Japan - Indo Zone

History of J-Rock began in 1957 with the familiar rock music in Japan along with the popularity of rockabilly that summit is one style of rock 'n' roll.

Rockabilly which began in various jazz clubs like the rockabilly singer gave birth to Mickey Curtis, Masaaki Hirao, and Keijirō Yamashita. In February 1958, all three appear in concert Westan Kānibaru I (Western Carnival I) at the theater named Nihon Gekijō, Tokyo.

In the late 1950s, the popularity of the rockabilly era began to recede replaced Popsu Kaba (cover pops) which consists of various types of music. In between there pops the cover of musicians like Yuya Uchida and Isao Bito rooted in the rockabilly genre. In addition, the cover pops with style born Liverpool Sound followed popularity of music groups like the Beatles at around the year 1963.

Electric guitar domestic product that can be bought cheaply help create fever Ereki (rock music with electric guitars). The term "Ereki" is an abbreviation of the word erekigitā (エレキ ギター, erekigitā? Electric guitar). Rock music fans in Japan, many of which change the identity of loyal listeners into a rock musician.

• From Ereki to Liverpool Sound and the British beat

Around the year 1964, The Astronauts and The Ventures became popular in Japan. Music played by musicians such as Takeshi Terauchi to Buru Jīnzu (Takeshi Terauchi & Blue Jeans) called surf music, aka music Ereki (Eleki). Recording a song by The Astronauts and The Ventures with Japanese lyrics as sung Koichi Fujimoto also a hit. Music Ereki with instant popularity peaked. Ereki bands in Japan at that time did not just play songs surf music, but also the rhythmic songs of the Liverpool Sound UK-based band that marked the era of British Invasion music movement. In 1965, Yuzo Kayama clone band The Ventures Ereki called The Launchers. This band was so popular until Yuzo Kayama made major role in the film Ereki no wakadaishō (Electric Guitar Young Guy or Campus A-Go-Go).

In the same year, the Tokyo Beatles released the LP contains the songs of The Beatles with lyrics in Japanese. In addition, Tokyo also issued PH Beatles songs ever sung English musical groups that play Liverpool Sound.

• Group Musical

The arrival of the Beatles to perform in a show in Japan make music groups music Ereki change color in order to come to the British Invasion-style. Among the pioneers of the British Invasion in Japan have bands like Jackey Yoshikawa and his Blue Comets and The Spiders. At the same time the band performed a rhythmic Group Sounds (Gurūpu Saunzu). Action stage band rhythmically Group Sounds band imitating many rhythmic British Invasion, but most of their singles and albums are not rhythmic rock, but Kayōkyoku or Wasei Pops (Japanese pop).

• Era of the 1960s to the 1970s

The late 1960s to the mid-1970s represented by bands such as Hadaka no rallies, Jacks, RC Succession, Joe With Flower Travellin 'Band, Mickey Curtis & Samurai, Blues Creation, Murahachibu, The Mops, PYG, Happy End , Sadistic Mika Band, Fried Egg, Yonin Bayashi, Magical Power Mako, Zunō Keisatsu and Gedo. Not really miss the rock group like Carol, Cools, and bands like the Fantastic Company Kansai called her Carol western Japan.

Kansai region in the 1970s rock tinged with blues, rock flow like southern rock. This type of music performed like a rock musician Masaki Ueda and South to South, and West Road Blues Band. In the meantime, Okinawan rock the wind blows from Okinawa. This flow brought Katchan Condition Green and Murasaki group. From the name alone, the group Murasaki (Japanese for the color purple) is obviously want to be associated with Deep Purple. From Nagoya perform with the group Fusanosuke Kondo Break Down. Ayukawa Makoto with his group called the Son House perform from Fukuoka and later called the pioneer Mentai Rock.

• Japanese rock era to the 1980s

1970s marked the group Uzaki Ryūdō with the Downtown Boogie-woogie band, the group that Carol had a strong influence of The Beatles, Off Course, and Tulip. In addition, former members of the group rhythm Musical The Tigers are his solo career, Kenji Sawada continue to produce singles and album rock color. Takuro Yoshida and Inoue Yōsui is the biggest-selling singers in Japan at that time. Both were influenced by Bob Dylan and their music folk rock style. Meanwhile, the group's best-selling music is a Garo and NSP (band) who have been influenced by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Famous band in Japan in the mid-1970s, for example: Kai Band rock with a strong color, Shogo Hamada, Miyuki Nakajima, and that many Momoe Yamaguchi created the song Ryūdō Uzaki. Although many rock band famous, rock music still has not received the whole society.

