Anyone here familiar with Japanese bassist gods such as Tetsu from L'Arc en Ciel or Toshiya from Dir en Grey?
Just curious.
Just curious.
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Japanese Bassists
- Thread starter naruki
- Start date
They NEVER use their last name on stage haha. Japanese rock songs have amazingly complex basslines.
Got intrigued about this Tetsuya guy a few months back after hearing about his signature Lakland bass...after hearing a few songs on youtube I bought what seems like a greatest hits compilation of L'arc en Ciel on iTunes...pretty crazy playing from that guy (In a good way)...a very bass driven rock group, his lines are very melodic.
What I find pretty awesome is watching him live...he'll seem somewhat distracted but still belts out those complex lines like it's nothing...all while singing backgrounds!
What I find pretty awesome is watching him live...he'll seem somewhat distracted but still belts out those complex lines like it's nothing...all while singing backgrounds!
Yeah most j-rock songs are bass driven. It's like, they actually fill in the "blank spaces" between the guitars instead of just playing the root notes. You should look up Cage by Dir en Grey.
Koji Ueno from Thee Michelle Gun Elephant is a great bassist, if you're into garagey punk kinda stuff.
that guy from MUCC , Yukke is really awesome too, and u can really hear the basslines in alot of their songs. He even plays an upright sometimes too. Great player.
This young japanese female bass player is amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXZImsZujPc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXZImsZujPc&feature=related
On the jazz/funk side of things, check out Jino on youtube. I know him from when he lived in NYC in the 90's. Super nice guy and obviously a monster player. I used to hate sharing the bill with him! His brother is the luthier Mas Hino, who makes his basses for him at Atelier.
Kitchen sink bass solo: JINO
Kitchen sink bass solo: JINO
Dude, MUCC's like, my fav band haha. Yukke usually plays to the vocalist's singing instead of the guitar.
That video is FUNKY
Fumi from the band POLYSICS is a fave of mine. Excellent bass player and great stage presence. I've seen them a few times when they toured the states and they never disappoint!!
I soooo want one of those Yamaha basses that she plays but they don't sell them here in the US!!! =( (as far as I know)
Here's a current live clip!
I soooo want one of those Yamaha basses that she plays but they don't sell them here in the US!!! =( (as far as I know)
Here's a current live clip!
I'm not so familiar with the j-rock and j-pop scene, but I am familiar with the japanese fusion and prog one, and while I'm sure that in the former there are great bassists (and yeah, in japanese rock bass do have more prominence than in other countries, so to speak), it's in the latter where the best bassists are.
Kenji Hino is a good example. Other ones:
Masatoshi Mizuno from Fragile (imho, the best fusion act from Japan)
modest&proud - FRAGILE - YouTube
Toshimi Nagai, another fretless player, played in various bands (Exhivision, Vienna, Power Job, Dead Chaplin)
Other players that might be a bit more known (expecially here on Talkbass) are Yoshihiro Naruse, Testsuo Sakurai, Mitsuru Sutoh... and surely I'm forgetting a lot of others...
Their stuff it's not exactly easy to find (well, at least if you don't know it's there) but once you open that Pandora's box, it's almost a neverending stream of awesome musical discoveries...
Kenji Hino is a good example. Other ones:
Masatoshi Mizuno from Fragile (imho, the best fusion act from Japan)
modest&proud - FRAGILE - YouTube
Toshimi Nagai, another fretless player, played in various bands (Exhivision, Vienna, Power Job, Dead Chaplin)
Other players that might be a bit more known (expecially here on Talkbass) are Yoshihiro Naruse, Testsuo Sakurai, Mitsuru Sutoh... and surely I'm forgetting a lot of others...
Their stuff it's not exactly easy to find (well, at least if you don't know it's there) but once you open that Pandora's box, it's almost a neverending stream of awesome musical discoveries...
Saga from Alice nine is my current favorite Japanese bassist. He is very talented and composes a lot of their songs. Kanon from An Cafe is a close second but they are on hiatus right now :/ he actually plays a sweet Fender Custom Shop jazz, among other basses
Check out my YT; I cover a lot of jrock songs
www.YouTube.com/bassnoshirodesu
Check out my YT; I cover a lot of jrock songs
www.YouTube.com/bassnoshirodesu
Tetsuo Sakurai in the man!!!
tetsuo sakurai-firewater - YouTube
Casiopea - Galactic Funk - YouTube
Also, Norm Stockton is of Japanese decent.
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
tetsuo sakurai-firewater - YouTube
Casiopea - Galactic Funk - YouTube
Also, Norm Stockton is of Japanese decent.
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
Seiji Kameda of Tokyo Jihen
Tokyo Jihen - Shuraba (Adult Version) - YouTube
[PV]
[PV] Tokyo Jihen -- Onna no Ko wa Dare demo - YouTube
Okamine Koushu of The Back Horn
THE BACK HORN
The Back Horn - Kiseki - YouTube
The Back Horn - Namida Ga Koboretara - YouTube
DICK of Monkey Majik
Other bands worth checking out:
Fujifabric, Unchain, , ACIDMAN, Judy and Mary, Rin Toshite Shigure, Sakanaction, Spitz, Remioromen, Tsubakiya Shijuusou
Tokyo Jihen - Shuraba (Adult Version) - YouTube
[PV]
[PV] Tokyo Jihen -- Onna no Ko wa Dare demo - YouTube
Okamine Koushu of The Back Horn
THE BACK HORN
The Back Horn - Kiseki - YouTube
The Back Horn - Namida Ga Koboretara - YouTube
DICK of Monkey Majik
Other bands worth checking out:
Fujifabric, Unchain, , ACIDMAN, Judy and Mary, Rin Toshite Shigure, Sakanaction, Spitz, Remioromen, Tsubakiya Shijuusou
