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Japan has developed a unique music culture that has blended traditional and Western influences to help create interesting and memorable music.
Today, Japanese music is heavily connected to anime. Popular anime, such as Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece, are inseparable from their iconic theme songs. With the popularity of Japanese music groups and anime, it is no surprise that Japan has many fictional anime music groups and rock bands that capture its music culture.
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Some anime groups have even transitioned to become real music groups that perform live music and sell signature musical instruments. In this article, we are listing some of our favorite anime rock bands, so without further ado, here are our top groups!
Ho-kago Tea Time (K-ON!)
Ho-kago Tea Time (放課後(ほうかご) ティータイム) from the hit anime K-ON! is arguably one of the most popular anime bands on this list. Since the anime’s release, the band has captured its viewers’ hearts and helped inspire the next generation of young musicians. The band has also become a cultural icon in Japan, even appearing in government campaigns, mobile games, and many more.
The band’s name translates to “After School Tea Time”. Originally, Ho-kago Tea Time was simply known as “Sakuragaoka High School Light Music Club” or simply “Light Music Club”. Eventually, when the club members decided to officially form a band to perform outside their school, their club adviser (Sawako Yamanaka) suggested the band’s eventual name.
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What makes Ho-kago Tea Time such an attractive band is the unique personalities of each of the members. The fun interactions and adventures of Ritsu, Yui, Mio, Tsumugi, and Azusa have created a memorable experience for anime fans.
Even almost fifteen years after the anime ended, K-ON! is still being talked about, and Ho-kago Tea Time’s music still finds new listeners. Speaking of their music, Ho-kago Tea Time’s pop-punk-inspired songs are well-written and catchy. Many of the band’s songs and albums topped the weekly Oricon charts during their release.
Interestingly, Ho-kago Tea Time also exists in real life! The voice actors of Ritsu, Yui, Mio, Tsumugi, and Azusa learned how to play their characters’ instruments and formed the real-life Ho-kago Tea Time band. Despite only being active for a few shows, the anime’s VAs created a memorable experience that truly brought Ho-kago Tea Time to life.
HTT Members:
- Yui Hirasawa – Guitar, Vocals (VA: Toyosaki Aki)
- Mio Akiyama – Bass Guitar, Vocals (VA: Hikasa Yoko)
- Ritsu Tainaka – Drums and Percussion, Backing Vocals (VA: Sato Satomi)
- Tsumugi Kotobuk – Keyboard (VA: Kotobuki Minako)
- Azusa Nakano – Guitar, Backing Vocals (VA: Taketatsu Ayana)
- Sawako Yamanaka – Club Adviser (Guest Member for One Show)
Kessoku Band (Bocchi the Rock!)
Kessoku Band from the anime and manga series Bocchi the Rock! is the latest rock band on this list. Despite only being in the spotlight for a couple of years, Kessoku Band is looking to be one of the most influential anime bands, reaching the same heights as K-ON’s Ho-kago Tea Time.
Kessoku Band is an all-girl rock band composed of Hitori “Bocchi” Gotoh, Nijika Ijichi, Ryo Yamada, and Ikuyo Kita. The band’s name is a pun on the Japanese word “kessoku”, which translates to “unity”, and “kessoku band”, the Japanese term for “cable tie”.
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What makes Kessoku Band truly special is how relatable each member is. All four band members share a common dream of reaching success and stardom, which most high school bands can certainly relate to.
But beyond that, each character is incredibly deep. They all have their own personal issues and insecurities that they have to deal with. And throughout the series, they help each other overcome their fears and grow into better versions of themselves.
Throughout the series, many issues are tackled in fun and quirky scenarios. Plus, the characters’ interactions with conflicting personalities create lots of fun moments. For instance, the interactions between Bocchi, who is extremely shy and has a hard time communicating with others, and Kita, who has a bright personality, create lots of fun moments for the band.
The adventures of Kessoku Band make it clear that the end goal of the band isn’t what makes them interesting. Their unique journey makes them such a memorable band to tune into.
Bocchi the Rock’s soundtrack is composed by big-name Japanese artists, such as members of Kana Boon, Ai Higuchi (Attack on Titan), Yuho Kitazawa (The Peggies), Kayoko Kuzano (Composer for LiSA), and many more.
Kessoku Band Members:
- Hitori “Bocchi” Gotoh – Lead Guitar
- Nijika Ijichi – Drums and Percussion
- Ryo Yamada – Bass Guitar, Vocals
- Ikuyo Kita – Lead Vocal, Rhythm Guitar
Beck (Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad)
Beck is one of this list’s oldest and most memorable anime rock bands. They are composed of Japanese teenagers who share the common dream of making it big. But out of all the anime bands on this list, Beck best showcases the struggles and success of being in a small rock band.
