I just thought I`d share a bit of info about bands from Japan, but beware, the Japanese gothic scene is a tad.... strange. Copy and paste the links:

Satanyanko (http://www.satanyanko.com) Is a very odd gothic/death rock band from the Osaka area whose entire theme is based on cats and cute things.

Jet Pepper Tower (http://jetpeppertower.fromc.com/index.html) another gothic rock band from the Kansai area, though I`m not so familiar with them myself....

Eve of Destiny (http://www.eveofdestiny.net/) are a now well known(somewhat) band from Tokyo who play sort of a strange Japanese darkwave. Their frontman owns the Eve the New Church club in Tokyo.

Despair (http://despair-nation.com/) are a harsh electro/industrial band from Kobe(I think), who sound reminiscent of Skinny Puppy. Playing at this coming Wave Gotik Treffen.

Jack or Jive (http://www.jackorjive.com/) are a very beautiful atmospheric/etherial band, who are one of the oldest, and have some amazing compositions.

Well, so far, that`s all I`ve found for the 7 months I`ve lived here.... It`s a bit difficult tracking down original bands/shows/venues, even if you know the right people, but there`s definitely untapped creative potential here.....

Oooh I'll have to check those out when I have time. Do you like Malice Mizer? Some of their stuff is pretty goth, like their merveilles album, Beast of Blood and the second track on the Gardenia single. I think they're good with both Gackt and Klaha as their lead singer.

What about Balzac? They are punky goth in my views. They have worked with the misfits because of their similiar look

I have heard Malice Mizer were more into the Visual Kei scene, which is kinda like Japanese glam/shock rock, that`s mostly about image/looks. I do like some Malice Mizer though, and the band Dir En Grey actually do have some darker sounding stuff as well.
I haven`t heard Balzac yet, but I`ll check them out.

There are a lot of bands who use the "gothic" image here, but are musically only rock n roll.

Oooh, I love J-rock so I will definately follow up those bands. As for malice mizer, while visual kei, I find a lot of there music lends itself so much to the romantic goth sound.

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There's a lot of "goth" bands I would say the same thing about...namely the cult

yeah, the Cult are definitely a rock band, and the Death Cult/Southern Death Cult were post punk. I`d tie them with goth scene/influence-wise only.

I agree...anyway, I'm loving despair, Jack and Jive and Jet Pepper Tower. I can't find anything from the others though.

Now I just have to find some way to get my hands on all the releases of all these artists (yes I am greedy) or I could just actually be bothered to save up and travel to Japan for a while (which would probably be pre/post WGT, so I can head to Germany before/after Japan and have an Uber-trip)

Welcome in Osaka anytime......

anytime eh...hmm *wonders if able to scam free acomodation on Centurion's floor*

hehe, well as long as I know when you`re coming.....
I`ll pm you my email

Whoa...I just gotta get the $3000 + for airfaires and spending and I'm there

Just been searching the board and found these threads that discuss a bit about Gothic Lolita (I've only linked the one that discusses the music too and not just the fashion), Visual Kei rock bands, goth in Japan in general etc:

Malice Mizer

Goths in Asia

EGL? goth in japan? curious about japanese goth stuff

Um... anyone here into Japanese music?,

Well, I just bought 2 Malice Mizer videos from my local HMV for cheap, so that`s what I`ll be watching tonight alongside the new Exorcist....

*jealous*

a quote from the biography page on the "satanyanko" site...

" The band change their name to "Satanyanko".
Because they love Satan and cat."

-_-; that's certainly something special, lol

but they have some nifty sounding stuff (i'm not totally crazy about the vocals, though)

-undecided