Nori, Author at JROCK NEWS

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

Feb 2, 2024

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

Jan 26, 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

Jan 1, 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

Dec 8, 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

Nov 27, 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

Nov 16, 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

Nov 15, 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

Nov 10, 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

Nov 7, 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

Oct 31, 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

Oct 17, 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...

SCANDAL lives on in “Highlight” reel with new single

Nori

Oct 6, 2023

Releases

All-female rock unit and Guinness Record setter SCANDAL released its 29th single Highlight no Nakade Bokura Zutto on October 4. Translating to “always in the highlights”, the up-tempo party anthem commemorates ...

Interview: YOSHIKI’s mission to shatter music boundaries worldwide

Erica, Nori and NBT

Oct 5, 2023

Interview, Tour and event

YOSHIKI, one of the most influential musicians in Japan, has made an enduring impact in both the rock and classical music realms. He's renowned as the founder of the globally beloved rock band X Japan and the l...

Interview with Kouki: Bridging cultures through music and passion

Erica, Omatsu, afaenia and Nori

Sep 20, 2023

Interview, Tour and event

Meet Hanamizakura Kouki, a star in the visual kei scene dedicated to promoting Japan's distinctive culture to global audiences. With a Tsugaru-jamisen guitar in hand and a resplendent folding fan, he embarks on...

Author Nori