Wagakki Band
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{short description|Japanese rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Wagakki Band
| native_name = 和楽器バンド
| image = Wagakki Band Japan Expo.JPG
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = Wagakki Band during a photo shoot at Japan Expo 2014 in Paris
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Japan
| genre = {{hlist|Folk rock|J-pop|metal{{cite web |last1=Yeung |first1=Neil Z. |title=Wagakki Band – Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/wagakki-band-mn0003259314/biography |website=AllMusic |accessdate=17 June 2020}}}}
| years_active = {{start date|2013}}–2024
| label = {{hlist|Avex Trax|Universal Sigma}}
| website = {{URL|wagakkiband.com}}
| current_members = Yuko Suzuhana
Kiyoshi Ibukuro
Daisuke Kaminaga
Beni Ninagawa
Kurona
Machiya
Asa
Wasabi
| past_members =
}}
{{Nihongo|Wagakki Band|和楽器バンド|Wagakki Bando|lead=yes}} was a Japanese band that combines rock and metal music with wagakki instruments and Shigin poetries.{{Cite web|url=http://dic.nicovideo.jp/a/%E9%88%B4%E8%8F%AF%E3%82%86%E3%81%86%E5%AD%90with%E5%92%8C%E6%A5%BD%E5%99%A8%E3%83%90%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89|title=鈴華ゆう子with和楽器バンド|publisher=ニコニコ大百科|accessdate=2014-06-14}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.jpopasia.com/group/wagakkiband/|title=WagakkiBand|publisher=JpopAsia|accessdate=2014-06-28}}{{Cite web|title=BIOGRAPHY|url=https://wagakkiband.com/biography|access-date=2021-05-10|website=和楽器バンド Official Website|language=en}}
Their early songs were adapted from Vocaloid, with their music videos for the songs {{Nihongo|"Tengaku"|天樂|}} and {{Nihongo|"Senbonzakura"|千本桜|}} attracting millions of views online before their first album was released.{{Cite web|url=http://www.japan-expo-paris.com/en/programme/wagakki-band-in-showcase_52.htm|title=WagakkiBand in showcase|date=19 June 2014 |publisher=Japan Expo|accessdate=2014-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_xTet06SUo&index=51&list=LL1Dx16y7-rTE7RspY_2aMXg|title=Nihongo|website=YouTube|date=31 January 2014 }} In 2015, their first album of original material, Yasō Emaki, debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart and won a Japan Record Award. Their fourth album, Otonoe (2018), also won a Japan Record Award. Wagakki Band have performed live in Asia, Europe, and the United States.
History
= 2012–2013: Conception and early work =
Shigin singer, Kenshibu dancer and classical pianist Yuko Suzuhana, after having been elected "Miss Nico Nama" at the 2011 Niconico Douga Music Festival, officially formed the folk-acoustic band Hanafugetsu (flower-wind-moon) in February 2012 alongside shakuhachi player Daisuke Kaminaga and koto player Kiyoshi Ibukuro, to play at the same festival the following year.{{Cite news|url=https://metropolisjapan.com/wagakki-band/|title=Wagakki Band – Metropolis Magazine|date=2016-07-03|work=Metropolis Magazine|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/yuchinsound/status/961410911050153984|title=本日華風月6周年記念日 全ては、この3人の出会いから始まりました これからも共に歩んでいきます|last=Suzuhana|first=鈴華ゆう子Yuko|date=7 Feb 2018|website=@yuchinsound|language=ja|access-date=2018-03-12}} In their concerts they would often be joined by other friend musicians, so Suzuhana conceived a band that would fuse the traditional and modern sides of Japanese culture, leading to the formation of Wagakki Band.{{fact|date=August 2022}}