Beck is composed of different kinds of musicians. Koyuki and Saku are inexperienced players but have the potential to be excellent musicians. On the other hand, Ryosuke and Taira are more skilled musicians who are serious about making it big.
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Despite the band’s inherent skill and talent, the band doesn’t have a sure-shot success and still has to work hard to reach the top. Beck has also shown that each member has issues to overcome and has clashing personalities that, at times, almost ended the band.
Beck’s music draws inspiration from real-life rock bands. According to the manga’s author Harold Sakuishi, Beck is inspired by Red Hot Chili Peppers. The bassist, Taira, in particular, resembles Red Hot Chili Peppers’s bassist Flea.
Other characters in the series also resemble real-life musicians. In the series, the band’s leader, Ryosuke, was referred to as the “Japanese Jimmy Page.”
In addition to the characters, the band’s music is also heavily inspired by Western rock. Chiba’s rap vocals, featured in the majority of Beck’s songs, are most likely a tribute to the famous rock band Rage Against the Machine. On the other hand, Koyuki’s more mellow songs are likely inspired by Oasis’ songs.
The series also features covers of real-life songs. One specific example is “I Got a Feeling” by the Beatles, played during Beck’s festival performance.
Overall, Beck is an incredibly complex and interesting band that delivers the goods when it comes to their music. Interestingly, Beck also received a live-action adaptation that helped bring the band closer to the real world. The live-action film featured popular Japanese actors, such as Takeru Satoh (Ruruoni Kenshin) and Kenta Kiritani (Crows Zero).
Beck Members:
- Yukio “Koyuki” Tanaka – Rhythm Guitars and Vocals (Portrayed by Takeru Satoh)
- Ryosuke “Ray” Minami – Lead Guitar (Portrayed by Hiro Mizushima)
- Yuji “Saku” Sakurai – Drums and Percussion (Portrayed by Aoi Nakamura)
- Tsunemi Chiba – Vocals (Portrayed by Kenta Kiritani)
- Yoshiyuki Taira – Bass Guitar (Portrayed by Osamu Mukai)
Shop Beck Goods from Japan Today!
Girls Dead Monster (Angel Beats)
Another iconic anime band from the 2010s is Girls Dead Monster (also referred to as “GirlDeMo”). This band appears in the anime Angel Beats and is responsible for most of the anime’s soundtrack. This fictional band is composed of students from the afterlife school.
Unlike most bands on this list, Girls Dead Monster isn’t the focus of Angel Beats‘ plot. However, they have such a unique and interesting story that surely resonates with Angel Beats fans.
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Girls Dead Monster was founded by Masami Iwasawa and Hisako. Iwasawa used music as a form of escape from her parents’ constant fighting. On the other hand, Hisako vowed never to play an instrument again after her friend passed away.
After meeting in the afterlife school, Hisako and Iwasawa’s passions were reignited, and the duo started playing music again. Their music became very popular in the school, leading to Girls Dead Monster’s creation.
Even after the anime ended, the band’s music lives on and still garners millions of views on social media platforms. Songs such as “Crow Song”, “My Song”, and “Alchemy” have become classics. In addition, Girls Dead Monster was one of LiSA’s first major projects. She provided the singing voice for Yui and has performed these songs live.
Girls Dead Monster Members:
- Iwasawa – Lead Vocals, Guitars
- Yui – Lead Vocals and Guitar (Singing Voice by: LiSA)
- Hisako – Lead Guitar
- Miyuki Irie – Drums and Percussion
- Shiori Sekine – Bass Guitar
Raise a Suilen (BanG Dream)
The BanG Dream franchise has lots of interesting groups. One of the catchiest groups that have appeared in the BanG Dream series is Raise a Suilen. The group was originally designated as simply “The Third” before receiving its official name.
What makes Raise a Suilen unique is its electrifying music. Unlike most bands on this list, which have a more traditional rock influence, Raise a Suilen’s music features more elements found in modern rock and metal music, such as guitar solos.
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In addition, the band has covered songs from other anime giants Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas. They created their own rendition of FALILV’s hit song “Just Awake”, which served as the ending theme of the Hunter x Hunter 2011 remake.
Beyond that, Raise a Suilen isn’t just a virtual band. The characters’ voice actresses are also musicians who perform the songs live. Kohara Riko, who plays LOCK, even has a signature Strandberg guitar based on LOCK’s guitar.
RAS Members:
- LAYER – Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar (Portrayed by Raychell)
- LOCK – Guitar (Portrayed by Kohara Riko)
- MASKING – Drums and Percussion (Portrayed by Natsume)
- PAREO – Keyboard, Backing Vocals (Portrayed by Kurachi Reo)
- CHU² – DJ, Backing Vocals (Portrayed by Tsumugi Risa)
Shop Raise A Suilen Music & Goods Now!
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