I was just wondering if anyone here listens or has been exposed to Japanese music. My current favorites are Guniw Tools and Plastic Tree. I have listened to X-Japan, Dir en Grey, Malice Mizer(disbanded), Kagerou, and Envy and I think they are ok.
And if so, can you recomend more musicians/artists like the ones above? Thanks.
I also listen alot to composers Nobuo Uematsu's and Yoko Kanno's pieces (Nobuo Uematsu composed most of the music for the Final Fantasy games, while Yoko Kanno was responsible for numerous anime soundtracks).

And it's ok to respond if you have only listened to Shonen knife.

edit: an unprovoked apparition of a smiley.

I'm a Dir En Grey fan (I have most of their albums on MP3), and I have one song by X-Japan ("Forever Love", unsurprisingly). "Can still see the light" by Fumie Kumatani is another of my favourites: she did the music for Phantasy Star Online, and "Can still see the light" is from the soundtrack.

I'm more into traditional Japanese music, especially koto music and taiko drum music. However, I have some knowledge about J-pop.

Yes...mostly soundtracks from games...then from anime (Evangelion put out a remix/inspired album that was really fun...)...

As for more pop/sub-pop sounds, I really enjoy Pizzicatto 5, The Boredoms and Ken Ishii...

However, when I want to practice a few Oni Kudaki holds, I'll throw on some Kodo...nothing like deep drumming to get the blood pumping...

Soundtrack-lover here. I have a pretty big collection of anime+game music. As for j-pop/rock, I've pretty much restricted myself in what I like (mostly because of the money factor. I can get the imported CDs here... but at about $60 a piece). My favourite band-- /\ucifer. Favourite singer-- Maaya Sakamoto.

Favourite Composers? Apart from Uematsu-sensei(final fantasies), there's Yoko Kanno(Escaflowne), Yuki Kajiura(.hack//SIGN and .hack//LIMINALITY), and the people who did X the movie and Angel Sanctuary soundstracks respectively.

I have heard some of X Japan and I think they're ok too... the guy has a fantastic voice range IMO :p

I enjoy L' Arc en Ciel, Two-Mix, Megumi Hayashibara, and composures by Tsuneo Imahori... Alongside a few others.

I do like Malice Mizer... but they're the only j-rock band ive heard before...

Buck Tick, Schwein, Schaft, Soft Ballet, Gackt, Malice Mizer ... sometimes I'll listen to Buffalo Daughter for the kitschyness of it all ... uhh ... and this ATP band is not so bad ... "Raining in Kyoto" ... sure ... works for me ...

I like L'Arc en Ciel and Malice Mizer and Gackt. I dont know too much about the bands themselves, but I do believe that Gackt was in Malice Mizer.

Right now, I'm absolutly obsessed with Yuji Kajiura's .hack//SIGN ost. My friend sent me a file of the whole soundtrack. Good, goood stuff.

*waiting for the OST1 to get here*

I have OST2 and LIMINALITY... but supposedly OST1 was the best?

I sure wish I has something better than a 56K dial-up...

A big j-rock/pop anime music fan here
i love Gackt, Malic Mizer, L'arc En Ciel, Glay
and Yokko Kano, particularly her cowboy bebop stuff.

I have now gotten into Malice Mizer.

Malice mizer is definately cool, Dir en grey are my personal fav (hehe i can go to japan town and get their albums for 30bux (US)). X-Japan are cool too but a little too 'up beat' for my taste and as for Gackt yea he's cool too (and yes he was in Malice Mizer).

One thing you should look into is translations for Dir en Grey songs, there's some pretty nice stuff:
-Berry
and that's just a taste of what they have to offer

well there's my 2centolas

Btw: i'm new here nice to meet ya.

there be a few bands out there worth mentioning, mainly for their interesting use of the english language.

take bands like 'The MotherFucking Shit Ass Bitches' and then reflect on how your language is so much better than theirs. ;P