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Cool drawings. I always enjoy your posts here.

I love: Takanori Nishikawa (TM Revolution, Abingdon Boys School) His never-ending range, controlled tremolos, amazing melodies, honest lyrics... But beyond all that, the attitude, the Never-Give-Up spirit. The effort he puts into everything, the diverse discography, the work with other artists, etc... My vocal hero. Shou (Alice Nine, Givuss, Lost Age) Loved his nasal tone, deep melodies, tremolos, energy, and transparency in tone. Prefer the early stuff up until Gemini tbh. It is more my style, though I love what he does in smaller live performances. Big inspiration to me. Gackt (Solo, YFC) Deep voice and style that inspired many. Great emotional touch, soft falsettos, moaning lyrics, very original melodies and presentations... Another big inspiration. Keiyuu (Kra, Tokyo High Black) Never really thought about it, just simply, and purely love his work. Yui (UNiTE) I really connect with him and his vocals. Nice, youthful, and feel real to me. Hyde (L`arc En Ciel, VAMPS, Solo) Distinct, deep, vocals that don`t have to be harsh to hit hard. Chisa (DIV) New-comer by comparison, but just like his band is moving up in the ranks fast. Something about his slightly deep voice that rings so clear and aesthetically that it is just a pleasure to turn up the volume and listen to. Love his original lyrics too, using PS Vita instruction booklets, talking about feelings through flavours, telling ghost stories, etc... These are just some of my favorites that I enjoyed sharing with you. I have many more.

Nice favorites, I am all over DIV and UVERworld as well. Hope the Japanese learning is going good for you.

Nice. I am a rabid DoginTheパラレルワールドオーケストラ fan. I also love some of the other bands mentioned like SuG, so I like your musical taste. Hope you have fun here.

As far as I remember SuG was the only band that went from PSC to Pony and that was due to Takeru's networking and leadership of the band. I dont see how that means we can conclude how every other PSC band now signed will inevitably end up on Pony? Other bands on the label also usually transition to major way later than they need to, such as GazettE, A9 etc.... I am sure concerns of fans in the thread are regarding PSC's seemingly strict and unappreciated direction of their bands.

As for the cover arts, I loved the Butterfly Dreamer ones actually, it was different and cool. I like that they and they dont use the market positioning having a band full of good looking guys selling the cds to girls. All their covers are different and cool to me. You's cover is more consistent to their history, but I liked that,Butterfly coverd stepped outside their.mould and VK marketing in general.

Saw TM Revolution Hot Limit PV... Was awesome.

I know what you mean. To me, Japanese is a cleaner language, and just feels more free and pure to use or listen to, or read. As for the good points made about nature being more a part of their culture, etc... One thing that many historians cite as a big factor in Japan`s development and current state is the fact that they transitioned so quickly between the Samurai age and paper houses, etc... to their modern age. During WW2 many of the paper houses were burnt to the ground and cities destroyed. They rebuilt immediately from these to Modern-American structures once the U.S. took over, and they quickly reshaped everything from an age where Samurai were just finished dying out (turn of the century), to jumping into a semi-industrial age. This transition from the times of artisans building quality works with artistic merit to production lines actually retained many of the traits of the artisan, and Japanese products started coming out with a much higher quality than standard for modern countries in almost all of their products, which eventually led to leading worldwide in electronics, motorcycles, automobiles, etc... IMO this led to an emphasis in industry and quality being mixed and retained in their more hermetic culture, even with American and European influences. This is also the same factor that I believe led to the history and tradition being retained to such a great degree, including their thoughtful way of expressing themselves, and appreciation of things like nature, temples, hanabi, etc... even in large cities. I interviewed mangaka about the origins of anime, and basically, they attribute the combination of wood block illustrations, with their thoughtful and silent storytelling, combining with the first forms or recognized anime being made as a rip-off of Mickey Mouse during WW2 to raise morale of the Japanese people. So once again we have the combination of old Japanese tradition being suddenly shot forward in time by WW2, and having the more hermetic culture of Japan adopt something yet make it their own. I think it is the same with many forms of Japanese music, including Visual Kei, where music kind of stayed in one place for a period of time, as Japan does not abandon things or move on as quickly (it seems, IMO) and then it suddenly shot forward with a certain influence, and we get a new style of something that retains old qualities, and has new ones added on. Rock music, comics, etc... really died off in many other modern cultures, but things like this seem to live on and be appreciated. Fads aren`t as quick moving or impermanent in many facets of Japanese society, it seems. Even now we can listen to many VK songs, and see different styles of writing, or composition, some new, many old, many original, where-as in the music I hear around here, you can easily tell the era of music by the way it is worded, composed etc... There are those that stand out everywhere you go, of course, but not as many IMO. Anyway, that is just my opinion on things, and why Japanese lyrics are different. Feel free to disagree. Also, I really love Chisa`s writing... The way he can make such cool and original songs, like Taste of Life, Golden Kinema, Love is Dead... etc...