In August 2012 the members of Hanafugetsu met guitarist Shin "Machiya" Oumura, who was a notable session musician with a reputation for fast playing. Around this time, Suzuhana also met drummer Akira "Wasabi" Sasaki at an event by NicoNico Douga. Previous to Hanafugetsu, Ibukuro and Kaminaga were in a folk punk, visual kei band called Crow X Class with wadaiko player Kurona, who happened to be friends with Wasabi too. These first six members started to perform together around Tokyo and Ibaraki.{{Cite news|url=http://www.japan-expo-paris.com/en/invites/wagakkiband_419.htm|title=WagakkiBand|access-date=2018-02-02}} The band's first song was an adaptation of the Vocaloid song "Tsuki Kage Mai Ka" (月・影・舞・華, Moon-Silhouette-Dancing-Flower), featuring Kanade on shamisen and Shirakami Mashiro on bass. A video of the recording of the song was published on Suzuhana's personal Youtube page in November 2012, still released under the name Hanafugetsu, and became immediately viral, remaining to this day one of their most viewed videos.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm19231822|title=【Wagakki Band】Tsuki, Kage, Mai, Ka【Played it】|date=2012-10-29|website=Niconico Video|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-02}}
Bassist Asa, a popular Vocaloid producer and creator of the hit song "Yoshiwara Lament", then officially joined the band in 2013. During a gig in a Shibuya bar, the band was approached by shamisen player Beni Ninagawa, with which Hanafugetsu already performed, and she became the final addition to the band. The formation of the eight-member band was officially announced in March 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/yuchinsound/status/970271798704054273|title=今日はこの3人でお仕事三昧っ! 5周年だねーって言いながらの1枚。pic.twitter.com/JaivDI1wkm|last=Suzuhana|first=鈴華ゆう子Yuko|date=4 March 2018|website=@yuchinsound|language=ja|access-date=12 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/yuchinsound/status/970245806560133120|title=今日もスタジオです!和楽器バンド5周年記念日です皆さまお祝いメッセージありがとう!あっという間にだなぁ (´ω'*)|last=Suzuhana|first=鈴華ゆう子Yuko|date=4 Mar 2018|website=@yuchinsound|language=ja|access-date=2018-03-12}} They initially operated under the name Suzuhana Yuko with Wagakki Band, but by early 2014 the name was shortened to simply Wagakki Band. Suzuhana joked that she and Ibukuro wanted to call the band "Daisuke Kaminaga and his friends".{{Cite web|url=http://wagakkiband.jp/wagae/profile/|title=和楽器バンド Official Site|website=和楽器バンド Official Site|language=ja|access-date=2018-02-03}} {{cite web |last1=Suzuhana |first1=Yuko |title=Yuko Suzuhana's personal blog |url=https://ameblo.jp/yukonouta/entry-11525023710.html |website=Ameblo |access-date=6 May 2013}}
= 2013–2014: Early mainstream success =
A video for the first song recorded by all eight current members of Wagakki Band, "Six Trillion Years and Overnight Story" (六兆年と一夜物語), was released in April 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm20671226|title=【和楽器バンド】六兆年と一夜物語【演奏してみた】|date=2013-04-22|website=Niconico Video|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-02}} In August of that year they played their first live concert at Nico Nico Music Master 2.{{Citation|last=Wagakki Band / 和楽器バンド Live|title=Wagakki Band / 和楽器バンド – Live at Nico Nico Music Master 2 (17.08.2013)|date=2017-02-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzCOZAsPFM|accessdate=2018-02-03}} The music video for "Tengaku" (天樂) was released in October 2013; this video marked the first time guitarist Machiya revealed his face and identity, having him previously performed under his real name, Shin Oumura, only in his alternative-rock band m:a.ture.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm22026446|title=【和楽器バンド】天樂【演奏してみた】|date=2013-10-12|website=Niconico Video|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-02}} They then performed at the 10th Tokyo International Music Market (TIMM) for three nights in October. At THE VOC@LOID M@STER 27, a Vocaloid convention in November 2013, the band released Joshou (序章), a mini-album featuring Vocaloid covers.
