When I read this post I realized that there was a strong possibility you had not heard Meshi kuu na! (メシ喰うな！) by Inu (Machida Kō's first band). The idea sent a chill down my spine. Run, don't walk. posted by No-sword at 3:53 AM on October 2
Punk, particularly in Japan, is a broad church. With that caveat, I recommend Boredoms, Melt-Banana and Acid Mothers Temple. posted by macdara at 4:03 AM on October 2
Seconding the Melt Banana recommendation. They not only tear it up big time, but are wonderful folks, to boot!
I also heartily recommend Kirihito (that link features pix of them as well as Melt Banana and others). One of the members of Kirihito (drummer Cob, that is Kobu-chan), by the way, runs a club in Okubo (just down the street from Shin-Okubo station, Yamanote line) called Earthdom, which features mainly punk and noise shows. I just played there the other night: they have a great PA. posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:38 AM on October 2
Yeah, I guess this really depends on what you consider "punk" (I don't agree with macdara that Acid Mothers Temple are, for instance).
Japanese hardcore is all over the place, but arguably the two most well known ("classic"?) examples being GISM and Gauze. posted by anarchivist at 5:20 AM on October 2
I need to call a warning on the Boredoms. They're more of an avant garde noise collective. If you're into it, cool, but if you're not (vivid memories of seeing Nirvana in Kalamazoo. The Meatpuppets went over all right as an opening act. The Boredoms did not.)
It depends on the punk you want. Check out (mostly English/non-mangled lyrics) Ellegarden, sort of a pop-punk fun band, Asian Kungfu Generation for your more glasses wearing emo-punk, Go!Go!7188 for your hot girl 50's pop crossed with punk, Shakalabbits for some ska-punk, or, for the absolute best video ever, Bloodthirsty Butchers, a more indies/punk band.
There's also Ore No Ska Bando, who played at the Warped Tour this summer. High school girls from Osaka playing ska, you can't ask for more.
My first, though, was Mongol 800, or as they're commonly known, Manpachi, silly pop-punk from Okinawa.
Those are off the top of my head, and I have, and enjoy, albums by all of them. posted by Ghidorah at 5:22 AM on October 2
Seconding the Inu recommendation, as someone who prefers poppy or post-punk like Plastics and P-Model rather than the noisier stuff. Oh and Plastics and P-Model :) posted by p3t3 at 5:39 AM on October 2
Okay, if Machida Machizo (Ko) is gonna be mentioned in this thread, then we can't let The Stalin by Michiro Endo go by unmentioned. Here you go. posted by misozaki at 5:40 AM on October 2
My favorite Japanese label is Snuffy Smiles. A few of the Japanese bands that recorded with them also released stuff on Broken Rekids, including some of my favorites (Sprocket Wheel, Blew, Watercloset, and The Urchin). Dave Parasite of the Parasites also put out a pretty good compilation about ten years ago or so. posted by toddst at 5:55 AM on October 2
Second vote for Guitar Wolf. Always, and forever.
(They are Ramones-style punk.) posted by JoanArkham at 6:00 AM on October 2
Oh, also Nicotine. Kind of a silly, early Green Day kind of punk band. Also English lyrics, slightly fractured.
Oh, and if you like ska-punk, Kemuri is the god of all that is good, though they decided to call it quits last year. posted by Ghidorah at 6:26 AM on October 2
This wiki on Japanese hardcore has a bunch of bands you might want to check out. posted by The Straightener at 6:30 AM on October 2
Punk: Fuck on the Beach.
New wave, but you should know The Plastics.
And the amazingly named, but ska, Snail Ramp. posted by beerbajay at 7:50 AM on October 2
They have a kind of pop-punky sound, but with super gnarly guitars and a lot of shout alongs. They're noted for their wacky live performances. Totally worth your time. posted by GilloD at 8:17 AM on October 2 [1 favorite]
How did we get this far without someone mentioning Envy??
They've been together forever. They started playing hardcore, quickly evolved into an incredible screamo band and now they sound vaguely like Mogwai. Without a doubt one of the biggest Japanese screamo/punk/hardcore bands in NA. posted by The Wig at 9:23 AM on October 2 [1 favorite]
Hell yes to Eastern Youth. they were my introduction to the genre as practiced in Japan. posted by zennoshinjou at 9:27 AM on October 2
Les Rallizes Denudes Live '77 album (just recently made more available again, on Forced Exposure I think...) is a total stretch I think, but my boyfriend pointed out by this time the head guy was "reinvigorated" by the Japanese punk scene. So...maybe. posted by ifjuly at 11:43 AM on October 2
The Gaia were an awesome all-female hardcore band in the '90s. I saw them play in a pizza place in Davis, CA a decade and a half or so ago. If you can find a copy of their debut album, Kick Up Ass!, on CD anywhere, get it! Then burn yourself a copy and sell it to me. Otherwise, their second album, This One, and their "best of" collection, 777, also come highly recommended. posted by infinitywaltz at 11:50 AM on October 2
I can probably post another few suggestions after I've browsed my collection a bit. posted by NemesisVex at 1:37 PM on October 2
I don't agree with macdara that Acid Mothers Temple are, for instance
Fair enough, I guess most people would call them 'psychedelic' but I didn't really hear that in the incarnations I've seen them in.
I should also have mentioned Envy earlier; I saw them play live this summer just gone and they blew me away so much I ordered three of their albums online as soon as I could.
Fuck on the Beach are power-violence; like grindcore, technically a punk subgenre but oft classified as extreme metal. I dig that kind of stuff, but it might be too much for some.
If noise rock isn't too leftfield of the punk-o-scope, I highly recommend Ruins. For the most part, just bass and drums, like Lightning Bolt, but far awesomer (plus the drummer is simply astounding). posted by macdara at 3:26 PM on October 2
(plus the drummer is simply astounding).
He is Yoshida Tatsuya, and aside from his work with Ruins, he is very active on the Tokyo/Japan/international creative music scene. posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:21 PM on October 2
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