Recommendations for Japanese Post-Rock: Representative Bands and Popular Groups
Most people who have just started listening to post-rock are probably checking out works that originate from Western music.
Did you know that here in Japan, the post-rock scene includes many bands that are highly regarded worldwide?
The sound design these artists pursued has, in fact, had a significant influence on the production of songs that have become major hits.
That said, because it’s not essentially commercial music, beginners might find it a bit daunting to dig in and discover it.
For music fans like you, this article introduces bands that represent Japan’s post-rock scene.
If you enjoy Japanese rock, be sure to take a look!
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[A Guide to Japanese Post-Rock] Notable Bands and Popular Groups (11–20)
PERSON! PERSON!!Mudy On The sakuban
Signed to Zankyo Records, a label that played a major role in Japan’s post-rock scene, mudy on the 昨晩—one of the flagship bands of the so‑called “Zankyo‑kei,” and a group whose cryptic yet punchy name also turns heads—is an instrumental band formed in Nagoya in 2006.
Though they were university students at the time, their youth was matched by formidable musicianship, fueling explosive live performances that quickly drew attention in the indie scene.
By 2007, they were already boosting their profile by joining “EXTREME THE DOJO,” a live event known for its powerhouse overseas acts.
In 2008, they released their debut mini-album on the aforementioned Zankyo Records, and continued to shake up the scene through independently organized events and other distinctive activities.
Their sound is a fierce blend of post-rock, math rock, and chaotic hardcore, featuring the uniquely intricate interplay of triple guitars, while still delivering danceable grooves—music that truly shines in a live setting.
If you’re into bands like 9mm Parabellum Bullet but haven’t heard of mudy on the 昨晩, you absolutely need to check them out!
kiramekimiaou
Even within the Japanese post-rock scene, Kanagawa-born miaou captivates with their outstandingly beautiful melodies.
Formed in 1999, they’re a veteran trio consisting of guitarist Tatsuki Hamasaki and sisters Mayumi and Hiromi Hasegawa on bass and drums.
They might be a name known only to those deeply versed in post-rock and indie circles, but they’re a band I’d love newcomers to Japanese post-rock to know.
Their albums are engineered by Takaki Minogawa of toe, and they’ve toured with renowned overseas post-rock acts like below the sea, ART OF FIGHTING, TRACER AMC, and epic45—so their credentials are rock-solid.
As mentioned at the outset, miaou is an instrumental band that stands out for its remarkably beautiful melodies; their delicate, meticulously crafted ensemble—shaped by influences from post-rock to folktronica—weaves a subtly nostalgic lyricism that comes highly recommended for fans of THE ALBUM LEAF.
The members also pursue solo projects, so be sure to check those out as well.
Lingering Flower / ZankaHeaven in Her Arms
Envy aren’t the only band that journeyed from a ferocious hardcore sound to a profound, post-rock-like sonic landscape.
Formed in Tokyo in 2001, Heaven in Her Arms are a screamo/hardcore band on envy’s label SONZAI RECORDS, known for actively connecting with overseas acts and touring abroad.
Hardcore fans will recognize that their name is taken from a track on Converge’s historic masterpiece Jane Doe.
Their sound distills elements of post-hardcore, post-rock, and black metal, where blasts of impassioned, roaring hardcore intersect with restrained, hushed passages.
Together with their artwork, they craft a sonic world born from an aesthetic distinct from envy’s, continuing to captivate listeners in Japan and beyond.
Resonating with overseas bands often labeled post-metal—such as Deafheaven, for whom they opened on a Japan tour—the band unfolds a sound in which pitch-black darkness and fervent beauty intertwine.
It’s a musical experience we hope not only hardcore devotees but all listeners will savor.
Racing Flashfox capture plan
It might be misleading to frame them strictly within post-rock, but fox capture plan—a piano trio that began in 2011 with the concept of pursuing new possibilities in jazz to create a “contemporary jazz-rock”—is a band I recommend to anyone looking to dig deeper into Japanese post-rock.
Their hybrid sound, which fuses jazz and fusion with genres like post-rock, dubstep, and drum’n’bass, could be described as a distinctively mixed sensibility characteristic of a generation baptized by ’90s alternative rock, and it’s music that will especially resonate with fans of cutting-edge rock.
They’ve performed at festivals like Fuji Rock, Summer Sonic, and Tokyo JAZZ, and continue to operate beyond the confines of jazz with work such as TV drama scores and commercial music.
They’re also known for a prolific release schedule: as of 2022, they’ve put out nine full-length albums and two mini-albums, and even more than a decade after their debut, their creativity shows no signs of slowing.
Personally, to get a sense of their roots, I particularly recommend their 2015 cover album COVERMIND to lovers of alternative rock.
It’s a must-listen: classics spanning ’90s alternative rock, punk, techno, and more are reborn through their signature arrangements.
StaySPECIAL OTHERS
Formed in 1995 by a group of high school classmates, Special Others from Yokohama have continued to carve out their own path as an unchanging four-piece.
Affectionately known by fans as “SPEA-za,” they’ve achieved commercial success despite their music being largely instrumental—their fifth album, Have a Nice Day, released in 2012, reached No.
8 on the Oricon charts, and in 2013 they headlined a solo show at the Nippon Budokan, a testament to their considerable popularity.
As mentioned, their sound centers on instrumental tracks.
While they certainly incorporate many post-rock elements, their assured technique fuels improvisations that strongly reflect a jazz influence.
As an improv-driven jam band, their live performances in particular have captivated audiences time and again.
The mention of improvisation might make some listeners hesitant, but it’s worth emphasizing that their music is rich in melody and possesses a pop accessibility that makes it easy to enjoy even for those who typically shy away from instrumentals.
In any case, their feel-good, danceable groove—best experienced with a drink in hand—is something you truly come to appreciate only when you see and feel it live.
BondLITE
There are quite a few Japanese post-rock bands that are highly regarded overseas, such as toe and MONO, and LITE—a four-piece instrumental rock band formed in 2004—is also a group that enjoys strong popularity not only in Japan but across Europe and the U.S.
Within the orthodox rock setup of two guitars, bass, and drums, they developed a technical instrumental sound that, as drummer Akinori Yamamoto later explained on his Twitter, involved “breaking down a single phrase and distributing it among three members so it intertwines and sounds three-dimensional.” From early on, their work displayed a high level of polish, leading to overseas releases and tours at an early stage.
They earned exceptional respect from peers as well, being championed by Mike Watt—the bassist of the legendary hardcore band Minutemen—who released a split record with them, and putting out work engineered by John McEntire, one of Chicago’s most influential figures in post-rock.
Rather than clinging to their early sound, LITE broadened their musical range over the course of their career, incorporating synthesizers and creating vocal tracks.
Their ventures have continued well into the 2020s, including composing scores for the 2020 film “Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction” and the 2021 animated film “Bright: Samurai Soul.”
Recommendation of Japanese Post-Rock: Representative Bands and Popular Groups (21–30)
The beret was blown away.Climb The Mind
This is the song “Beret Was Blown Away” by Climb the mind.
Its lyrics carry a certain wistfulness, wrapped in a mysterious gentleness.
It has a tender worldview you’ll want to cherish forever, quietly soothing a tired heart and shining light upon it.