Thank you so much for featuring WGB. I'm a Japanese living in Japan. However, I realized too late the existence and special talent of WGB. Every day I'm going back through their 10 years of history and confirming their achievements. After I found out about the suspension of activities, I joined the fan club, and tin last month I went to the fan club-only concert. These eight members are not as young as they look, and each of them is an outstanding music professional. At the end of the concert, Yuko introduced WGB'ｓ activities in this year. But there was little explanation about the hiatus. They are all independent adult artists. They also mention that each of them will return with more skills by strengthening their own work. I was convince that they would occasionally appear in front of us as WGBs. It's not a dissolution, it's a hiatus. I would be happy if everyone overseas could continue to support them. (from very delayed Japanese fan)

@Jm-pt5ef

Ай бұрын

J'ai découvert wagakki band avec ce morceau il y deux ans à peu près ,j'ai vécu des émotions, découvert des instruments,c'est merveilleux, quel groupe ! j'ai tout leur albums ,pas facile de se les procurer en Europe Je ne me lasse pas de regarder les concerts ,la scène Japonaise est vraiment intéressante , l'amour des instruments, etc ils m'ont ouvert l'esprit et fait connaître d'autres groupes Japonais.Pourquoi le Japon c'est si loin ?😂 🙏.またね🎸🥁🎤🪕🎹

You - “Let’s just hope it’s good.” Me - “No worries, mate!” 😂

I recommend "Wagakki Band: Kyoukasuigetsu + Tsukini Sakebuyoru - REACT tour 2019". This song is filled with everything about Wagakki Band.

Wagakki Band is badass. They have been around for 10 years. They are going on a hiatus at the end of this year.

World class musicians, each in their own right. Another Japanese "band" that mashes together different sounds and genres into an amazing experience. Check out their live song "Synchronicity", a whole other sound to them.

Talking of culture, this band was formed by Yuko, the vocalist, because she wanted to bring the traditional instruments, singing styles etc to a wider and younger audience because she was afraid of it's decline within Japan. I think she can consider it was a job well done as now even here in the west some of us can't get enough of say the shamisen. All that aside, it's still awesome to see so much talent sharing one stage. As I came to realise after first seeing one of their videos a few years ago, this is no ordinary band, and you haven't even scratched the surface, of what they are capable of yet.

@mikeat2637

4 ай бұрын

That's the truth my friend. They are the only supergroup around right now.

this band is not only music, is pure entertainment XD

Beni Ninagawa (蜷川べに) plays the Tsugaru Shamisen and she is both a star and a diva. She turned up at one of the bands early concerts and after listening to them produced her certificates and told them she would join, there was no: request, discussion, audition, anything. She was apparently stunned at a Shamisen competition that others stayed to perform once they knew she was participating. I would have loved to heard the duels, if that's how they're organised. She is by far my favourite Shamisen player, the thousands of hours she put in really shows. Baritone guitar with a capo was kind of odd too. The band cover a lot of anime songs which really brings the contemporary Vs trad thing to life.

@neilwoodley530

4 ай бұрын

Blows me away every time I see her "bestride the stage like a colossus".

@mikeat2637

4 ай бұрын

Beni is hands-down the Goddess of Tsugaru Shamisen, there is no doubting that. She does more with three strings than most guitarists do with six. And being gorgeous doesn't hurt either. I subscribe to her channel and she did a number of gigs with Machiya while Yuko was recovering from the birth of her daughter and they worked pretty well together. There is only one other shamisen player that even approaches what Beni does, a young lady named Shinobu Kawashima, who is becoming very big in Tokyo's amazing jazz/funk scene and has played with a lot of the greats like Tokyo Groove Jyoshi, Juna Serita (an amazing bassist), The Jazz Avengers and Harumo Imai (a great sax artist).

@TheCyberMantis

4 ай бұрын

@@mikeat2637 I love The Jazz Avengers.

@hiawatha.g

4 ай бұрын

Well, I am in love with Beni so I can't argue with anything here.

@mikeat2637

4 ай бұрын

@@TheCyberMantis Yes, they are great. They have an amazing lineup of artists. I can't remember all their names, but Juna, Chizuru and Senri are just flat-out superstars. They are the equal of any other group I can think of and would do very well in a US tour, especially in NYC at the classic jazz clubs.

