Asian Kung-Fu Generation is a Japanese rock band signed by Ki/oon Records , a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The band was first formed in 1996 and they released their first indie EP in 2000, a six-song EP of songs sung in English. One of their songs was eventually picked up by a popular radio DJ and put into heavy rotation due to the demand of listeners. And as they say, the rest is history.
Kinya Kotani is a male Japanese singer and actor who was born on July 16, 1979. His songs were made into theme songs for the hit animes Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle and Gravitation . He is best known for his musical contributions to Gravitation .
Dir en grey is a Japanese band formed in 1997 and as of 2008, they have released six full-length records and while the group’s lineup has remained consistent since its inception, numerous stylistic changes have made its music’s genre difficult to determine (though it is generally considered to be a form of rock music). Originally part of Japan’s visual kei movement, the band has opted for less flamboyant attire in recent years.
L’Arc en Ciel is a popular Japanese rock band that was formed in 1991. Their name means “the arc in the sky” or “the rainbow” in French, and has sold over 15 million albums, 30 million singles, and millions of other units such as videos.
A heavy metal Japanese band formed back in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasi and drummer Munetaka Higuchi, Loudness was the first Japanese heavy metal rock band that was signed in the United States. The band has released five albums and has reached the Billboard Top 100.