Nori, Author at JROCK NEWS

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

Nov 19, 2025

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 ...

BAND-MAID reflects on writing process for album “Epic Narratives”

Nori

Oct 23, 2024

Releases

Hope everyone is rocking out to the latest BAND-MAID album Epic Narratives! Lead guitarist KANAMI, rhythm guitarist and vocalist MIKU, and lead vocalist SAIKI shared with us their takes on penning each of the 1...

Review: BAND-MAID album “Epic Narratives” steps forward to unlock joy

Nori

Oct 10, 2024

Report and review

BAND-MAID dropped album Epic Narratives on September 25, marking the eight full-length record that follows Unseen World from 2021. After filling the three-year void with the punchy 2022 EP Unleash and two North...

Kroi concocts fresh universe of sounds in third album “Unspoiled”

Nori

Jun 19, 2024

Releases

Tokyo five piece Kroi releases its highly anticipated new album Unspoiled on June 19. The record marks the third full-length since signing with major label PONYCANYON, and brings 14 tracks that build on the ban...

Interview with Kroi: Writing for Toriyama and beyond

Nori and Mazohyst_Kyo

Jun 11, 2024

Interview

Jazzy, free-spirited five-piece band Kroi enjoyed a string of tie-in successes in the anime world. Most notably, the band was tasked with composing for the anime adaptation of SAND LAND by the late manga goliat...

Interview with Yui Nishio: Turning everyday life charm into musical tunes

NBT and Nori

Jun 6, 2024

Anime, Interview

With a captivating clear and deep voice, Yui Nishio (ゆいにしお) stands out in the Japanese pop scene with her blend of nostalgic and modern sound, and notably, her vivid lyrics that capture the everyday life and em...

Author Nori