Anyone else listen to J-pop artists? I started listening to Anime themes I like and WOH do these boys slap! Bass, piano, even vocals these folks sound like they are playing as if their lives depended on it.
From a musical perspective I like not knowing Japanese because it lets me just listen to the music without critiquing the lyrics.
Check out “Reason for existence” by Tsukuyomoi
If anyone else has other recommendations I’d love to hear them!
If you like the pop side, Gacharic Spin. F-Chopper Koga is an amazing bassist and their guitarist is fantastic.
@Wombat-metal will be in with a horde of metal shortly.
My favorite band here ever is Supercar, but they broke up about 15 years ago. Still, Miki Furukawa is an awesome bass player and she still scores Anime with her new band, Lama.
Thanks for the recommendations!
My favs so far
I like bass, drums, female lead vocalists, and stuff that crosses genres.
Anyway I’m rambling but thanks again for your suggestions I’ll check them out!
Supercar was indie rock and electronica, so not pop, BTW.
I am generally not in to pop so much but there’s a lot of good J-Pop as far as pop goes. And of course the standards like Perfume and so on are still around.
If you want a more club-pop sound check out Capsule.
One of Howard’s favorite bassists is Kiyoshi, who might be the best of them all. On the pop side I also like Mina, she has a lot of technique.
From old school bass, I like Yoshihito Onda from Judy and Mary, who are no longer together but were very good.
Still on the pop side, Aina Yamauchi of Silent Siren is very good, and Tomomi of Scandal
On the more rock/metal side, Boh, Bohte Daisuke, of Babymetal and the Kari band is one of the best. Whether it’s jazz fusion or death metal he covers it with his six string monster Atelier Z.
Hettsu of Hanabie is a fantastic bassist to watch. She may not be as technical as others, but she puts on a show.
Misa of Band-Maid is quite talented.
But, two of my favorites are Haraguchi of Nemophila. She uses a lot of distortion on her Jazz and just drives the rhythm and songs forward while the guitar does the fireworks. And Fami of Lovebites. She is a beast on bass. Her double thumb technique in metal is amazing.
And Ken-ichi Suzuki of Ningen Isu rocking a double P will finish the list. He is a great bassist and the most expressive bass face ever. Check out heartless scat from them. They do a lot of songs based on horror, like Scat of the Rotting Cadaver
I’m probably claiming a J-pop genre from a 100% ignorant place so don’t quote me 
WOW!!! 10 seconds in on the Gacharic Spin song (translated as) “Naked liar”.
That base line… I don’t know whether to cry from the sheer beauty, or call the hospital to fix my melted face. It’s Awesome!
Fami with Alien Alien (Hatsune Miku cover)
Haraguchi-san
Prematurely bald Bassist Boh
F-Chopper is world class. Their guitarist, Tomo-zo, is perhaps an even better musician; both are awesome. Rest of the band is great too; one of their guitarist/vocalists used to be their drummer and is a really talented multi-instrumentalist.
Anyway Supercar would be my jam here. I moved here right after they broke up, never got to see them. 
I own the model of bass she is playing there (it’s her signature model, the Yamaha SBV-800MF). Best P-pickup tone I have ever heard IMO. Their guitarist/keyboardist/other lead singer is great too, not sure what he is up to now; was doing Lama with her for a while.
Here’s them as Lama, used in an anime:
They both sing in that one.
Let me just make a promise… If Beginner to Badass makes me Fami good I will personally put this 300lb, over the hill dude, in a skirt and play that exact cover.
lol captured FTR
Fami with her band. She may not be the best musician.
If there were one takeaway I would boil down from the music scene here, it’s “They go deep.” It’s not uncommon to see new 20-something bands filled with music school grads who have been playing their instrument for 12 years already.
I like that 2nd LAMA jam. Have you ever heard of the band Belly? Their sound is sort of similar including the great drummer.
I’ll second Tomomi of Scandal, her basslines are always so groovy and cutting through the mix so well!
Favorite J-pop Anime connection is The Pillows.
They did the soundtrack for FLCL, which is still my all time fav.
That music is so so so perfect.
Great riffs, great bass playing too!
Ohh FLCL is great! I forgot about the tunes there are some great jams!
I was gonna mention them (and in fact had a link but was at work). FLCL was so delightfully weird. And baseball.
