Heavy Metal Music in Japan: A History

An article discussing the history of heavy metal music in Japan, from its beginnings in the 1970s to the present day.

The Origins of Heavy Metal in Japan

Metal music has a long and rich history in Japan, dating back to the early 1970s when bands such as Earthshaker and Anthem began to gain popularity. In the 1980s, the scene exploded with the advent of bands like Loudness and X Japan, who would go on to become international superstars. Today, Japanese metal is as strong as ever, with a new generation of bands taking the genre in exciting new directions.

The Birth of Heavy Metal

While the exact origins of heavy metal are often debated, most fans and historians can agree that the genre began to take shape in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This was around the same time that hard rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple were making waves in the United Kingdom and the United States. Just like in America and England, these bands quickly gained a following among Japanese youth.

In 1971, a band called Earthshaker became one of the first Japanese groups to emulate the sound of British hard rock. Formed in Osaka, Earthshaker was heavily influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. They released their self-titled debut album in 1973, which is widely considered to be one of the first heavy metal albums ever released in Japan.

Other early Japanese heavy metal bands include Loudness, who formed in 1981 and released their debut album in 1982; Anthem, who formed in 1984 and released their debut album in 1985; and X Japan, who formed in 1982 and released their debut album in 1988. These bands laid the foundation for what would become one of the most successful music genres in Japan.

The Rise of Heavy Metal

In the early 1970s, hard rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple were becoming increasingly popular in Japan. These bands’ heavy, distorted sound appealed to Japanese youth who were disenfranchised by the mainstream pop music of the time. In response to this growing popularity, Japanese record companies began signing and releasing records by hard rock and heavy metal bands from the United States and Europe.

One of the first Japanese hard rock bands to gain widespread popularity was Bow Wow, whose self-titled debut album was released in 1974. Bow Wow’s sound was heavily influenced by British bands such as Deep Purple and Cream. Another early Japanese hard rock band was Loudness, who released their debut album in 1981. Loudness’ sound was more in line with that of American bands such as Van Halen and Kiss.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a new generation of Japanese heavy metal bands began to emerge. These bands, including X Japan, Loudness, and happen to occupy the vanguard position of Visual kei (ヴィジュアル系), a movement characterized by outrageous costumes and hair styles which started around 1984–1985. These bands combined heavy metal with elements of traditional Japanese music

The Evolution of Heavy Metal in Japan

In Japan, heavy metal music has always been overshadowed by more popular genres such as pop and rock. However, there has always been a dedicated group of fans who have kept the metal flame alive. In the early days, Japanese heavy metal was heavily influenced by Western bands.

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) was a movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s that revitalized heavy metal music in the United Kingdom. Developing from the earlier punk rock movement, it created a new generation of bands influenced by the heavier sounds of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. The DIY ethic of punk exerted a major influence on the DIY ethic of the new metal bands.

Bands such as Diamond Head, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, and Saxon were at the forefront of the NWOBHM. They were followed by a second wave of bands such as Def Leppard, Venom, Diamond Head, Girlschool, and Samson. The NWOBHM had a significant impact on the development of thrash metal and power metal. It also contributed to the development of glam metal in the 1980s.

The Visual Kei Movement

The Visual Kei Movement is a term used to describe the rise of a new breed of often androgynous looking Japanese rock bands in the late 80’s and early 90’s. This was a time when Japanese youth were becoming increasingly disaffected with traditional values and were looking for something new to believe in. The movement took its name from the bands’ colorful and flamboyant stage costumes and make-up, which were inspired by Western hard rock and heavy metal acts such as Kiss, Alice Cooper and Guns N’ Roses.

The Visual Kei bands quickly became media darlings, thanks to their outrageous stage shows and theaura of mystery that surrounded them. Many of the bands enjoyed considerable commercial success and helped to introduce Japanese youth to Western hard rock and heavy metal music. While the Visual Kei movement eventually faded from the mainstream, many of the bands that started out during this period went on to enjoy long and successful careers.

Here are some of the most popular Visual Kei bands:

X Japan – One of the most popular and successful Visual Kei bands, X Japan enjoyed considerable mainstream success in Japan before disbanding in 1997. The band reunited in 2007 and continues to tour and release new music.