I loved your comments on heritage and arts. Some people might take exception but I think you're spot on. Thank you.

that flute guy is the last living punk : p

FINALLY!! i only requested this song on Discord 2 years ago :0) . I'm glad you got around to it, and I can see you're glad as well. You were right about the *_Shamisen_* - and *Beni Ninigawa* is known as the best player in Japan. The harp is a *_'Koto'_** , the extra drums are 'Taiko' drums, and that style of Japanese flute is a ***_Sakuhachi_* . Band founder and vocalist is *_Yuko Suzuhana_* - and she teaches Japanese 'Shigin' vocals at University. Shigin is a form of Japanese poetry that is sung, with a lot of very wide vibrato that is filled the modulated quarter tones. All of the Traditional musicians are considered 'Masters" of their instruments.

Wagakki Band literally means "traditional Japanese instruments band" and their purpose is to keep alive the interest in the traditional stuff by making it cool and modern too. I think this style is called "folk metal" across the world, when different cultures make metal with their historical styles. Every member here is a master-level pro at their instruments. The two drum sets are Wasabi on "normal" drums (well named for his spicy playing!) and Kurona on the traditional taiko (wadaiko) drums. The wadaiko provides extra oomph and off-beat sounds that aren't possible with just one drummer or a normal band drumset. There are whole competitions in Japan built around the traditional drumming techniques on all different sizes, including ones that are about three times as tall as you! Fun fact: Beni's showy tsugaru shamisen can only be played on the downstroke with her weighted plectrum (large fanlike pick) and the silk strings change pitch rapidly with changes in humidity, and it has no frets, so she has to play everything by ear and muscle memory! Machiya on guitar rarely wears shoes onstage and wears his traditional Noh mask for the songs he wrote before he was with WagakkiBand like Homura. Kaminaga Daisuke on the shakuhachi flute needs a TON of breath to do what he does--and who doesn't love surprising people that they shred the flute in a metal band? Suzuhana Yuko, the vocalist is a licensed Shigin (poetic recitation) performer and teacher, and can do sword and fan dances. I swear the koto player Ibukuro Kiyoshi has golden fingers. The lyrics are as follows: Hana hirakeba chou eda ni mitsu | Flower bloom filling the butterfly branches Warera utau sora no kanata he | To the sky that we sing Haruka nagaru kumo no mukou he | Beyond the faraway clouds Umi wo koete niji wo watatte | Cross the sea and cross the rainbow Kimi ni todoku you ni | Like to reach you Seki wo kitte afureru omoi | Thought to overflow the weir [a low type of dam meant to raise a river or catch fish] Itsuka sameru yume no ibashou de | In the whereabouts of a dream, that will someday Warai atte irareru you ni | Just like being laughing [as in the state of being that you feel when you're laughing] Kasane tsumuide yuku | I am going to spin it ((Repeat from "Warera utau")) Also! Check out Synchronicity by WagakkiBand for a crazy change of pace! kzread.info/dash/bejne/ooCno6qrmKa8dbw.html

Excellent reaction. Thanks!

Nice to see you back with the Japanese scene! As others have mentioned, Waggaki band have a wonderful version of the Evanescence classic, Bring Me to Life, performed with Amy Lee (duet with Yuko), and featuring all the traditional instruments. Oh, plus a full orchestra. 😊 You've got a bit of catching up to do mate, there's new Lovebites, Band-Maid's 10th Anniversary concert at Yokahama Arena - don't miss "Hate?", it will blow your mind! As will Ama-te-ras by Nemophila. And the huge news this week, The Warning are playing a double bill in Japan with Band-Maid on June 12, with hints of a colab in the works, won't that be something? Cheers from Sydney.

I am in love with that baritone guitar ♥

I recommend "Wagakki Band : Hakushu Kassai-2018 Dai Shinnenkai".