Can't wait, this band is so sick.

Visual Kei and Japanese pop/sub cultures in general seem to have many intense fans or fan communities that live and breath the art-form or artist in question. I think it would be interesting to discuss just how heavily we follow our favorite bands, and what lengths we go to in our appreciation and / or worship. As for me, I am a pretty big fan, I like to get all versions of singles / albums, and full discographies of favorite bands, even Best albums... I follow on Ameblo, browse Twitters when I can`t sleep. Like to know which Kanji all band members use in their names, etc... As for picks (plectrum), Cheki, etc... For my favorite band I love these, but for other bands I couldn`t care less for plectrum, etc... I will just give them to people who seem to want them. Band-shirts I always long for. I guess my own style is influenced by VK too... Here are some questions to get the ball rolling on the conversation, feel free to answer them and / or type a little about how much you follow VK bands!: 1: Do you buy multiple versions of releases, or buy at all? (Judgement-Free-Zone) 2: Do you collect cheki or other non-music related items from bands? 3: Follow them on Ameblo, Twitter? 4: Would you follow them on the street? 5: Dig through their trash? (Judgment-Free-Zone) 6: Does Visual Kei or other forms of your musical taste influence your style or personal life? 7: Desire to move or visit Japan influenced by music? 8: Do you read dirt-sheets of bands, like rumours, gossip, etc...? 9: Ever fantasize about being friends with band members? (JFZ) 10: Do you want to be in a Visual Kei band (or any other kind of band)? Feel free to speak of other genres and your fandom as well if you please.

What I like about Japanese is that almost everything ends in open vowels, so you can hold any word, any note. Like in english so many words ends in consonants, and it is not the same if you try to the sounds of the words over a duration. Even in Japanese when the word ends in `n`or is shortened to mas or des instead of masu / desu, it still sounds so much better to me when put into vocals than English. I also like the sentence structure, and the modest thoughtfulness of the Japanese language, and how it is still formal and not invaded with too much slang. Sometimes it is like the English words are the slang though.

Track two on Missing single: Reminder: SuG　復活 第一弾シングルリリース決定！ 「MISSING」2014.2.19 Release!! 「MISSING」に収録される「Rolling!!」のMV short Ver.が公開！ ■初回盤A 【CD+DVD】 ￥1800（税込） 【CD】 1.MISSING 2.Rolling!! 【DVD】 MISSING-Music Video-他収録予定 ■初回盤B 【CD+DVD】 ￥1800（税込） 【CD】 1.Rolling!! 2.MISSING 【DVD】 Rolling!!-Music Video-他収録予定 ■通常盤 【CD Only】 ¥1200(税込) 【CD】 1.MISSING 2.Rolling!! 3.0 song I am buying all three. What do you guys think of this song, and which version will or would you get?

Bump. Was listening to him today. Wondering when he is going to release more. Word is that he is trying to stay in Japan for longer than the year now... I prefer his Japanese singing much more, but overall he is good for a gaijin. I hope he succeeds.

