Nori, Author at JROCK NEWS

Report: HANABIE. ignites frenzy across San Francisco Bay Area

May 11, 2026

On a chilly, drizzling Friday evening in San Francisco, a sold-out crowd wrapped around August Hall, eager for HANABIE.’s return. The show marked the penultimate stop of the band’s latest U.S. tour, an ambitiou...

Review: DIR EN GREY sinks into despair on “MORTAL DOWNER”

Nori and Erica

May 6, 2026

Report and review

DIR EN GREY returned on April 8 with MORTAL DOWNER, the band's 12th studio album and first in nearly four years since PHALARIS. As the band approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027, the release arrives with a qu...

Interview: Exploring HYDE’s heavy music and imagining “Moon Child 2” movie

NBT and Nori

Mar 30, 2026

Interview

Despite the rising cost of touring, HYDE remained determined to complete his two-year world tour "HYDE LIVE 2025 WORLD TOUR", culminating in a finale in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 23, 2025. For this show, ...

LUNA SEA drummer Shinya passes away at 56 years old

Sizergyia and Nori

Feb 24, 2026

Lineup change

On February 22, LUNA SEA announced that their drummer Yamada Shinya (山田真矢) sadly passed away on February 17 from Stage 4 colorectal cancer, which had spread to his brain.In 2020, Shinya was diagnosed with S...

Interview with CHAMELEON LIME WHOOPIEPIE: Vocalist Chi- on whooping up second full-length album

Aya and Nori

Jan 24, 2026

Interview

Experimental alt-pop vocalist Chi- and fellow “creatures” Whoopies No. 1 and No. 2 of CHAMELEON LIME WHOOPIEPIE blend vibrant creativity in their latest album Whoop It Up "DELUXE Edition". For the very first ti...

JROCK NEWS named official translator for anime One Piece ending theme song

Nori, Aya and NBT

Nov 19, 2025

Anime

JROCK NEWS is proud to serve as the official English translator for music for the anime One Piece! We penned the English version of the ending theme PUNKS by electronic-infused pop project CHAMELEON LIME WHOOPI...

Interview: BAND-MAID’s Miku Kobato on storytelling through anime

Nori and Aya

Aug 18, 2025

Interview, Releases

BAND-MAID’s latest single What is justice? slices across digital platforms on July 18 and into living rooms as the ending theme for the gritty role-reversal anime TOUGEN ANKI. Gnashing through with KANAMI’s gui...

Report: DIR EN GREY’s first U.S. performance in nearly 6 years, “TOUR25 WHO IS THIS HELL FOR? [mode of VULGAR]”

Erica, Zephyr and Nori

Aug 3, 2025

Report and review

In April of 2025, after nearly six years away, DIR EN GREY made a powerful return to the U.S. with a sold-out, three-night run in Los Angeles and Anaheim, California. Drawing a combined crowd of approximately 6...

Interview: DIR EN GREY’s Die on their triumphant U.S. return and the road ahead

Erica, Nori and Zephyr

Jul 28, 2025

Interview, Tour and event

Interview with HYDE: Revealing Jekyll to the world

Nori, NBT and Sizergyia

Mar 18, 2025

Interview

HYDE awaits JROCK NEWS in a private conference room near The Novo club in downtown Los Angeles. It's the evening before his HYDE WORLD TOUR finale, yet the legendary vocalist has graciously set aside time to s...

Interview with Aoi (the GazettE): Delivering an unforgettable live performance

afaenia and Nori

Feb 15, 2025

Interview

This interview was originally published by “club Zy.” in Japanese. JROCK NEWS is partnering with club Zy. and Vijuttoke with the aim to popularize Japanese visual kei globally. Learn more about our partnership ...

Top 10 visual kei and Japanese rock artists 2024

Erica, NBT, Nori and Jack

Jan 2, 2025

Entertainment

Our 2024 top list honors the visual kei and Japanese rock artists who defined the year with groundbreaking achievements and boundary-pushing creativity. These musicians didn’t just transcend borders—they redefi...

Report: “Inside” HYDE’s world tour finale in Los Angeles

Nori

Dec 20, 2024

Featured, Report and review

Jrock superstar HYDE descended upon Los Angeles on November 30 with his haunting carnival, marking the ultimate stop of the HYDE LIVE 2024 WORLD TOUR. HYDE’s travels had swept him across Asia—to Taipei, Hong K...

Interview: I Don’t Like Mondays. reflects on 10 years of music with EP “FOCUS”

Erica, Nori and Nexus

Oct 28, 2024

Interview, Releases

Debuted in 2014, I Don’t Like Mondays. is a dynamic four-piece band that fuses vibrant dance-pop with alternative rock. The lineup—YU (vocals), CHOJI (guitar), KENJI (bass), and SHUKI (drums)—draws inspiration ...

Author Nori