This situation is changed by a band founded Carol Eikichi Yazawa and three major rock figures: Masanori Sera & Twist, Shinji Harada, Char known as the "big three in the rock" (gosanke skirt). Rock music more easily accepted because of the Japanese Southern All Stars which made its debut in 1978, The Alfee, Kenji Sawada, and Godiego (only single release only). In the late 1970s until the early 1980s, emerging musicians and rock groups such as Akira Terao, Creation, Yoshito Machida, Joe Yamanaka, Yanagi George & Rainy Wood, RC Succession, Monta & Brothers, Masaki Ueda, Kai Band, Shogo Hamada, and Masahiro Kuwana that many bear hit songs. In March 1980, Motoharu Sano debut, but still less acclaim.

• new wave era

Japan around the 1980s were busy with various musical groups such as the flow of punk rock, new wave, techno-pop, hard rock and heavy metal. The group representing music era, such as: Bow Wow, Loudness, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Anthem, Earthshaker, 44Magnum, and Hound Dog. From Fukuoka groups appear as Sheena & The Rokkets led Makoto Ayukawa, The Mods, ARB, The Roosters, and the Rockers, who brought Rock Mentai flow, and the Checkers. Other groups such as the origin of this period, Chanels (Rats & Star) who grew up in a live house. Kanto region appear from bands such as Plastics, Anarchy, Juicy Fruits, The Venus, Ippudō, Hikashu, and P-Model.

• Age band

Boøwy debut in 1982 and the band will have a strong influence in the world of Japanese rock music. Since the late 1970s, a band from the label Indies continued popularity, resulting in "Band Boom" in Japan in the second half of the 1980s. At that time there were so many bands are popular. Princess Princess, Unicorn, Jun Sky Walker (s), bakufu-Slump, and Pink Sapphire are the names of printers band a lot of hit records in the mid-1980s. In line heavy metal band Seikima II is the most popular and frequently appeared on television.

B'z made its debut in 1988. In the same year, an album titled Covers by RC Succession circulation is stopped due to protests because of the theme songs and antinuklir antiwar. X Japan made its debut in 1989 and managed to thrill Japan with heavy metal music that can be accepted by all circles. X Japan is the pioneer of the music movement that gave birth to Visual Kei bands that follow X Japan fame. Indies label born from the rock group Kin-Show (King-Show) who take shelter under Nagomu Record label.

In the late 1980s, The Flipper's Guitar make her debut as the leader of Shibuya-kei style later became its own subculture. Shibuya-kei music movement combines elements of jazz, fusion, and traditional Japanese music. At around the same time, Yutaka Ozaki also reached the peak of fame. Theme songs of social criticism from the perspective of the young generation.

• End "Band Boom"

Mr.Children who moved from live house in Shibuya La Mama's debut in 1994. Mr.Children success followed by Spitz, ulfuls, The Yellow Monkey, and the Elephant Kashimashi.

Mid-1990s is the culmination of fame Visual Kei band. Presence Luna Sea extraordinary acclaim Japanese music fans, followed by GLAY and L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel (although L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel has rejected known as Visual Kei band).

Songs from the Visual Kei band is widely used as the theme song for anime and video games, so the success of anime and video games outside of Japan helped drag the Visual Kei band's popularity outside of Japan. Meanwhile, female rock singers like Maki Oguro, Nanase Aikawa, and Shiina Ringo at the height of fame. At the same time the trend appears to establish a mix of music groups with female vocalists such as Judy and Mary and Hysteric Blue. At that time the popular group The High-Lows established Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima are both ex-The Blue Hearts. New flow, called Melodic Hardcore created by Hi-Standard, Nicotine, Snail Ramp, and Kemuri. English-language lyrics which is now a very common item was initiated by Hi-Standard. At the same time, her band Shonen Knife has become popular outside of Japan. Myth "success overseas must be good at playing the instrument well" smeared with the success of Shonen Knife opening concert band Nirvana in 1993. Several other bands from Japan are popular abroad, such as Guitar Wolf, Boredoms, and The 5.6.7.8 's.

The late 1990s marked the peak of popularity Blankey Jet City and thee michelle gun elephant. At that time often held concerts in the open like Fuji Rock Festival. Number of music groups such as Girl, Supercar, Yura Yura Teikoku which includes Rockin flow also attracted many fans.

TMRevolution, Gackt, and Kiyoharu which made its debut as a Visual Kei switch as a solo musician who continue to produce songs that can enter the pop charts today.

• Year 2001 to present

In the early 2000s began to have style Punk Seishun started by Stance punks, Gagaga SP, and Going Steady. At that time popular music groups like Bump of Chicken, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and belonging Acidman Shimokita Kei genre.

Since the mid 2000s there were a lot of genre group Melodic Hardcore and Emocore like Ellegarden and Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Musicians who have contributed in Melodic Hardcore heyday of the 1990s also rose again, for example: a former member of the Hi-Standard called his solo career, Ken Yokoyama, Ultra Brain, and Snail Ramp.

Currently popular J-Rock groups like Bump of Chicken and Sambo Master mature as mainstream rock group. There is also Rize, Orange Range, HY, and Dragon Ash Mixture classified as rock genre.