Japanese shred guitarist
If you’re into rock, metal, or simply love guitarists and guitar tones, chances are you also enjoy lightning-fast soloing.
As a guitarist, almost everyone has probably wanted to master a fast-picking phrase at least once, right? In this article, we’ll introduce captivating fast-playing guitarists, focusing on musicians active in Japan.
While “shredding” might make you think of the metal scene, we’ll be spotlighting not only metal but also highly regarded technicians from jazz and fusion.
Now, let’s dive in and listen to some blazing speed that’s gone in the blink of an eye!
Playlist
| Japanese shred guitarist | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | ANGEL OF SALVATIONSyu（GALNERYUS） |  play_arrow | The guitarist of GALNERYUS. Known for fast playing and emotional performances. |
| 2east | CRAZY DOCTORTakasaki Akira (LOUDNESS) |  play_arrow | Akira Takasaki, LOUDNESS, fast picking, tapping |
| 3east | Fujioka Mikio (Kari BAND) |  | A guitarist who passed away suddenly at 36. Supported BABYMETAL. |
| 4east | KARATEOmura Takayoshi (BABYMETAL no sapoto) |  play_arrow | Takayoshi Ohmura is a guitarist of BABYMETAL's Kami Band. |
| 5east | EL DORADORūku Takamura (CANTA, ex. Seikima II) |  play_arrow | Former guitarist and vocalist of Seikima-II |
| 6east | Like a thunder godTakamizawa Toshihiko (THE ALFEE) |  play_arrow | The ALFEE’s fast-playing guitarist |
| 7east | impulseMatsumoto Takahiro (B’z) |  play_arrow | Evaluating Takahiro Matsumoto’s guitar technique and individuality |
| 8east | Never Ending StoryKitsutaka Fumihiko (Kinniku Shoujo-tai) |  play_arrow | The Musical Style of Muscle Girl Band Guitarist Fumihiko Kitsutaka |
| 9east | We The Unitedmiyako、midori（LOVEBITES） |  play_arrow | The achievements of LOVEBITES’s two guitarists, Miyako and Midori |
| 10east | JAGUAR’13Haruahata Michiya |  play_arrow | The achievements of Michiya Haruhata, the guitarist of TUBE |
| 11east | Heels of the windYamamoto Kyoji (BOWWOW) |  play_arrow | Kyoji Yamamoto is a genius guitarist. |
| 12east | Future DestinationKelly SIMONZ |  play_arrow | Kelly SIMONZ is a guitarist and vocalist. |
| 13east | The Tangerine SongANCHANG（SEX MACHINEGUNS） |  play_arrow | Leader of SEX MACHINEGUNS |
| 14east | Thread of DawnMachiya (Wagakki Band) |  play_arrow | A skilled guitarist from Wagakki Band |
| 15east | What’s My Name?MIYAVI |  play_arrow | The samurai guitarist’s solo career and distinctive slap style |
| 16east | UnicornWatanabe Kazumi |  play_arrow | The natural fast picking of genius guitarist Kazumi Watanabe |
| 17east | Between Life And DeathShima Toshifumi (Concerto Moon) |  play_arrow | Mr. Norifumi Shima, the central figure of the heavy metal band |
| 18east | FrontierLeda（ex.DELUHI） |  play_arrow | Leda is a metal guitarist. |
| 19east | MarionetteSAKI（Mary’s Blood） |  play_arrow | Mary’s Blood’s guitarist’s insanely fast shredding |
| 20east | Cast In The AirKajiyama Akira (GOLDBRICK) |  play_arrow | Akira Kajiyama is the guitarist of GOLDBRICK |
| 21east | JET FINGERYokozeki Atsushi |  play_arrow | Shredding by a super Japanese guitarist |
| 22east | Li-sa-X |  play_arrow | The achievements of the genius guitar girl Li-sa-X |
| 23east | TriptychDAITA（SIAM SHADE） |  play_arrow | Guitarist DAITA of SIAM SHADE |
| 24east | Wada Akira (PRISM) |  play_arrow | Akira Wada, a pioneer of Japanese fusion with PRISM |
| 25east | PhiliaHIZAKI（Versailles） |  play_arrow | Hizaki is a central figure in a metal band. |
| 26east | Don’t let it dieShimizu Akio (ANTHEM) |  play_arrow | Akio Shimizu’s activities as a guitarist and composer |
| 27east | Ark StormŌta Katsu (Ark Storm) |  play_arrow | Refreshing guitar solo by a Japanese metal band |
| 28east | FightmanNoro Issei (Kashiopea) |  play_arrow | Casiopea’s technically adept and easy-to-listen-to fusion |
| 29east | IMPULSEHidenori |  play_arrow | A guitarist who switches between fast picking and melody |
| 30east | The Last RevengeYuki（D_Drive） |  play_arrow | Guitarist Yuki’s fast-picking technique in a hard rock band |
| 31east | Across the Horizona2c |  play_arrow | a2C is an artist who blossomed their guitar talent through video game music |
| 32east | SHINEKen（L’Arc〜en〜Ciel） |  play_arrow | Techniques and Characteristics of Ken, the Guitarist of L’Arc~en~Ciel |
| 33east | TIME IS DEADSugizo（LUNA SEA） |  play_arrow | A guitarist active in LUNA SEA and X JAPAN |
| 34east | Fudge & MudgeYabori Koichi (FRAGILE) |  play_arrow | A technically skilled drummer and Yahori’s guitar |
| 35east | HellympicKobayashi Shin’ichi (2.5Metallified) |  play_arrow | The precise and powerful playing of guitarist Shinichi Kobayashi |
| 36east | fateTerauchi Takeshi |  play_arrow | Takeshi Terauchi’s fast picking accentuates the gentle song. |
| 37east | DESIRERyoji（GYZE） |  play_arrow | GYZE's melodic death metal song |
| 38east | Malice againstCazqui（NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST） |  play_arrow | Cazqui delivers a heavy metal sound with a 7-string guitar. |
| 39east | Dear My ”blue forest”YUI（CYNTIA） |  play_arrow | YUI from CYNTIA, a cool and badass guitarist |
| 40east | Dark DaysHashimoto Takahiro (INHALE) |  play_arrow | 2013 single by an Osaka metalcore band |
| 41east | Rhapsody of TemptationYOSHIHIRO( girudo ) |  play_arrow | The fast playing of the Guild guitarist is captivating. |
| 42east | Red JadeTSUYOSHI（Unveil Raze） |  play_arrow | Nagoya modern heavy metal band |
| 43east | Hard TimesMatsubara Masaki |  play_arrow | Distinctive for the guitarist’s melodic expression |
| 44east | RutileManabe Yoshiaki (pillows) |  play_arrow | Yoshiaki Manabe is a guitarist who uses fast picking effectively and appropriately depending on the context. |
| 45east | Stardust WayYuasa Susumu (X-RAY) |  play_arrow | Shin Yuasa’s technical guitar playing from the heavy metal band X-RAY |
| 46east | SHEDFukuda Hiroya (ex.ANTHEM) |  play_arrow | Hiroya Fukuda is the guitarist of ANTHEM |
| 47east | I have lived with the sunNakagawa Daijirou (JYOCHO) |  play_arrow | New project of the space convenience-store guitarist |