A Japanese blues band. The roots music of contemporary pop.

Live Spot LugHirata Hiroyasu
I’m Hiroyasu Hirata from Live Spot RAG. When I was 15, I was blown away by how cool music—especially rock—was, and I started playing guitar and formed a band. I’m from Kochi Prefecture, where there weren’t many live houses or concert venues, so there were few opportunities to experience live music. Back then, our sources of information were magazines, CDs, and even VHS tapes (!?). Still, I was captivated by the sparkle of music, and I spent my days enjoying guitar and music, mostly neglecting my studies. I moved to Kyoto for university and “graduated” from the light music club, so to speak (laugh). Until then, I mainly listened to Japanese rock and Western hard rock, but thanks to seniors and peers I learned there was so much more music in the world. Now I listen to anything that strikes me as good, regardless of genre. After graduating, I joined RAG. After about six years in the office and about ten years in the music studio, I now work at the long-established Live Spot RAG, which has been around for 39 years, mainly handling promotions. Being exposed to the “real music” performed by Japan’s top musicians and delivering it to our audience lets me feel the brilliance of music anew every day. I still play guitar and keep a band going casually, and in recent years I’ve even started singing—better late than never. I’ve fully become an old guy by now, but I hope we can continue to chase “what lies beyond the dreams I painted with music back then” together.
POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

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.

Japanese blues bands. Roots music of contemporary pop (31–40)

DEKU NO BOYthe band apart

the band apart / DEKU NO BOY 【MV】

DEKU NO BOYthe band apart

A four-piece rock band from Tokyo formed in 1998, consisting of guitarist-vocalist Takeshi Arai, guitarist Koichi Kawasaki, bassist Masakazu Hara, and drummer Sakae Kogure.

Hara, Kawasaki, and Kogure were classmates in junior high school, and the band’s origins lie in a metal cover band.

Their sound prominently reflects not only blues elements but also strong influences from soul.

Metal-style guitar techniques such as tapping are frequently employed.

They have many songs with English lyrics, and they successfully completed a U.S.

tour in 2007.

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TarirariraAWAYOKUBA

If possible / Tarirarira

TarirariraAWAYOKUBA

AWAYOKUBA is a band formed in Osaka in 2008.

Active mainly in the Osaka area, they released their first album, “AWAYOKUBA,” in 2011.

In 2012, keyboardist Ando left to pursue a career as a music teacher, which led to the band’s breakup.

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SO SADTHE PRODIGAL SONS

SO SAD [THE PRODIGAL SONS] (ZIGGY) Kiichi Morishige / Muneto Matsuo

SO SADTHE PRODIGAL SONS

THE PRODIGAL SONS is a blues rock band formed in 2005 by Muneto Matsuo and Juichi Morishige.

Initially, it was a music unit based on acoustic arrangements, but in 2008 it took on a full band format.

Until announcing a hiatus in 2012, they released five albums and performed live actively.

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Little BoyTHE POGO

THE POGO / Little Boy

Little BoyTHE POGO

THE POGO is a punk rock band formed in 1985 that also delves into garage rock and blues rock.

They dominated the indie scene in the 1980s.

Then, in 1993, at what could be considered the peak of the band’s career, they suddenly disbanded.

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It’s HardGG-Bradz

GG-Bradz – It’s Hard

It's HardGG-Bradz

GG-Bradz is a blues rock band formed in 2010 around Masatoshi Mizuno.

Every member of the band writes lyrics and composes music, and their songs are characterized by a rich variety of colors.

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Japanese blues bands. Roots music of contemporary pop (41–50)

Night of the Twenty-FiveATARIMAEDANOCRACKERS

Atarimaeda no Crackers - Night of Twenty-Five - LIVE at Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO

Night of the Twenty-FiveATARIMAEDANOCRACKERS

ATARIMAEDANOCRACKERS is a band formed in Tokyo in 2006 when a brother and sister who had been separated were reunited.

They were active in Tama as a blues rock band.

After releasing their first album, “We Have No Tomorrow Either,” in 2012, they went on a hiatus in 2013—in a good way.

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TELEVISIONthe blondie plastic wagon

the blondie plastic wagon “TELEVISION” LIVE ver

TELEVISIONthe blondie plastic wagon

The Blondie Plastic Wagon is a band formed in 1999 in Muroran, Hokkaido.

In 2004, they released their first album, “GIFT.” Led by a husky vocal style, their music centers on blues rock and indie rock.

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