Wagakki band was started by pianist, poet, composer and Shigin singer Yuko Suzuhana in 2013. They have released 7 studio albums, two of them cover albums of vocaloid songs. Homura (flame) is a Machiya instrumental that they perform only at concerts, the song is always performed differently with and without Beni and Kurona. The mask he wears is a Noh mask from Noh theater and represents the spirit of a woman. The cut in the eye is not original. The mask has two expressions: if he looks down, the mask smiles, if he looks up, the mask is angry. He mostly uses the mask on his own instrumental songs. Akatsuki no ito (thread of dawn) is also written by Machiya and is used as an encore chant by the audience.

Great!. You have discovered a jewel!, good job.

Nice reaction. Love this band and there diverse catalogue. I think they are going on ahiatus later this year

Wa" in "Wagakki Band" is a Japanese word meaning (unique to Japan) and "gakki" meaning (musical instrument). The band was formed under the vision of Yuko Suzuhana (band leader/main vocalist/sometimes keyboardist) to "present Japanese classical performing arts to the world with a more POP image," and is a group of professionals who were each active in their respective fields, like the Avengers (according to Yuko). The Wagakki Band has already announced that it will cease its activities indefinitely as of December 31 of this year.

和楽器Wagakki※ Band Members Yuko Suzuhana (鈴華ゆう子) - vocals, piano Machiya (町屋) - guitar, vocals Beni Ninagawa (蜷川べに) - 津軽三味線tsugaru shamisen※ Kiyoshi Ibukuro (いぶくろ聖志) - 琴koto※ Asa (亜沙) - bass Daisuke Kaminaga (神永大輔) - 尺八shakuhachi※ Wasabi (山葵) - drums Kurona (黒流) - 和太鼓wadaiko※ ※ The wagakki is traditional Japanese musical instruments 鈴華ゆう子 Yuko Suzuhana（vorcal） is a 師範 Shihan=Qualified instructor of 詩吟Shigin=the recitation of the poem(a traditional Japanese performing art), and her singing is based on the vocal method of Shigin. Additionally, she has also studied 剣詩舞(Kenshibu=Sword dance to 詩吟Shigin) since she was a child. She also studied piano at the Tokyo College of Music, and is a very experienced and talented songwriter. Beni Ninagawa (蜷川べに) - 津軽三味線tsugaru shamisen＝The shamisen is a three-stringed Japanese instrument played by striking the strings with a plectrum, known as 撥bachi. Tsugaru-shamisen refers to both the Japanese genre of shamisen music originating from Tsugaru Peninsula in present-day Aomori Prefecture and the instrument it is performed with. Tsugaru-shamisen is characterized by fast and furious playing, which sets it apart from the usual traditional shamisen music, but it also goes well with rock and metal music, so it is not uncommon for Tsugaru-shamisen to perform and compete with those fields. ※ The koto is known as “Japanese harp”, traditional Japanese stringed instrument similar to a zither. The shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese instrument made from bamboo. The wadaiko is Japanese drum.

I saw a React from this Band a few months ago, also Homura. It blew me away. I had no relation to Japanese music at all, but wow. So melodic and you can always hear the individual instruments. Awesome. I think (Hakushu Kassai) / Dai Shinnenkai 2018 goes one better. I would love to see your reaction to it! Greetings from Hamburg - Germany

Im complete agree ! Thank you)

WGB is 🔥 hope u can react more of them!

Beni is amazing on Shamisen. Yuko utilizes a lot of her Shigin training in the vocals. Traditionally a way to expressively recite classical Japanese poetry, Shigin involves singing with an an occasionally nasal style, warbling between fixed notes in a way rarely if ever seen in western vocals, singing from the back of the throat. It is generally accompanied by traditional emotive gestures, often expressed with a fan or parasol.

best ........ my favorite band

I remember a Video of a Concert in Osaka, where Yuko Suzuhana was near tears as the audiance was singing the song Akatsuki no Ito during breaktime. But something else, missing a reaction for Ennaria with the song Monstarr. She is from Australia as well.

@andjkh

4 ай бұрын

There's a video of them doing the song during covid restrictions and limited seating capacity. They had recordings of people singing that when they came out, and had video screens of people from home singing.

@LiljaStorm

4 ай бұрын

@@andjkh Yes, i remember that one as well. But the Video i mean was pre Covid.

@kevinallen4743

4 ай бұрын

My thumbs up is for Ennaria, I've put the link on Prymal's discord so maybe one day - I keep poking his to become more Aus orientated.

