Recommended Japanese bands for men in their 40s

Probably Maybe Meiji feat. Ah, Tagirentarōrekishi

Lekishi – “Probably Maybe Meiji feat. Ah, Tagiren Tarō” Music Video

Rekishi is a music project that delivers top-tier funk with Japanese history as its theme.

It’s the solo moniker of Takafumi Ikeda, also known as the former keyboardist of SUPER BUTTER DOG, and his groovy musicianship is second to none.

The project began in 2007 with the album “Rekishi,” and the tracks—featuring star guests like Ringo Sheena and Daichi Miura performing under playful “Rekishi names”—are brimming with a sense of fun.

Ikeda’s entertainer spirit is astounding, too: for the first pressing, he hand-drew the cover art for 10,000 CDs.

Even if history isn’t your strong suit, once you experience Rekishi’s music, those tricky figures and events will start to feel endearing.

It’s a project that will make you want to dive into the world of history.

Supernova9mm Parabellum Bullet

9mm Parabellum Bullet – Supernova

Formed in Yokohama, Kanagawa in 2004, 9mm Parabellum Bullet is a skilled rock band with a distinctive presence, spanning a wide musical range from post-hardcore to heavy metal.

They made their major debut in 2007, and their album “Termination” reached No.

10 on the Oricon charts.

Since then, they have continued to captivate many listeners with powerful performances and a unique worldview.

In September 2009, they proved their prowess by successfully headlining a solo show at Nippon Budokan.

The heavy sound woven by Takuro Sugawara’s vocals and Yoshimitsu Taki’s guitar becomes even more compelling when experienced live.

Energetically active—having also performed at Yokohama Arena—the band’s music is perfect for fans seeking both powerful performances and melodic elements.

ULTRA SOULB’z

B’z / ultra soul

B’z is now unstoppable.

Both of them are so youthful and incredibly cool.

It makes you feel like that coolness will last forever.

Every song they release keeps becoming a hit, and you can tell that fans from the early days still respect them.

Everlasting LuvBREAKERZ

BREAKERZ「Everlasting Luv」Music Video（full ver.）

BREAKERZ made a striking debut in 2007 as a three-member visual kei rock band.

The members are DAIGO, AKIHIDE, and SHINPEI.

With a lineup featuring vocals and twin guitars, they’re known for their powerful sound and energetic live performances.

They have provided numerous tie-in songs for popular anime, winning over anime fans as well.

In 2020, their album “BREAKERZ” reached No.

3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, underscoring their musical excellence and consistency.

Since the band’s formation, each member has also been active as a solo artist, channeling that experience back into the band—another key part of their appeal.

They’re highly recommended for music fans who grew up on visual kei and anime songs.

astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Stargazing”

They’re a rock band popular across a wide range of generations that shot to fame with “A Sky Full of Stars” (Ten-taikan-soku/’Stargazing’) and rose to the ranks of top artists, and they’re still active on the front lines today.

Known for their highly narrative lyrics and many classic songs, they’re a band I highly recommend.

FANTASISTADragon Ash

Dragon Ash｢Fantasista｣

They’re a mixture rock band that incorporates a variety of genres, including rock, punk, hip-hop, and reggae.

People in their 30s might associate them strongly with hip-hop, but they’re a band with many other great songs as well.

C7GO!GO!7188

GO!GO!7188-C7

They were a band that established themselves as a Japanese-style rock group with a music style rooted in GS sounds.

From edgy, punk-tinged tracks to heartrending ballads, every song had a strong, distinctive character and was undeniably cool, but they unfortunately disbanded in 2012.