This list is not exhaustive, as there are many bands in Japan we have great friendships with. These bands are also not exclusive, as some of the band's members may use other guitars/ basses. This is just a taste of a few, selected by me this fine warm morning, as there has been an increasing amount of unexpected visits to our office lately.
I would like to introduce you to a few of the bands who we consider part of our, ever growing, extended family! I'll spice it up a bit and fill you in on a few bands who fall into different genre categories.
COMBAT JAPAN ARTISTS
BREAKERZ.
Breakerz is fronted by the hugely popular television talent and movie actor known as Daigo. They draw heavily on the authentic Japanese arena rock style. Guitarist Shinpei has numerous original Combat guitars in his arsenal and support bassist Matsu also exclusively plays a number of original custom Combat basses. There are numerous promotional videos posted on YouTube including their single, backdropped by Hollywood hit movie WANTED, titled "Shakunetsu".
Official HomePage:
http://breakerz-web.net/
SUPE.
Supe are a 5-piece hard rock, alternative outfit that does extensive amounts of touring not only Japan but in many countries abroad, including numerous slots on the Vans Warped Tour. Now based in L.A they continue to rise in popularity and stature with solid release after solid release. Guitarist Takeshi exclusively plays custom Combat Type G series guitars, while bassist Toru plays a custom Combat bass.
Official HomePage:
http://www.supe-web.com/
Official MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/supejp
CRAZY KEN BAND.
The Crazy Ken Band is lead by front man and vocalist Ken Yokoyama. He is backed by an 11 piece, musical embodiment of a decadent Show Cabaret, in the golden era of the Japanese music boom of the 50's and 60's. Polyester suits, top hots, leopard skin, lounge swagger, with musical stylings fusing elements of Rock, Japanese Pop, Funk, Bossa Nova and Soul.
And they are TIGHT.
Guitarist Toraji uses a Custom Combat ST Series guitar, while 2nd guitarist Masao uses an original AYA Series ST.
Official HomePage:
http://www.crazykenband.com/
DUEL JEWEL.
Duel Jewel are, what is widely known in Gothic circles world-wide, the Japanese phenomenon known as Visual-Kei. Again, drawing heavily on Gothic and visual imagery as their shtick, the closer these band's members look like girls, the cooler they are. The visual and musical aspects of Visual-kei is distinctly Japanese, and Duel Jewel are no exception. Their videos get regular air play on numerous music stations and there isn't a Karaoke box in Japan that doesn't feature an extensive catalogue of Duel Jewel tunes. Bassist Natsuki plays a custom original Combat bass, and guitarist Shun has a line of original custom combat guitars- with a signature series on the way.
Official HomePage:
http://www.dueljewel.jp/
Unofficial MySpace:
PAY MONEY TO MY PAIN.
Commonly known just as P.T.P, and much like fellow peers and scene-mates Supe, the band is hugely popular within the hard rock and alternative crowds. Now on major label VAP, with regular touring and an increasing amount of festival appearances PTP's popularity continues to rise each year. Bassist Tsuyoshi plays a unique and original, custom Combat 3-string bass.
Official HomePage:
http://www.paymoneytomypain.com/
Official MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/paymoneytomypain
Two more artists I would like to include here were already mentioned in previous posts so keeping it brief, I would still like to mention:
PLASTIC TREE.
Plastic Tree are a major band quite big on the Japanese Rock and Visual circuit. Bassist Tadashi uses a series of custom Combat Basses.
Official HomePage:
http://www.plastic-tree.com/
Official MySpace:
www.myspace.com/plastictreeweb
OHTA KATSU. (Ark Storm)
Ohta Katsu uses a number of custom Combat ST series guitars. His band Ark Storm features
bassist Isamu, support bassist for the band Gran Rodeo, who uses custom Combat AYA Series basses.
Check out more about Ohta Katsu on my Blog Post HERE.
Official English HomePage:
http://www.jc-i.jp/j-crave/ark.htm
Official MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/arkstorm
Gran Rodeo Official Website:
http://www.granrodeo.net/
SHIRO TANIGAWA
One more dude who deserves recognition, not just in relevance of this particular blog post, but within any topic relating to Japanese music, is Shiro Tanigawa. For over 30 years, Shiro has been making his mark felt, with a thunderous impact, as a renowned session musician for Japanese rock and blues. For years, and still now, Shiro has been featured in literally thousands of publishings, videos, and DVD's for guitar instruction, as well as making countless appearances as a regualar in many widely published guitar magazines. Not just for lessons and instruction, but his opinion on every aspect of guitar playing is so respected, he also makes constant appearances for regular advice coloms and guitar reviews.
So we are honored that Shiro thinks so well of Combat that he has placed more than a few orders from us for custom guitars. Shiro's weapon of choice? The aforementioned, April 8th blog post, Combat Tele Series.
Yesterday, Shiro-san made a surprise visit to our office to do a little further customization on one of his custom Combat Teles. After we finished with the business end of Shiro's visit I had the rare and privilidged opportunity to sit down and chat with this living legend. We chatted nothing but guitar. Everything from opinions on different hardware, set-ups, materials, etc, to playing styles. Picking styles, scale techniques, progressions, etc. It was then only natural that we found ourselves plugged in, guitars in hand for a little impromptu jam session! And the honor was all mine!
Shiro usues this unique little device made by Sperzel USA they title, on their website as only, The "D" Thing. It's a simple piece of mechanism you can easily attach to the low E peg of your Sperzel locking tuners. (which, coincidently like Shiro-san, Sperzel Tuners are what are on all of my recent guitars) Basically, how it works is you tune to standard tuning, flip a lock on the device and it holds the key in E. You then drop the low E to a D, hit the lock again and it holds that position in the key of D. Then, with a simple flick you can switch back and forth from standard tuning to "drop D". Shiro claims to have had no major problems with this device Live. I suppose that nothing is ever perfect, and though it does have certain minor flaws, it seems to do the job quite well.
From Left to Right: Combat Guitars Owner Honda-san, Shiro Tanigawa, Combat Colin.
(Shiro with his green Custom Combat Tele, Me with the Combat Colin Model.)
My impromptu session with Shiro-san reminds me of the post I did, on April 5th, about staying inspired. Wouldn't you know it, when I got home that evening it was no dinner for me. I played my guitar till 2a.m. Racking my brain over how incredible Shiro Tanigawa is. His effortlessness and casual approach to improvised guitar playing is truly inspiring.
Shiro Tanigawa Official Website:
http://www9.ocn.ne.jp/~shirosan/
Combat Colin.
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