@LiljaStorm

4 ай бұрын

@@kevinallen4743 Aus, Aussie.. as a german i always think of Austria.

To hear more of Asa’s bass magic, and spectacular guitar work and drumming, check out Togakubi. It’s phenomenal!

i dont know much about music but i read in a comment that the bass guitar had a filter on that would sound a bit like a whistle. but that being the wind instrument makes way more sense

I would really be happy if you reacted to Haley Reinhart, Slash of Gun's and Rose's, and Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge performing "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones. It was a celebration of Mohammed Ali's 70th birthday. It was in Las Vegas 2012. It's a beautiful song.

The flutist didn’t walk down to the stage. He launched himself.

😁

Recommended song.　→　和楽器バンド / Bring Me To Life with Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE　kzread.info/dash/bejne/mp9lqdaSe5qoerA.html

And no the "popcorn" sounds were smaller traditional Taiko drums.

“Wagakki” is Japanese for “traditional instruments” The band was founded by the shigin (classical poetry) singer, SUZUHANA Yuko, who is also a classically trained pianist. She developed the concept of fusing Japanese traditional instruments and musical tropes with modern western music. The full band consist of eight musicians, three on western instruments (bass, guitar, drums), four on Japanese instruments and Suzuhana-sama on vocals and sometimes piano. The “lute” thing is a Shamisen. The “harp” thing is a Koto. The “flute thing” is a shakuhachi. The Japanese drums are collectively called “wadaiko”. Yes, you’ve heard these instruments a million times, in movie soundtracks, when they want to convey a Japanese atmosphere. Here is a video that really lets you see up close all the instruments and how they work together: kzread.info/dash/bejne/g2ahx7mkh9TJXaw.html It was originally written for a “Vocaloid” which is an electronic virtual singer-essentially an AI. In Japan (where else?) vocaloids have actually become pop stars. What can I say? America may be the land of innovation for things like tech and social media, but in music no one here cares any more. Most of the creative action has moved to Europe and Japan.

Thank you, great band I have looked though 18 months of your video and you dont seamed to have reacted to babymetal, or not recently. Especially if you like japanes bands.

@PrymalChaos

17 күн бұрын

@@Tom55data Didn’t go back far enough I guess. Maybe it’s time to check back in with these guys. I’ve also done quite a few Band Maid, Gacharic Spin, Hanabie, Nemophila, etc Kawaii!! Baby Metal - Gimme Chocolate - Reaction! kzread.info/dash/bejne/l6ltzMezcsfOm5M.html I Attempt To Resist BabyMetal! Road of Resistance Reaction! kzread.info/dash/bejne/h4uKxM6PcsWwe9o.html Guitarist Reaction!! BabyMetal - Catch Me If You Can!! kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZatmpbOjiZO_aNo.html

@Tom55data

17 күн бұрын

@@PrymalChaos my apologies, I would recommend BxMxC (pronounced BMC) heavy metal wrap, recent live with a new official release yesterday. Shine, the second eulogy to Mikio, the acceptance and remembrance, with starlight the first of that is brutal hard metal with haunting vocals, and is the first part of grief . From dusk to dawn, kagero, monochome at the PIA 2021.

Big news from the Wagakki band this year is that on the 31st of December, they will be going on an indefinite hiatus to persue individual projects. It was announced last week! I noticed these individual projects in the making over the last year on instagram!

@TheCyberMantis

4 ай бұрын

They announced it over a month ago.

@noelle3551

4 ай бұрын

@TheCyberMantis come to think of it, was it not announced at the start of the year!

@TheCyberMantis

4 ай бұрын

@@noelle3551 Yeah, maybe.

I can feel your argument about "culture envy", I experience the same, for a different reason: I'm italian, and you could say we're one of the cradles of culture, and it's true, but italian culture is not my culture, it's Tuscany's, Rome's, and Naples' culture. I come from the North-Eastern part of Italy, near Venice, and our culture was pretty much erased with the unification in 1866. Even our popular songs are barely 100 years old, and our language has become so bastardized with italian that it's virtually identical. Italy imposed the death of regional cultures in the name of unity, a unity that still doesn't exist, all regional cultures except for Tuscany's (because it's the birthplace of that artificial language that is italian), Rome's (because of the Pope's and the Papal State), and Naples' (because the majority of Italy's politicians have always come from there). So, I envy places like Japan that maintained and cherish their culture, because mine was deemed unnecessary by the government, despite its history older than even Rome, spanning 4 millennia, that was lost in the name of unity, a unity that didn't happen, and will never happen.