I understand Japanese, but I know many who love Japanese or Korean music etc... without understanding, same as English artists reach Japanese or others who cannot understand. To me, the music has a value that stands alone without understanding the words. I can still appreciate HK or Chinese music for example. I find that for me and others, you often get the feeling of the song and kind of the emotion without understanding words. It is already there , but actually understanding lyrics does add the writers perspective and individuality to it more. I also find translations or subs I run across to be different. Either the words and meaning are intentionally changed or unintentionally by the translator. The translators interpretation comes into effect no matter what and I find not many do it justice, but that is nature of communication. Sometimes you even find that you liked your own misinterpretation more. Like even in your own languages you hear a song, and missing a lyric without knowing and you really like that line that you are singing, but then you read the lyric book or listen again and you find out the vocalist actually used a different word or two which resonate with you less.

The thread isn`t really about what we should define VK as, it`s just everyone`s individual opinions that we can appreciate. I am discussing with Zess because he wrote out a huge piece and I thought it deserved more attention than it originally got. If anyone has any different feelings or ideas, I love to hear them, and unless they want to discuss, I wont disagree with them. I enjoy your sentiment as well though

Kind of an insulting response. Obviously I am not going to sit here and list every single person in VK history who had money. There are a large amount of bands that disband in many, if not almost every genre due to money, it does not tie that genre to that trait. I listed one of the originators and most influential people in VK to show that the genre is not by any means tied to that, and we could look at how many more key VK figures had money before they started. VK is not based around poor or struggling people with so many prominent figures saying otherwise. Complete and total culture of conformity is such an absolute term with no absolute substantiation to back it that I have to disagree. The nail that sticks up is a saying that exists in many different many all over the world. I do not see the writing being clear on the wall by any means here. You stated that VK bands are based around rebelling against a system, when actually being used by the system, then being assimilated, etc... I see no backing for this, or how VK is really so conformist when the topic at hand is based around how different the bands that fall under VK can be. I do not see SId, Dir En Grey, X Japan, Luna Sea, Ayabie etc as conforming to something here, they all went their own way with different sounds, looks and presentations. Not seeing how the bands expression is subdued in any way either. First article is peer reviewed by one person in the US and another in HK. The whole article is subjective, but also goes on to list the number of Hikko`s who remove themselves from society. For a totally conformist country there sure are a lot of people either removed from the culture, or living in subcultures here. Kind of insulting how you post this article link in response as if I am supposed to be educating myself on something when you stated that the recession was 30 years long, and I stated it started in the 90`s, which that article, albeit from Wikipedia, confirms, so I am not sure why you are posting it. I am very aware of the socio-economic history of Japan. It was a very different place before the Bubble burst and government maintenance failed later on. The issues you bring up here and with things such as birth rates etc... Do not tie in with many major points in VK history, and some of your linked articles refer to more recent events which I do not feel represent strong influence on why VK is here in the first place when it precedes many of these occurrences. True, I was still desiring your final thoughts on the subject which were kind of lacking from your article. As for the pigeon-holing, it comes from stating certain causes for VK, motivation of bands, effects of society on VK, or level of wealth in the average band and how that defines VK, etc... as I feel those are incorrect and do not represent VK as a whole by any means. Overall, I really enjoy reading everyone`s points, and please understand that even if I disagree with you, or the topic goes off track, I am still taking in what you are saying. Thanks for your input.

