Good music from Japan?

Beck

So, I've been talking to this girl, she's japanese and has terrible taste in music. After she showed me, like, Maximum the Hormone, and like...ARC something...And this Kung Fu Generation band. I told her "Outside of classical music and the Kill Bill soundtrack, I have yet to hear Japanese music I consider good." Also, "Maximum the Hormone is for highschoolers." I was kind of a dick. And not entirely truthful, because I really like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FzYxaFp4Es&feature=channel_page
Though I have no idea what the dude is saying, it's pretty.

I listen to mostly indie rock, pop (think Brian Wilson, not Britney Spears), and electronica, but I'm open to everything. Would anyone be able to recommend something I might like?

I have one more question, is there something similar to Pitchforkmedia for Japan? I found a website that reviews french music, but I haven't had much luck finding something for other countries.

Prester John

Guitar Wolf is the best. The best.

Grenn

Polysics are good (but can get a bit annoying after repeated exposure)
Boredoms are an amazing band and have done a lot of interesting and experimental things
Acid Mother's Temple are awesome and great live
Melt Banana are also awesome if you're into crazy and fast and cute.

Finally, Deerhoof - actually from SF but have a Japanese vocalist and a bit more indie than the above.

This is just off the top of my head... tonnes of good japanese bands!

Tav

The only Japanese music in my library is a Studio Ghibli compilation. Not what you're looking for, but you should get it anyway.

Toefoo

Nature Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwpoQunijMc
Great mix of indie/pop/punk.

Miyavi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEH7cphEODk
Great guitarist. I don't like his electric stuff at all, and his fans are mostly gooey fangirls, but his acoustic album is fantastic.

I'm going to risk flames and recommend Dir en Grey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXTS3Ql-zYs
New album is pretty amazing. If you like them, I'd steer clear of their Marrow of a Bone album unless you like nu-metal/mostly uninteresting heavy music.

Shinichi Osawa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-XNjmc0GAY
Great electro/dance music. My clubbing friends say his new album gets lots of rotations from stores/DJs. And yes, the end of the link on the YouTube is "GAY" o_O

If you're into more vocal pop, Utada Hikaru is one of the best in Japan.

Grenn wrote: »

Polysics are good (but can get a bit annoying after repeated exposure)

Limed for FUCK YEA. Minus the annoying, they always put me in a great mood.

Sheep

Some of my favorite from Japan.

LSD March

Kazuki Tomokawa

Acid Mothers Temple

Boris

Corrupted

Church of Misery

cooljammer00

The Ouendan soundtrack?

Kriz

the pillows

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BiQGD6huXJQ&fmt=18

http://youtube.com/watch?v=987rsgpYrs8&fmt=18

eternalbl

Ovum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ymlxNoI7uE

They released Microcosms in 2008 which is all fairly solid.

Susumu Yokota

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzEZZfq8cBw

Jury's still out on whether I'd consider Susumu Yokota good, but its definitely different and a fairly interesting listen

Edit: Last.fm has a genre called 'Japanese'. Just thought I'd throw that out there if you use it.

Cynic Jester

Boom Boom Satellites are pretty awesome.

DasUberEdward

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQSTHfa-cDY

Genki Sudo is a fantastic individual.

Trentus

Prester John wrote: »

Guitar Wolf is the best. The best.

I've always wanted to see Guitar Wolf as an unlockable character in Guitar Hero.

I'll also second The Pillows, and would like to recommend pretty much the entire Cowboy Bebop soundtrack (if anime music counts... it should).

Chen

No mention of the brilliant green?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlAKK9RZf3E
And my favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGsy-NeEGzA

admanb

To be fair, L'Arc en Ciel and Asian Kung Fu Generation aren't bad, but they're not going to match up very well with your interests.

Chen

I like their newest single.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RukrKnINg2o

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

the pillows
asian kungfu generation
high and mighty color
polysics
ayumi hamasaki
amuro namie

Barrakketh

Kalafina has several awesome tracks in the Kara no Kyoukai movies. There's a HQ version if you follow the link to Youtube:

Kalafina - Oblivious

For something that may be more to your taste, the song sprinter from the fifth movie is also pretty good (lyrics here):

Kalafina - Sprinter

Tam

Yoshida Brothers aren't too bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ron17xFNBf0

well shamisen music in general

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5rs7pfZuPs&feature=related

also taiko drums by Kodo here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl-f5a7BgSA

Page-

Where's the Shonen Knife? Someone should have mentioned Shonen Knife.

Bartholamue

DJ Taka's Rock stuff is great, even if you think of him as only electronica/techno:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esCoGM2RYVU

Also check out L.E.D. and Sota Fujimora, their stuff is generally pretty good.

poshniallo

I like Sambomasters:

Sekai wa sore wo ai to yobun da ze - Sambomaster

and some Qururi:

Qururi - Baby I love you

Of course, Mr Children:

Mr Children - I love you

Finally, Hajime Chitose with some folky stuff:

Hajime Chitose - Wadatsumi no ki


I like Japanese music but I don't know anyone who knows Japanese indie well. My faves are spotty - mostly stuff that is famous. I will be keeping an eye on this thread to learn more.

XenosX_

I'm going to second (third? fourth?) the pillows because they are awesome. I usually don't like pop music that much, but they have a special something which lets me tolerate, and enjoy them...

I really love avant-garde/zeuhl music, and two prominent Japanese avant-garde bands include

Ruins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3gt0gOFYns

and Koenjihyakkei (same drummer from Ruins, more jazz influenced)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHD6UV09pcI

PlushyCthulhu

Probably not exactly what the OP is looking for, but :

Sigh :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4qYCqBNs6Y

Gonin-Ish :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRrXUZ8AxiE