March Madness for Japanese Music
Spring is on its way. In addition to bringing flowers and warmer weather, this year it’s also ushering several great Japanese concerts into the tri-state area. This March, Japanese musicians from the classical, pop, and indie rock genres will perform in New York City in venues ranging from small clubs to huge arenas. No matter what your musical taste is, you are sure to find a show you like.
Long-running pop-rock band L’arc-en-Ciel will be the first Japanese band to headline the main stage at Madison Square Garden on March 25, as part of their 2012 world tour. “Laruku,” as they are known to fans, formed in 1991 and have become one of J-pop’s enduring and best known modern groups thanks to their catchy tunes and down-to-earth outlook, and singer Hyde’s good looks and soaring vocals. Americans might best recognize them for their musical contributions to anime such as Fullmetal Alchemist and Mobile Suit Gundam 00. While Hyde’s other band Vamps has toured the United States twice in the past three years, Laruku has only performed in America once before, at the anime convention Otakon in 2004. Since the March 25 concert takes place in Madison Square Garden, which seats 20,000 people, fans can expect a show with production values on par with their Japanese tours and the chance to hear their new album, “Butterfly”, along with classic hits.
Pop fans will rejoice at Jin Akanishi’s return to New York City on March 15 at the Best Buy Theatre. Akanishi debuted as a member of Johnny’s Entertainment boy band, KAT-TUN in 2001, and quickly became one of its most popular members. In July 2010, he became a full-time solo singer, and performed a series of concerts in the United States later that year. He released his first U.S. single, the dance song, “Test Drive featuring Jason Derulo” last November, with his second follow up U.S. single, “Sun Burns Down” released in January. His debut English-language album, “Japonicana” will be on sale March 6.
If you prefer something more underground, you have the choice of Exist Trace and the annual Japan Nite tour. Exist Trace is from the Visual Kei scene, which could be described as a mix of gothic and glam rock styles popularized by bands such as X Japan and Buck-Tick. However, while most Visual Kei bands are all-male, all the members of Exist Trace are female. They debuted in 2003 as an indie death metal band, and steadily picked up popularity before signing to a major label in 2011. Exist Trace debuted in the United States last year by performing at the anime convention Sakura-Con, and are returning for a full tour this year. You can catch them at the Hiro Ballroom on March 18.
“Japan Nite” is a long-running omnibus show that starts out at the legendary South by Southwest music conference and then travels the country. Its focus is on bringing cutting edge, unique-sounding Japanese bands to the United States. This year’s New York show takes place at the Brooklyn club Public Assembly on March 19, and includes rock bands: The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass and Nokies!, post-punk trio ZZZ’s, and more to be announced.
If you’re not into pop or rock music but you do like classical, you have the opportunity to see the prodigy violinist and philanthropist Ryu Goto at Carnegie Hall on March 20. Goto, a Japanese-American, debuted at age 7 when he performed at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo. From 1996 to 2006, Fuji TV aired a program about Goto’s music and life titled Ryu Goto’s Odyssey. He released his first, self-titled album in 2005 and subsequently sold out his first Japanese tour. Goto has a distinctive style influenced by the guitarist Jimi Hendrix, and on March 20, he will apply his style to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Sergei Prokofiev.
Spring is a time of renewal, and this March offers many exciting concerts to freshen your experiences.
————————————————————————————————
Victoria Goldenberg is a freelance music journalist. Her work appeared in purple SKY, The Aquarian Weekly and more.
————————————————————————————————
Concerts schedule featured in this article
March 15: Jin Akanishi @ Best Buy Theater
March 18: Exist Trace @ Hiro Ballroom
March 19: Japan Nite featuring multiple Japanese bands and musicians @ Public Assembly
March 20: Ryu Goto @ Carnegie Hall
March 25: L’arc-en-Ciel @ Madison Square Garden
B-kyu Gourmet 
