A Japanese blues band. The roots music of contemporary pop.
One of the roots musics, the blues, was born among African peoples who immigrated to America and was brought to Japan via the UK.
The prototype of the blues evolved into jazz and rock, and it has had a major impact on popular music as well.
Its emotionally charged singing is captivating, and in a band setting it comes across even more passionately—especially with the guitar’s wailing, crying phrases!
Given the cultural background, many of Japan’s leading blues bands include members from the Kansai region.
Please enjoy this wellspring of soulful sound—the source that also gave rise to the familiar music we listen to every day.
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Japanese blues bands. Roots music of contemporary pop (11–20)
Fish TagBO GUMBOS
BO GUMBOS is a band from Kyoto, a city with a longstanding foundation in blues music.
The group began when Takashi Hisatomi (Donto) and Toshimitsu Nagai, who had been active in Rosa Luxemburg, invited Akira Okachi to join on drums and started playing together in a session-like format.
Although often labeled a blues band, they’re a diverse group that incorporates various elements while retaining a blues flavor, and both their lyrics and songs are highly original and inventive.
It’s regrettable that we can no longer see them on stage due to Donto’s untimely passing.
Mr Walking Drugstore ManSPEED GLUE & SHINKI
SPEED GLUE & SHINKI was a heavy psychedelic blues band formed in Yokohama in 1971, centered around Shinki Chen, who had previously been a member of Power House.
After debuting with their first album, Eve, in 1972 they released the album Speed, Glue & Shinki and then disbanded.
This work is regarded as a pioneering classic of rock in Japan.
ParadiseSons of Blues
They began performing in 1994 as Sons Of Blues with vocalist/guitarist Ichiro, Yoshihiro Matsuura, bassist Hideki Samejima, and vocalist/drummer Johnny Yoshinaga.
They changed their name to THE SONS in 2004 and went on hiatus in 2014.
Since then, while Ichiro has been active as a support musician, the Triple Booster Tour was held in 2020.
The way he freely tears it up—with funky vocals and a guitar that transforms through seven colors—is incredibly cool.
The seasoned depth he’s honed through a career of collaborating with many blues musicians and sharing the allure of the blues is also compelling.
MusicReiran
This band was formed by Reichi Nakaido—aka Chabo, the guitarist of RC Succession led by the supremely charismatic Kiyoshiro Imawano—and Kohei Tsuchiya of THE STREET SLIDERS.
Sharing a deep love for the blues and mutual respect for each other’s musical styles, their soul-infused sound is truly uplifting.
They have continued to perform live consistently since their formation.
It seems they were also responsible for performing the theme song of the music variety show Domoto Kyodai, which aired until 2014.
I watched the show often, so I was delighted to learn this for the first time.
Tobacco RoadCREATION
Creation is a band that has led Japan’s rock scene with a hard rock style since the days when rock was still unfamiliar in Japan.
Formed in the late 1960s as Blues Creation, the group was centered around leader and guitarist Kazuo Takeda.
They became Creation in 1972, and their theme song for the TV drama Pro Hunter, Lonely Heart, was a major hit.
Their overwhelming, blues-based guitar work is so cool it feels almost like it’s singing, and together with the band’s formidable musicianship, they are truly rock stars Japan can be proud of.
They reunited in 2005 and have been actively performing since.
FlowerKina Shōkichi & Chanpurūzu
Shoukichi Kina & Champloose, led by Shoukichi Kina, established Uchina Pop, a modern arrangement of Ryukyuan folk music.
Their debut song, “Haisai Ojisan,” which Kina composed in junior high school, sparked nationwide interest in Okinawan music.
Rather than straightforward blues, his music blends Okinawan sounds with other influences in a way that defies genre, resonating deeply with listeners.
Alongside his music, he engages in peace activism and has also been active as a politician, contributing to Okinawa.
Japanese blues bands. Roots music of contemporary pop (21–30)
From Mercury with LoveSuiseiNoboAz
SuiseiNoboAz is a band that has been active since 2007.
Their first album, SuiseiNoboAz, produced by Hidenori Mukai, was released in 2010.
In 2017, they also went on a release tour in support of Liquid Rainbow.