Malice Mizer – A hugely influential Visual Kei band, Malice Mizer helped to define the sound and style of the genre. The band disbanded in 2001 but has since reformed several times for reunion tours.

Dir en Grey – Dir en Grey is one of the few Visual Kei bands that has enjoyed significant success outside of Japan. The band has released eight studio albums, three live albums and thirty-six singles since their debut in 1997.

The American Influence

It’s no secret that the United States has had a profound influence on the development of heavy metal music around the world. But nowhere is this influence more evident than in Japan, where the genre has undergone a unique evolution.

In the early days of heavy metal, Japanese bands were heavily influenced by their American counterparts. This is not surprising, considering that many of the earliest heavy metal bands came from the United States. Bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple were hugely popular in Japan and served as an inspiration for many aspiring Japanese musicians.

As time went on, Japanese bands began to develop their own unique sound. This was partly due to the fact that Japan is a fairly isolated country, geographically speaking. This isolation meant that Japanese bands were not as exposed to foreign influences and were therefore able to develop a sound that was distinctly their own.

One of the most important things to understand about the evolution of heavy metal in Japan is the role played by visual kei bands. Visual kei is a type of music that places great emphasis on appearance and stage show. Many early visual kei bands were heavily influenced by Western glam rock and hair metal bands such as Mötley Crüe and Poison. These bands helped to popularize heavy metal in Japan and laid the foundation for future generations of Japanese metal bands.

Today, there are hundreds of heavy metal bands active in Japan, ranging from traditionalmetal groups to more experimental outfits. The genre has come a long way since its humble beginnings, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

The Contemporary Heavy Metal Scene in Japan

In the West, the term “heavy metal” generally conjures up images of long-haired men in tight jeans and leather jackets headbanging to the sounds of electric guitars. But in Japan, the scene looks a little different. For starters, there’s a much wider range of styles that come under the “heavy metal” umbrella, from traditional metal to metalcore and everything in between. And while you might not see as many guys with flowing locks these days, the Japanese metal scene is as strong as ever. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of heavy metal in Japan, from its early days to the contemporary scene.

The Big Four

In the early ’80s, there were four major bands that dominated the metal scene in Japan: Loudness, Anthem, Earthshaker, and Sabre Tiger. Sabre Tiger was the first to gain international attention, signing with CBS Records in 1983 and releasing their debut album World Cruelty the following year. They toured extensively throughout Europe and the US, opening for Metallica on their Ride the Lightning tour in 1984.

Loudness followed suit in 1986, signing with Atco Records and releasing their breakthrough album Thunder in the East. The album was a huge success, reaching #1 on the Billboard charts and selling over a million copies worldwide. They continued to enjoy success throughout the ’80s and ’90s, releasing a string of gold and platinum albums.

Anthem was the next to find success outside of Japan, signing with Epic Records in 1987 and releasing their debut album Gypsy Ways later that year. Their follow-up album Bound to Break was released in 1989 and reached #1 on the Japanese charts. They toured Europe and America extensively throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s before taking a hiatus in 1995.

Earthshaker also enjoyed success throughout the ’80s and ’90s, releasing a series of well-received albums. They undertook a world tour in 1988 which proved to be successful, but tragedy struck when their bassist Toki Sugiyama died of cancer in 1989. The band decided to continue on without him, eventually going on to become one of Japan’s most popular metal bands.

The New Generation

The contemporary heavy metal scene in Japan is very different from what it was just a few years ago. In the past, the scene was dominated by older bands who had been around for decades, but now there are a new generation of bands that are starting to make their mark. This new generation of bands is more influenced by international metal scenes, and they are creating a more unique sound that is specific to Japan.

One of the most notable changes in the Japanese heavy metal scene is the increase in female musicians. In the past, it was very rare to see women playing in heavy metal bands, but now there are several all-female bands that are attracting attention from fans all over the world. These bands are helping to change the image of heavy metal music in Japan, and they are proving that women can be just as talented and hard-rocking as men.

If you’re interested in checking out some of the best contemporary heavy metal bands from Japan, be sure to check out Babymetal, Crossfaith, and Crystal Lake. You won’t be disappointed!