Wagakki Band held their first new year's concert, Wagakki Band Daishinnenkai 2014~Wagakki X Band Gassen~ (和楽器バンド大新年会~和楽器Xバンド合戦~), on January 31, 2014 at Shibuya's Club Asia. On the same day, they released the music video for "Senbonzakura" (千本桜), which instantly became a hit on both Nico Nico Douga and YouTube, expanding their international exposure.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm22782474|title=【和楽器バンド】千本桜【演奏してみた】|date=2014-01-31|website=Niconico Video|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-02}} Wagakki Band covered Vocaloid songs for their first full-length album, Vocalo Zanmai (ボカロ三昧), which was released in April 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vocalo-zanmai-mw0002670355|title=Vocalo Zanmai – WagakkiBand|publisher=AllMusic.com|accessdate=2014-06-20}}{{Cite web|url=http://wagakkiband.jp/discography/detail.php?id=1006524|title=和楽器バンド Official Site|website=和楽器バンド Official Site|language=ja|access-date=2018-02-03}} The album reached no. 5 in the weekly Oricon rankings and stayed in the top 100 for 22 consecutive weeks. After their early Vocaloid works, Wagakki Band has composed original music for their subsequent albums.{{fact|date=August 2022}}`
The band held their first overseas performance at Japan Expo 2014 in Paris, France in July, in front of 4,000 attendees. Their first independent concert, Vocalo Zanmai Dai Ensōkai (ボカロ三昧大演奏会), was held later in July at Shibuya's Music Exchange.{{Cite web|url=http://wagakkiband.jp/wagae/discography/detail.php?id=1009483|title=和楽器バンド Official Site|website=和楽器バンド Official Site|language=ja|access-date=2018-02-03}} The music video for Wagakki Band's first original song, "Hanabi" (華火, Fireworks/Flower fire/A flower's burning passion), written by Suzuhana, was released in July 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm24096903|title=【和楽器バンド】華火-Short Version-【PV】|date=2014-07-27|website=Niconico Video|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-03}} In August they appeared at Japan's a-Nation Festival, followed by an appearance at a-Nation Singapore Premium Showcase Festival in October. The band wrapped up 2014 with the DVD and Blu-ray release of the Vocalo Zanmai Dai Ensōkai concert.
= 2015–present: International recognition =
The band's first hall concert, Wagakki Band Daishinnenkai 2015 (和楽器バンド大新年会2015), was held at Shibuya Public Hall in January 2015. Their first independent overseas concert, Taipei Dayanchanghui (台北大演唱会), was held in Taiwan in May of that year. Also in 2015, Wagakki Band headlined a sold-out concert at Club Nokia in Los Angeles in conjunction with Anime Expo, with the software persona Vocaloid IA as the opening act. They appeared in their first television commercial for Kirin Mets. Their first original album, Yasō Emaki (八奏絵卷, Emaki of an octet playing music), was released in September 2015{{Cite web|url=http://wagakkiband.jp/wagae/discography/detail.php?id=1010749 |title=2nd ALBUM "Yasou emaki" |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |accessdate=2016-12-31}} and reached number one on the weekly Oricon chart.
On 6 January 2016, the band held its annual New Year's concert, Wagakki Band Daishinnenkai 2016 Nippon Budokan: Akatsuki no Utage (和楽器バンド大新年会2016日本武道館 -暁ノ宴) at the Nippon Budokan.{{Cite web |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/172026 |title=和楽器バンド、初の武道館ワンマンで1万人興奮 |website=Natalie.mu |language=ja|access-date=2019-02-20}} The concert was attended by approximately 10,000 people.
