On this episode of the Japan Station podcast two members of the Kyoto-based metal band Cosmic Earth stop by to talk about their new album inspired by the Tokyo Olympics, the Kyoto heavy metal scene, and more. About Cosmic Earth Cosmic Earth is a Kyoto-based doom metal/stoner rock/heavy blues rock band founded by guitarist Takuya Yada in 2017. Cosmic …

You know it’s spring when you hear idols growling. Derived from haru (spring) and uraraka (bright, beautiful, glorious), haruurara is a Japanese term used to refer to the wonder and beauty of spring. As such, you probably would not expect that a song titled haruurara would feature guttural growls and ear-piercing vocals. However, that’s exactly what you get when you listen …

Feel the samurai spirit.The fox mask wearing female music group Mahora has released a cover of one of Japanese heavy metal’s most famous and beloved songs.Known for their use of wagakki (traditional Japanese instruments) to perform covers of popular Japanese songs, Mahora has been wowing people for the past couple of years both with their live performances and on their …

Who knew a cajon could be so metal? Given the way Japanese media seems to be overrun by pop idol groups, at times you can’t help but wonder if there’s any other kind of music in Japan. Perhaps something with a bit more edge to it? Something with more “power” to it. Thankfully, if you look beyond mainstream media, you’ll …