it comes to The Pillows (besides, I really don't like actual April Fools' joke news). The band, most famous over here for their work on the FLCL soundtrack, will be doing …Read more »
As they haven't done any openings for say Naruto or Soul Eater , I'm betting that a majority of you readers out there will tilt your head slightly at the mention of Tokyo Jihen (lit. Tokyo Incidents). Mind you, I'm not saying that to be …Read more »
In the crossover zone between fans of Japanese RPG music and attendees of Anime Boston 2010 (which probably makes for a fairly large circle in an otaku Venn Diagram) lies a very pleased group of people. That's because this year's convention, taking place from April …Read more »
What better way to immortalize the start to a new year than throwing yourself into one of the X-Japan videos to be shot in California? According to a recent press release, the Japanese rock band is going through with their planned US video shoot, which …Read more »
Everyone's favorite jumpsuit-clad Japanese rock group is making their way to the states in 2010 on a small tour that kicks off in January and runs through mid-February. The tour will cover fourteen locations, each of which provides those in a handful of major cities …Read more »
It's been some time now since Japanese band Thee Michelle Gun Elephant split up, dialing the clock about six years back to October 11, 2003, when the breakup was first announced. Considering until that point they had been together since 1991, that's certainly not a …Read more »
Rest assured, this isn't just the best thing you'll see all day, it's most likely the best thing you'll see all week, maybe even beyond. Even if you're unfamiliar with Riki Takeuchi—film/v-cinema legend and all around badass dude, you may have seen him in Battle …Read more »
At Anime Expo this year, one of the surprise guests accompanying Morning Musume on their historic first trip to America was none other than Hitomi Yoshizawa, the last group leader of MM before the current one, Ai Takahashi. Yoshizawa was a member of the 4th …Read more »
If your day is incomplete without the soulful crooning of Hironobu Kageyama and his merry bandmates—Masaaki Endou, Hiroshi Kitadani, Masami Okui, and Yoshiki Fukuyama—then today truly is a lucky one. The legendary JAM Project now has a selection of songs culled from various anime and …Read more »
I'm not sure if Yoshi's has ever had a crowd surfer before. The venue, near San Francisco's Japantown, is primarily a jazz lounge, but Sunday night it hosted the Japan Nite Special Girl Rock Explosion! + Harajuku Kawaii Experience presented by NEW PEOPLE, and all …Read more »
Shinshoku Dolce , the debut album from singer, cellist and illustrator Kanon Wakeshima, has the stamp of producer Mana all over it. Sure, Kanon is able to project her own voice, both literally and figuratively, throughout the album, most notably in her cello playing. Yet …Read more »
Fujiko-chan is a four-member Japanese rock band formed and based in San Francisco, consisting of one female vocalist and three male musicians, two on guitar and one on drums. They incorporate a wide range of styles—punk, heavy metal, hard rock, and a form of Japanese …Read more »
1999 was a special year for me. It wasn't just the end of the 90's, it was the year that I got my first taste of Japanese music that would leave me wanting more. The sample came in the form of a website reviewing the …Read more »
Joseph Luster
Mike Dent
Brian Camp
Emily Balistrieri
Zac Bentz