I was not trying to substitute any definition for another. Basically, this thread was not about what Visual Kei is, or is supposed to be, it was to find out individual people`s views. I really don`t have that much interest in other people pinning down what Visual Kei is, etc... They can think what they want, but since you took the time to write out all that originally, and mentioned people not responding in the past I figured I would supply my input, a.k.a. disagreements. As for one not being able to define Visual Kei, I feel as if it already is silently defined as music that revolves around Rock and a certain lineage of bands, and that the Visual term comes from the emphasis on certain looks that the bands put on themselves. Not all bands have a look or the same sound, but they still revolve around that lineage. As for genre, scene, movement, I am not really interested or see a point in having one nailed down. Again, I disagree with the reasons given as to what perpetuates it, but let`s agree to disagree on this since we can go on and on... ( I know agree to disagree is a rage-worthy term sometimes, pardon me.) One of the feelings I had when creating this thread, is that things are fine as they are, Visual Kei is doing well without definitions, etc... as we all basically have very similar views when it is all said and done of what bands are and aren`t VK, besides a few stringers, like Dir En Grey, TMR, etc.... And another thing I wanted to find out and discuss was the use of sub-genres, which I don`t fully `get`still, and feel like they often relegate things to something that wasn`t needed, and wont help you. I don`t feel as if this problem actually exists though. I have not witnessed much of an issue with things being subjective, as no matter what, and no matter how many people vote in one favor, as I gave examples for, genre, sub-genre, etc... is all subjective, and wont change into fact. We could have an anonymous vote on something in VK, but then the band wont even agree, and the Japanese industry wont agree, so that is what I think is pointless. As for scene, movement, I am not stepping into that actual field, I just have feelings on it being a personal genre. But none of these things are really solely existent to Japan. High pressure to conform is found in many countries, Japan is tenth in suicide rates with a number that drops down steeply from the top spots, although Japanese culture has a stronger history of suicide as an act based on things other than depression, birth rate is actually dropping in many places worldwide, including where I am now, Canada. The difference, as I have studied for years is based on things like immigration. Other countries have declining birth rates, marriage, sex, etc... as well with their natives / established citizens, so they are either bringing in immigrants to even the age gap, or finding that immigrants are mostly the ones having sex and children. Many companies now are already adjusting long-term marketing plans in Canada to encompass the fact that more customers will be seniors... Many new snacks in development have segmentation based on long-term sales to seniors. This is not a Japanese problem solely, from my vantage point. Corruption, IMO, is not nearly as heavy in Japan as many other countries, even with the Yakuza, which studies have shown are much less malignant to society than Triads, Mafia, etc... Here in my city, the mafia runs many establishments like restaurants, Casino, etc... And our former mayor also had ties to the mob, and was stealing money and materials from the new hospital being built. I know people who know his daughter, she sells cocaine. The mayor of Toronto also supposedly smokes crack. So IMO I can appreciate how Japan`s unique blend of problems as well as values (values not really touched on sadly) can contribute to the unique VK habitat, but again I have to say it is inconclusive, and even then countries with much different socio-political et ceteras... have bigger VK fandom and scenes than more similar countries (South America). (Just to point out to anyone reading this and confused, this is a different discussion we are having than the original that got melded together.) Good points, but what I would like to touch on, is if Japan is so much more conformist, how can people get away with VK et cetera there, and be ostracized in other places for it? Despite what some people would like to claim, Japan does not have a history of effeminate men, and herbivore men are still not in the same topic, or in a great enough number despite media claim to get viewers. (As stated other countries without herbivore outbreaks have dropping sex and birth rates, any suggestion that herbs are the cause is inconclusive.)

It doesn't get any more important than a Yoshiki announcement folks.

