Live Report

WagakkiBand at Nippon Budokan

08/02/2016 2016-02-08 00:01:00 KoME Author: Moro

WagakkiBand at Nippon Budokan

A traditional and modern day at the Nippon Budokan with WagakkiBand.


© 2016 avex music creative. All rights reserved.
Imagine you have a band coming from far away in the past and they learn modern sounds. What will you finally attain? WagakkiBand. Then imagine this band performing with an amazing Japanese stage set. 10,000 fans were at the Nippon Budokan to see this incredible, sold out Akatsuki no Utage show, but you couldn’t be there? Then it is time for you to read this report.

"Wagakki" means "Japanese-style instruments", and WagakkiBand’s merging of Tsugaru-jamisen, wadaiko, koto, shakuhachi and shigin vocals with more common modern standards such as guitar, bass, drums, and postmodern influences creates a sophisticated musical mish-mash that spans thousands of years.

While their smash-hit cover of Vocaloid song Senbonzakura has over 33 million views on YouTube, WagakkiBand’s sound is all the more powerful live – and more so than ever on the grand Budokan stage, with a life-size replica of a multi-level wooden temple as its backdrop. Except for new songs played especially for this live event, the audience sang in rhythm and moved their purple penlights from the first note until the last moment.

Vocalist Yuko Suzuhana announced between songs the band’s costumes were new to celebrate the special occasion of playing in this famous place. Yuko was dressed in an immaculate red, black and gold kimono, with ornate kanzashi hairpins decorating her hair. The other members wore matching purple and black outfits based on styles throughout Japanese history but with modern fashion tweaks, and their skin was painted with tattoos and kanji calligraphy.

Yuko unleashed her voice in a Shigin vocal style, which has over a thousand years of history. While sung from the gut, it is sensitively nuanced, and Yuko used this effect to deliver theatrical renditions of the epic Tengaku, the graceful Nadeshikozakura, and crowd favorite Hoshizukiyo. But this band is also comprised of seven other amazing skilled and charismatic members, and all of them had their own time with many solos played during this long show.

“I never thought I'd perform at the Budokan as a shakuhachi player in a rock band,” mused Daisuke Kaminaga between songs. “It's wonderful!” His flute-like wooden instrument took the lead with solos in songs such as Hanabi and Hangeki no yaiba, and duelled with Machiya’s chaotic guitar and Asa’s leathery bass to atmospheric effect on the slow and low Hagane. The broad strokes painted by his shakuhachi brought confidence to WagakkiBand’s complex songs.

Koto, the origins of which stretch back to 7th-century China, is not unlike a horizontal harp, and creates a wash of strings and magic. Kiyoshi Ibukuro’s instrument largely took a supporting role, but his solo section was an opportunity to showcase his remarkable koto skills, playing a pretty and peaceful piece that used effects pedals to layer his sound to filmic effect.

The interplay between drummer Wasabi and wadaiko player Kurona during a percussion battle 90 minutes into the show was a sight to behold. Wadaiko, commonly known as taiko, is all about deliberate form and deep bass beats, while a full drum kit is wilder and more dynamic, and Kurona’s stylized stance and kakegoe howls matched Wasabi’s playful grin and rippling muscles as the two built up to a heart-stopping crescendo.

In an off-the-shoulder kimono-style dress that revealed a colorful paint tattoo, Beni Ninagawa played her own mid-show extended solo on the three-stringed Tsugaru-jamisen, a type of shamisen. She played slow and steady, cool and subtle, building to fast runs that showed a total mastery of this 200-year-old instrument.

Of course, the real alchemy happened when all eight musicians played together. For a rendition of the dramatic Fuurin no utautai, languorous wadaiko and drum beats met with beautifully underplayed guitar, stirring koto and a sensual shakuhachi melody to provide a canvas for Yuko’s expressive voice and elegant shibu hand-fan dancing. Floods of dry ice poured over the faux-temple’s steps to form a thick cloud at the members’ feet.

As the band left the stage after two thrilling hours, it was the audience’s turn to sing, chanting the chorus to Akatsuki no ito until the band came back for an encore. “Hearing 10,000 voices sing together like that... It's like something from a dream,” remarked Yuko, humbly.

The three-song encore featured Strong Fate, WagakkiBand’s new single from the soundtrack to chilling horror movie "Zange: Sunde wa Ikenai Heya" ("The Inerasable"). The song boasted crushing guitar and bass riffs, a ponderous rhythm and masterfully controlled kobushi vibrato melodies.

They saved their biggest hit for last. As Beni and Daisuke performed the rousing Tsugaru-jamisen and shakuhachi intro to Senbonzakura, a shower of glittering ribbons fell from the ceiling and Yuko held out her mic so the crowd could sing along.

Yuko stated her only worry during this epic performance was not being able to communicate with everyone in such a big place, but by seeing and hearing such an audience, she could definitely forget this feeling. She added WagakkiBand wants to represent Japan and perform in as many countries as possible.

