Japanese bands recommended for junior high school students
I think many people first pick up an instrument in middle school.
I’d like to introduce some bands that could inspire you to start your own band.
They’re all super cool and passionate—absolute must-listens for middle schoolers!
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Recommended Japanese bands for junior high school students (81–90)
e-i-ri-a-nMakishimamu Za Horumon
Maximum the Hormone is a rock band formed in Hachioji, Tokyo, in 1998.
They belong to the mixture hardcore rock genre, known for a sound that fuses intense loud rock with pop melodies.
Their 2013 album “Yoshu Fukushu” topped the album charts for three consecutive weeks, and in 2014 they won the Grand Prize at the 6th CD Shop Awards.
They’ve gained popularity for Japanese lyrics driven by unique wordplay and performances that set hearts pounding and bodies moving.
Their fans are collectively called “Harapeko” (the Hungry).
With the catchphrase “We love food more than three meals a day,” you’re sure to be drawn to the band’s charm.
They might be a perfect match for high school students looking to discover new music.
Doubt first.itashimoku
Formed in 2019 by three high school students, Hachurui-kei rock band Itashime is a reptile-themed trio bursting with personality that lives up to their striking tagline.
Lead vocalist Chiaki Shion’s powerful, rock-edged voice is seriously cool.
Riding a wave of momentum, they pulled off their first nationwide tour in 2022, hitting 24 locations.
In 2023, they released their third album, “Genetic-Level NO!!!,” and embarked on a second national tour.
They’re a band to watch, so be sure to catch them live!
MerciKamisama, boku wa kizuite shimatta
Kamisama, I Have Noticed is a four-member rock band active since 2016.
Despite receiving tie-in features for anime and TV dramas soon after their debut, little is known about the members and they rarely perform live, making them a band shrouded in mystery.
Guitar, Loneliness, and the Blue Planetkessoku bando
Kessoku Band has become popular well beyond the confines of being a fictional band from an anime, drawing the attention of many music fans.
They’re a girls’ band that appears in the 2022 anime adaptation of the hit manga Bocchi the Rock!, made up of four high school girls including the protagonist and guitarist, Hitori Goto.
The live house in Shimokitazawa featured in the show has become a pilgrimage site for anime fans, evoking a phenomenon reminiscent of K-On! over a decade ago.
The secret to their success, much like K-On!, lies in the sheer quality of the songs themselves.
Their debut album, Kessoku Band, released in 2022, topped the Oricon charts.
It includes a cover of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION’s “Rolling Stone, Morning Comes to You,” and the solid band ensemble provided by seasoned session musicians, along with a set of tracks that recall the lineage of Japanese rock since the 2000s, has captured the hearts of music lovers.
The singing voice of Ikuyo Kita’s voice actor, Ikumi Hasegawa, is wonderful as well.
Don’t let preconceptions about “an in-anime band” hold you back—give their music a listen.
When I feel like seeing youFish and Lips
A three-piece band from Hatogaya, Saitama.
They formed and got moving in 2022, when the members were high school juniors.
As an original band outside of any school club, you can sense the trust among the members and their eagerness to be active as a band.
With songs like “Seishun Rock o Utatte” and “Aitaku Nattara,” they make the most of their high school setting, delivering lyrics that convey the sweetness and conflicts of youth, paired with a driving sound that’s part of their appeal.
As a three-piece, each member has clear solo moments and highlights, which also reflect the trust they have in one another.
FighterKANA-BOON
Unusually for KANA-BOON, this track has a slightly rougher feel, and while it sings about the anguish and hardship of fighting on alone, it’s a song I definitely want middle schoolers—who are just beginning to experience the rough waves of society—to hear.
Recommended Japanese bands for junior high school students (91–100)
Clock StrikesONE OK ROCK
ONE OK ROCK has grown into a worldwide band that’s capturing the moment.
They’re just incredibly cool.
I’m sure there are many guys who want to be like ONE OK ROCK because of how cool they are.
I want to keep supporting their drive to reach even greater heights.