I think this is subjective. If we look at the origins of the looks and why different important bands got into VK, it doesn`t seem this way, it seems like more of a personal expression on a person-to-person basis. Over-all, you still get many important bands presenting themselves as polite, well-raised members of society, whether that stands in real-life, I don`t know, but they still present themselves that way much of the time. Is it really a system that many of them are fighting? I think this is condescending and biased to be honest. We are assuming something and then criticizing based on an assumption here. Contrary to this belief, would say the rest of the world is on average much more conformist that Japan. Due to the respect, politeness etc... And tough competition in school and work people like to put it into this box but if you look at how much freedom the people actually have, and how much more you will be accepted their for your differences, I would disagree. Also, the Japanese Bubble burst in the 90`s, after VK had taken off, and bands continued growing until around 2000, when the economy began turning around more. Again, to say this, I think you pigeon-hole VK worse than just calling it a genre or movement, whatever... I don`t think this info stands or has a verifiable source to back the claims, and also would like to add that many establishments within the VK scene, such as labels, venues, etc... Are run by VK alumni... Going major is another story, but even then, many are managed by VK alumni still, such as MuCC, SID, A9, SuG, etc... And have their own establishments to run things through, such as Extasy, Vamprose, Defrock, etc... By average, I say VK is more involved with itself than many other areas of music. Sounds more like a scene out of a movie than what could be called the truth. IMO you wrote a great piece over-all, but please understand I would like to point out what I disagree with. Again, I disagree. We could sit down and look at the Hippie culture, and how different it is, and how there were few actual Hippies leading the show, while many major bands, and even Eric Clapton changed their look just to fit and lead this scene, same as The Who dressed as Mods but weren`t, same as in truth, Sex Pistols dressed Punk to be successful within that field, and kept Sid Vicious on stage even with an unplugged bass since he was popular with the fans. I could also talk to people who were Hippies, who have no semblance to that time now, and were simply Hippies because it was the thing for them to do... And it was much more `major`. Despite big bands, Visual Kei is still a niche, and you can`t just enter it, you have to either listen to or make the music. I could make the comparison to people`s view of Tentacle Rape... Some people see it, and say oh, those crazy Japanese, or say it is caused by their repression from sex... etc... In reality, it is a niche in Japan, not a huge thing, and it is caused by the censoring in the industry due to the widespread availability of it to everyone, including children, and how even salary-men read it on the train. So not only are many people`s outside view incorrect (as may be my own as I do not live in Japan full time), but it actually contrary to an extent where people assume the opposite of what is going on, as if you look at Japanese things, sex, violence etc is much more available to you, and people still say they are too repressed. Overall, I think one of the problems I have with people, and it isn`t a ferocious problem that I fight over outside of this thread, but it is a reason I just don`t see it the same way as other people, is that one way or another, we are all trying to put things into a box, or put water into a cup to give it form. What shape is a river? Really, we can try and put into some form or definition depending on what vantage point you look at it from, but at what point in our advancing societies did we find a need for it to be anything other than the shape of a river itself?

What is the context here? Also, I would like to note that people inside of the industry and Japan seem to actually use less of these contexts and classifications than the fans and critics. There are many bands in Japan, and in the past, such as easy examples I will use including AC/DC, who didn`t want to be called Metal, or Hard Rock, they just said they were a Rock band. Def Leppard also called a Metal, and Hair Metal band, they said they were just a Rock band. Writers and fans put labels such as Prog Rock, and Southern Rock on things... Etc... To the bands it is all Rock, same as to me, it`s all Visual Kei. Maybe even the terms Genre and Movement or Scene are too restrictive as you say. Really, I see sub-genres as useful for the people that live by them, but useless for those that don`t. I don`t mind what other people call it, since they are describing their experience. As it is their experience, they use their own terms... But does something have to be seen as this kind of rock? And does Visual Kei have to be acknowledged this way as well? For example, if a new band comes out and describes itself as Visual Kei... What are they saying? If a friend not familiar of Visual Kei or Japanese things at all asks you what they mean... What would all you guys say? If someone asked you what is Visual Kei? I`d say a form of Japanese Rock music based that came from the band having their own look. It`s a pretty open-ended description, but to me, Visual Kei can`t be described as much as it just has to be witnessed. Then everyone comes up with their own idea of what Visual Kei is, which is nice... As a Japanese thing, it also shares some, but not all similarities to the classification systems used with Manga, Anime, etc... These things are seen as a distinctly Japanese thing, and have not really been duplicated by any other area of the world to any discernible level even close to Japan`s prowess in these things... In Zess`s opinion it is a strictly Japanese problem (ad-libbing here so pardon if I slightly twist the intent of that sentence) but I`d like to ask you guys... Really why? IMO people all over the world find Visual Kei, etc... And love it, relate to it, etc... But for all the Japanese things out there, we really never get to their level at their own game while Rap was seen as becoming of a particular people, culture, etc... Yet it has sprung up everywhere, and some argue the best rapper is white... So what`s everyone`s opinion on that? IMO, much as more experienced fans gain traction discerning the popular opinion of what is VK, you also either gain, or always have the ability to distinguish between a knock-off from another country... Do other cultures ostracize such things and prevent them from occurring? Are you not raised the same way? The environment? Moving on... Going off the sound I would say they are all Rock, and even stuff from LM.C and Uwakimono is visual kei sounding to me. That`s just my view though... Luna Sea is the predecessor of Alice Nine, and so forth... Kuroyume goes to Dir En Grey.... Which goes to Gazette... then begets Mejibray. Not so simple, but it fits... This has never been VK to me, just what some bands do... SID is VK with whatever they wear. Luna Sea can wear Suits... Etc... Even if you wear the infamous jean and t-shirt, it can still be Visual. True. When you define it, the definition is open ended. But it`s the same way when MuCC plays a reggae song, or jazz, etc... It`s still seen as Rock with these elements, etc... Same as Eagles play any kind of song, and it`s Rock with these elements... Is an open-ended definition not valid? IMO Rock, VK, etc... Are open-ended by nature. Not necessarily, many famous VK bands, including some of the originators had enough, or more than enough money. Yoshiki started his own label, recruited Luna Sea and Glay, then helped Dir En Grey get started.