@PrymalChaos

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the insight! I obviously have little knowledge and experience about Europe. I had no idea anything like that went on in Italy.

Great reaction. Anyway, can i request your reaction to superb band from japan? The band is call "Lovebites" They all The Beautiful Queens Metal band right now in the earth. They are really really World class musicians. Phenomenal. And they have a lot die hard fans too. The song is "Judgement day" Hope you check out, and can enjoy it too. Big thanks🙏

@PrymalChaos

4 ай бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/a6iquaybpK2XZrA.htmlsi=OFsms-YSKKLanUaB kzread.info/dash/bejne/dZ6kp9JxlseyhLg.htmlsi=Qv2KE_2oktM5HUAr 🤘

三味線　syamisenn

Are you watching "Shogun" ？

Great reaction. Did you notice that the guitarist got a capo on the fifth fret? His guitar got extra five frets and he also plays a 7 string guitar with two extra frets. He does it for optimizing to Japanese scale. I strongly recommend you to try their amazing fusion of heavy metal and Japanese ethnic music with smoking solo of each member Kyouka Suigetsu + Tsuki Ni Sakebu Yoru kzread.info/dash/bejne/k4ugr8VmoMWqk5s.html, and an old piece written for the Shakuhachi (the bamboo flute) and the Koto (the horizontal harp) in a modern arrangement with additional instruments the Shamisen (the three string banjo) and the Taiko (the Japanese drums) Haru No Umi kzread.info/dash/bejne/qp92yaWPgZSqnKQ.html. Enjoy!!

Imminence with song “Continuum”…..

Amy Lee from Evanescence was a special guest on several of their recent live shows. kzread.info/dash/bejne/eHp_lqOEaNOumps.html

Definitely on my list of top 4 Japanese bands: Band Maid, One Ok Rock, Wagakki, Doll$Boxx. Try this wagakki performance: kzread.info/dash/bejne/k4ugr8VmoMWqk5s.html And Doll$Boxx, if you like: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hqBos7CRnqiTiLg.html

6:46 That's just the bass, no keyboard or flute, only bass, you can make sounds like that with different effect pedals

@Tabadi

4 ай бұрын

is the taiko drums

@jonasw3945

4 ай бұрын

@@Tabadireally ? he thought the taiko drums were a keyboad ?? lol

@Tabadi

4 ай бұрын

@@jonasw3945 he describe the sound as "popcorn"

@jonasw3945

4 ай бұрын

@@Tabadi Oh yeah true, I thought he was wondering about the bass effect, I think you're right, still weird how he wrote it might be the flute, I don't know how a flute can make that sound lol

@kevinallen4743

4 ай бұрын

Easy to make that sound with a flute, hit a drum with it - lol@@jonasw3945

Among the other suggestions i can't recommend their cover of Evanescence's Bring me to life with Amy Lee enough.

recommend Wagakki band feat. Amy Lee-bring me to life

The Koto player is Yuko's husband.

check their song "Senbonzakara"

@dangermouseuk78

4 ай бұрын

Senbonzakara was actually written by kurousa-P and is originally a volcaloid song using Hatsune Miku. But indeed the Wagakki band did a great cover of it.

Beni plays a tsugaru shamisen.

@mikeat2637

4 ай бұрын

I follow the Tokyo jazz/funk scene and Shinobu Kawashima is making a name for herself with her Tsugaru Shamisen, playing with TGJ and Juna Serita and Rita Kawashima. I think she will do something with The Jazz Avengers also at some point. The jazz scene in Tokyo is just blazing, Uko Saxy, Foxy, The Sax Triplets, Harumo Imai and a whole host of others.

@ShikataGaNai100

3 ай бұрын

@@mikeat2637 Yeah, I know...my wife is a musician and we live in Shinjuku.