JRock is the abbreviation for Japanese rock music. It began in Japan in the 1970s, but it has since spread to the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. Jrock has its own distinct style, unlike other types of rock and roll or Japanese pop (J-pop).
The Beatles’ first concert in Japan in 1966, which honored Japanese war casualties, influenced this style of music. The Japanese people were stirred, encouraged, and angered the Beatles’ hippy style, unique sound, and wild energy. Rock had taken hold in many parts of the world and was spreading quickly before it caught on in Japan in the 1970s, but when it did, it did so with a bang. Even when other countries had moved on from rock to new musical sensations and styles, JRock refused to die.
The Alfee, a folk rock band, and Sheena & The Rockets, a punk rock band, were both instrumental in laying the groundwork for JRock. These started out as imitations of Western rock, but they quickly developed their own identity and fan base. JRock was initially unpopular among locals, but the bands would not be denied entry into their own country. They believed they had something valuable to contribute to the world of music, so they persisted. The style eventually gained traction and was carried on into the 1980s bands such as Shonen Knife, Boowy, and Buck-Tip, who were known for adhering to their own beliefs rather than those of mainstream musicians.
The first Japanese rock movement, known as visual kei, was started in 1989 a violent, crude rock band called X JAPAN. Visual kei is primarily composed of men who wear make-up, spike and dye their hair, and dress in leather or vinyl costumes. This style is image-driven, and it is comparable to Gothic or punk music in Western terms. The performances are held in complete darkness.
JRock continued into the 1990s with groups like Three Michelle Gun Elephant, GLAY, B’z, Judy and Mary, and Malice Mizer, despite Japan’s general music movement lagging behind the rest of the world. These bands and their songs became part of Japanese culture when they were featured in video games, television shows, and anime series. As Asian culture was featured in other countries, this fueled JRock’s enduring popularity throughout the country and eventually worldwide. More information about this style of music and the 40 most influential bands can be found in the book Jrock, Ink.