Hey guys, Quick Questionnaire to provoke some discussion and see everyone`s opinion / way of looking at Visual Kei. As a quick preface: I simply view Visual Kei as a genre, and terms such as Rock, Metal, Nu-Metal, Goth, etc... All simply as descriptors when inside of this genre. To be honest, I never use these descriptors much myself. When I am looking for new bands or sounds, I usually start with the image of the band. I can tell what kind of music they will have, for the most part, and also, get a rough idea of their quality. In my listening history this may seem like a simple, biased way to view things, but it has worked very well, although there area few bands which slip under the radar, or I end up being putting aside and then realizing I like very much (Alice Nine Alpha album, DOG in the PWO, etc...) I don`t really even know, or have much care for what terms like Nu-Metal and so forth really entail, and don`t think I will ever need the terms. I know this may seem silly to some, but my methods work for me. If I want a certain sound, I search for a certain band look. If a band changes styles, I can describe how they changed and from what-to-what the change was, but to be honest, putting genre tags or labels on to bands, songs, albums etc... Feels too judgmental to me, and like I am trying to brand things, which I am not interested in, in music. I also regard all Classic Rock, as just Classic Rock, I don`t worry about putting Rush into Prog.Rock, Lynyrd into Southern Rock, etc... I feel like Visual Kei is free, or at least it should be, in terms of being anything the band wants, and genres don`t interest me, besides calling it all Visual Kei. Maybe I am just too romantic about it, but alas... Just to clarify, I am not getting into what I think is proverbially, or objectively correct, etc... I am speaking on a personal level. Questions: 1: Don`t worry about others, is Visual Kei a genre, or a scene, or something else, to you? 2: Most of the time can you tell the genre, or if you will like a band based on their look? 3: Do the looks matter to you? If the same band dressed in Jeans and T-shirts with short hair, would you be as interested? 4: Do you search for music by sub-genre, such as Nu-Metal, Alt. Rock, etc? 5: Do you get annoyed when others label your favorite music as genres which you don`t agree with? Bonus: If a band starts as Visual Kei, even if they change, are they Visual Kei 4 Lyfe? Thank you for reading, please feel free to discuss any of my opinions, and express your own within and outside of my questionnaire.

Yeah, nothing against gay brahs but when a girl brings someone on a date to a restaurant etc.... It is horrid and awkward regardless. Also nice story about the Mormons, lol, wonder if they bought it.

Lol at last story. On the topic of games... I have actually dated a lot of girls that like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy, even girls you would never expect it from... What is the worst date you guys have ever been on? Seems like Peace has been on some doozies. For me, it was when the girl I met at a wedding brought her gay best friend along on our first date... Besides that we had thrilling conversation over her favorite hobbies.... facebook and sleeping. Needless to say there was no second date.

Also guys let's not fight or make assumptions, let's just discuss as friends.