For WagakkiBand, of course, a promising new year has only just begun. If you can see them live, like during their upcoming live show at Irving Plaza in New York in March, just jump on the occasion!
ADVERTISEMENT

Gallery

Related Artists

Traditional Instruments Meet Modern Music

Interview with The Shamisenists © The Shamisenists. All rights reserved.

Interview Exclusive

Interview with The Shamisenists

JACK, leader of alternative shamisen rock band The Shamisenists, took JaME's questions on the group's origins, latest single and other topics.

The Shamisenists - SAKURA © The Shamisenists. All rights reserved.

Review Exclusive

The Shamisenists - SAKURA

Instrumental trio The Shamisenists released a single at the end of March dedicated to the beginning of spring.

Interview with Mitsune © Shari Marks all rights reserved.

Interview Exclusive

Interview with Mitsune

World music ensemble Mitsune discuss their second album, a release event they held for it, and more.

Interview with Shin from HeavensDust and Seann Bowe © Shin (HeavensDust) and Seann Bowe

Interview Exclusive

Interview with Shin from HeavensDust and Seann Bowe

We sat down with HeavensDust frontman Shin and the Grammy-nominated producer and artist Seann Bowe to talk about their collaboration.

WagakkiBand Premium Symphonic Night Vol.2 Live & Orchestra in Osaka-Jo Hall 2020 © KEIKO TANABE

Live Report Press Release

WagakkiBand Premium Symphonic Night Vol.2 Live & Orchestra in Osaka-Jo Hall 2020

Evanescence vocalist Amy Lee joined WagakkiBand as a special guest during their "Premium Symphonic Night" concert at Osaka-Jo Hall.

TRANSIST Announce Digital Release of Debut Album © Tomohide Ono

News Press Release

TRANSIST Announce Digital Release of Debut Album

TRANSIST, a new project spearheaded by ex-KAO=S shamisen player JACK, recently released its debut album on digital distribution platforms.

WagakkiBand at Japan 2019 presents Japan Night in New York City © Miyabi_Na

Live Report Exclusive

WagakkiBand at Japan 2019 presents Japan Night in New York City

WagakkiBand transported the audience through an exhilarating and intense musical journey.

Video Interview with KAO=S © Mikio Ariga

Interview

Video Interview with KAO=S

Creating uniquely Japanese music out of chaos.

Interview with WagakkiBand © 2016 avex music creative. All rights reserved.

Interview

Interview with WagakkiBand

After two successful shows in the US in March, WagakkiBand spends some time answering some questions about their recent activities and releases.

WagakkiBand at Nippon Budokan © 2016 avex music creative. All rights reserved.

Live Report

WagakkiBand at Nippon Budokan

A traditional and modern day at the Nippon Budokan with WagakkiBand.

WagakkiBand – Strong Fate © 2016 avex music creative. All rights reserved.

Review

WagakkiBand – Strong Fate

WagakkiBand's latest single contains only traces of the octet's signature musical style.

Interview with KAO=S © Mikio Ariga

Interview

Interview with KAO=S

Where rock music and sword dancing collide.

WagakkiBand - Yasou emaki © Mikio Ariga

Review

WagakkiBand - Yasou emaki

WagakkiBand make the successful leap to original material with an album more varied and less hyperactive than their first.

Interview with WagakkiBand © 2015 Avex Music Creative Inc. Provided by Cool Japan Music, Inc.

Interview

Interview with WagakkiBand

Kiyoshi bites and Beni talks clearly in her sleep.

Interview with Wagakki Band © Vanessa Aubry

Interview

Interview with Wagakki Band

JaME had the opportunity to interview Wagakki Band at Japan Expo.

HeavensDust - Re:BURN © Vanessa Aubry

Review

HeavensDust - Re:BURN

HeavensDust put an energetic new spin on eight old favorites.

Interview with HeavensDust © HeavensDust - JaME - Laura Cooper

Interview

Interview with HeavensDust

JaME spoke with HeavensDust about their unique sounds, mixing metal and traditional Japanese instruments, their newest release and plans for the future.

MONKEY MAJIK x Yoshida Brothers in Toronto © JaME - Ken Tran

Live Report

MONKEY MAJIK x Yoshida Brothers in Toronto

The Yoshida Brothers and MONKEY MAJIK brought a joyous mix of traditional Japanese culture and catchy pop-rock to a sold-out Toronto crowd.

Kagrra, - Hyakki kenran © JaME - Ken Tran

Review

Kagrra, - Hyakki kenran

The only thing regrettable about Kagrra,'s last album is that it's too short.

Yoshida Brothers Interview © Domo Music Group

Interview

Yoshida Brothers Interview

The Yoshida Brothers talk about touring overseas, their new album PRISM and their career so far.

ADVERTISEMENT