8. Wagakki Band (楽)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_xTet06SUo How to describe the Wagakki Bands music? Japan has a long history mixing foreign and domestic cultural influences and, from that mix, creating something new and awesome. Japanese Buddhism, which originated in India but came to Japan via China and Korea, is an example of this historical tendency. Today Japanese religion combines both Buddhism, the foreign influence, and Shinto, the domestic influence. And now, starting in 2013, the Wagakki Band has done something similar. It took Western rock music and instruments and combined them with traditional Japanese instruments and musical styles to produce something new and awesome. One of the Japanese instruments used is the shakuhachi, the flute played by Kaminaga Daisuke, the guy with the kick-ass face tattoo. Also used are the koto, a stringed instrument played sitting down, and the wadaiko, Japanese drums. By far the most recognisable Japanese instrument, which is used in this group, is the shamisen. Its a long-necked stringed instrument which looks similar to a guitar. Ninagawa Beni, the shamisen player for the Wagakki Band, is also a popular YouTuber. She does covers of rock and anime songs and is often accompanied by her head-bopping cockatoo. The lead vocalist is named Suzuhana Yuuko. In the songs, shes performing shigin, the art of reciting classical poetry. Thats why her voice takes on that epic, operatic tone. Theyve performed internationally. In 2014 they were part of the Japan Expo in Paris. Last year they performed in Taipei and had a sold out concert in Los Angeles. Fingers-crossed, theyll come our way sometime soon.