Recommended hard rock and heavy metal

Japanese grunge bands. A roundup of bands influenced by grunge.

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Grunge, one of the music genres born in the United States in the 1990s, is an important movement that defined an era within the rock scene.

Grunge tracks are characterized by heavily distorted guitar sounds, pounding drums, a dark overall tone, and introspective lyrics.

If you think of the American rock band Nirvana, you’ll get a good idea of what grunge music sounds like.

When people talk about grunge, overseas bands tend to get most of the spotlight, but there are bands in Japan that identify as grunge, as well as bands influenced by the genre!

In this article, we’ll take a broader view of grunge and introduce Japanese grunge bands.

Japanese grunge bands. A roundup of bands influenced by grunge (21–30)

One tablet without waterwash?

wash? / Take one tablet without water.

One tablet without waterwash?

wash? is a three-piece rock band formed in 2002.

The song title might not give it away, but their sound is solid, authentic grunge rock.

It’s included on their 2017 album “SPLASH.” If you love rock ’n’ roll, this band is hard to resist.

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In conclusion

We introduced bands active in Japan that call themselves grunge, as well as bands that show grunge influences.

Each band incorporates grunge elements into their music in their own way, and I think each had its own distinct appeal.

If any of them caught your interest, be sure to take your time and listen to more of their tracks!