Nori, Author at JROCK NEWS

Kroi’s single “Water Carrier” makes a splash for anime “SAND LAND”

19 March 2024

R&B-infused funk-rock five piece Kroi releases digital single Water Carrier on March 20. The song serves as the main theme for the anime adaptation of SAND LAND, originally written by the late manga legend ...

“DRAGON BALL” creator Akira Toriyama passes away at age 68

Nori

11 March 2024

Anime

Manga artist Akira Toriyama, best known to the world as the creator of DRAGON BALL, passed away on March 1. He was 68 years old. According to an official statement from his production company Bird Studio, th...

Interview with SUGIZO (LUNA SEA, X JAPAN, THE LAST ROCKSTARS): A lifelong journey with music

Nori

4 March 2024

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 ...

ATARASHII GAKKO! implores to find your path in single “Toryanse”

Nori

2 February 2024

Releases

Dance unit ATARASHII GAKKO! unveiled digital single Toryanse on January 26, pushing onward in the quest to spread its unpredictably zany antics to a ballooning international audience. As with prior releases, To...

Interview: ATARASHII GAKKO! pushes onward from best year ever

Nori

26 January 2024

Interview

Genre-bending dance unit ATARASHII GAKKO! wrapped up an explosive 2023! With an appearance at Head In The Clouds fest in LA, a world tour, and an invitation to the the widely viewed end-of-the-year program Kouh...

Top 10 visual kei and Japanese rock artists 2023

Erica, Nori, Astrid and Kayla

1 January 2024

Entertainment

With pandemic restrictions easing, Japanese bands are now boldly crossing borders once again. Our 2023 top list celebrates exceptional visual kei and Japanese rock artists who not only transcended geogr...

Ado announces Europe, USA dates for world tour “Wish”

Nori

8 December 2023

Tour and event

The anonymous virtuosic diva Ado announces Europe and USA dates for her first world tour Wish, in partnership with global anime distributor Crunchyroll. Through March and early April 2024, the bona fide Jpop ch...

Report: ATARASHII GAKKO! blasts San Francisco with “Seishun” energy

Nori

27 November 2023

Tour and event

Idol unit and YOLO harbingers ATARASHII GAKKO! invaded the historic Regency Ballroom on November 8, turning a Wednesday night into the most unforgettable concert San Francisco hosted this fall. The sold-out eve...

Interview: HANABIE. rampages across US

Nori, afaenia, Jonathan Lane, Omatsu and Zephyr

16 November 2023

Interview

Newly dubbed "Harajuku-core" band HANABIE. completed its ambitious run across the US, capped with a finale at the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento on October 6. JROCK NEWS caught up with the women who expertl...

X JAPAN opens up about bassist HEATH’s passing

Nori

15 November 2023

Band status, Lineup change

Heavy metal band X JAPAN released a public statement on November 10 regarding bassist HEATH’s sudden passing. The news of HEATH’s death became widespread throughout Japanese media on November 7. X JAPAN drummer...

Interview: Marty Friedman on gifting Jpop to the world (part 2)

Nori and NBT

10 November 2023

Interview

Welcome back to our conversation with guitar legend Marty Friedman! For those who missed the first half, you can find part 1 here. In part 2 on the interview, Marty delves into the prominence of female-led J...

X JAPAN bassist HEATH passes away at age 55

Nori

7 November 2023

Band status, Lineup change

HEATH, the soft-spoken bassist for the internationally renowned Jrock band X JAPAN, passed away at the end of October. He was 55 years old. According to those familiar with the matter, HEATH had struggled wi...

Interview: Marty Friedman on gifting Jpop to the world (part 1)

Nori and NBT

31 October 2023

Interview

It’s not every day an international guitar hero replies to our cold call with a resounding yes! But Marty Friedman, formerly of the “big four” GRAMMY-nominated thrash metal legend Megadeth, emphatically welcome...

LUNA SEA resurrects legacy with re-recordings of albums “MOTHER”, “STYLE”

Nori

17 October 2023

Releases, Tour and event

Visual kei pioneer LUNA SEA unveiled the rerelease of two genre-defining albums MOTHER and STYLE, due November 29. Nearly three decades since the original versions, all 21 songs have undergone rigorous rearrang...

Author Nori