The album Shikisai (四季彩, Colors of the four seasons) was released in 2017, featuring the previously released single "Kishikaisei" ((起死回生, Death and Rebirth), which was used by TV Tokyo for their broadcast of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and as the official song for the Japanese team.{{cite web |url=http://wagakkiband.jp/news/detail.php?id=1044724 |title=【リリース情報】待望のNEW ALBUMが3月22日に発売決定！！ |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |date=2016-12-28 |accessdate=2016-12-31}} The following year they released the concept album Otonoe (オトノエ), which peaked at No. 2 on Oricon's albums chart and received the Excellent Album Award at the 60th Japan Record Awards.{{Cite web |url=http://wagakkiband.jp/discography/detail.php?id=1015632 |title=オトノエ |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |language=ja |access-date=2018-03-30}}
In May 2019, Wagakki Band performed as part of Japan Night 2019 in New York with Hyde, Misia, and Puffy AmiYumi.{{Cite web|url=https://jrocknews.com/2019/07/japan-night-hyde-wagakkiband-new-york-2019.html|title=Report: 4 acts that rocked Japan Night NYC 2019|last=Sibilsky|first=Cindy|date=2019-07-03|website=JROCK NEWS|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-30}} A month later, the band signed a global contract with Universal Music Japan sublabel Universal Sigma after five years with Avex Group. As part of the deal, the band's management was transferred to the newly formed {{nihongo4|Ignite Management|イグナイトマネージメント|Igunaito Manējimento}}. According to a press statement published by Suzuhana, the band wanted to challenge themselves in a new musical environment.{{cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/wagakkiband/news/2019-06-24/ |title=和楽器バンド、ユニバーサルミュージックとグローバル パートナーシップ契約を締結 |publisher=Universal Music Japan |date=2019-06-24 |access-date=2021-05-27}} The EP React, featuring four new songs, was released in December 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000175668 |title=和楽器バンド、「REACT」全曲ダイジェスト公開＋13日『Mステ』出演決定 |website=BARKS |date=2019-12-06 |access-date=2021-05-27}}
On February 16, 2020, the band performed their two-day Premium Symphonic Night concert at Osaka-jō Hall, featuring a full orchestra and a special guest appearance by Evanescence lead vocalist Amy Lee.{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8549722/amy-lee-evanescence-wagakki-band-orchestra-concert-Premium-Symphonic-Night-japan-osaka |title=Evanescence's Amy Lee to Join Wagakki Band Orchestra Show at Japan's Osaka-Jo Hall |publisher=Billboard |date=2020-01-30 |accessdate=2020-09-17}} Lee also collaborated with the band in recording the single "Sakura Rising", co-written by Lee, Suzuhana and Machiya.{{cite web |url=https://wagakkiband.com/contents/362451 |title=NEW ALBUM『TOKYO SINGING』の収録曲"Sakura Rising with Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE"ティザー映像公開 |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |date=2020-09-17 |accessdate=2020-09-17}} The band's fifth studio album, Tokyo Singing, which includes the collaboration with Lee, was released in October 2020.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/9457206/japans-wagakki-band-evanescence-amy-lee-interview |title=Japan's Wagakki Band & Evanescence's Amy Lee Sit Down to Talk First Impressions and Collaborating |magazine=Billboard |date=2020-09-29 |access-date=2021-05-13}}{{Citation|title=Tokyo Singing – Wagakki Band {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/tokyo-singing-mw0003435727|language=en-us|access-date=2020-10-11}}
On August 17, 2022, the band released their sixth studio album, and second cover album, Vocalo Zanmai 2, to commemorate their eighth anniversary. Four days later, at the start of the national tour, Suzuhana and Ibukuro announced that they had married on March 4 2020, and were now expecting their first child.{{cite web |url=https://wagakkiband.com/contents/550173 |title=この度、和楽器バンドのVocalの鈴華ゆう子と箏のいぶくろ聖志の結婚、および二人の間に新しい命が授かりましたことをご報告させていただきます。|trans-title=We would like to announce the marriage of Wagakki Band's vocalist Yuko Suzuhana and koto player Kiyoshi Ibukuro, as well as the birth of a new life between them. |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |date=2022-08-21 |access-date=2022-09-22}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202208210000424.html |title=８人組ロックグループ「和楽器バンド」鈴華ゆう子＆いぶくろ聖志が結婚発表 第１子妊娠も報告 |newspaper=Nikkan Sports |date=2022-08-21 |access-date=2022-09-22}} On September 22, the band announced they would hold the rest of their Vocalo Zanmai 2 tour without Suzuhana due to her pregnancy and health issues, with the other seven members playing accompanied by Suzuhana's recorded voice or with Machiya, Asa and Beni singing her parts, marking the debut of Beni as a singer.{{cite web |url=https://wagakkiband.com/contents/564342 |title=「和楽器バンド ボカロ三昧2 大演奏会」鈴華ゆう子出演見送りのお知らせ |trans-title="Wagakki Band Vocaloid Zanmai 2 Big Concert" Yuko Suzuhana Appearance Announcement |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |date=2022-09-22 |access-date=2022-09-22}} Still hospitalized in isolation due to COVID-19 restrictions, Suzuhana gave birth to a baby girl on November 24, the day before the tour ended.{{cite web |url=https://wagakkiband.com/contents/598984 |title=お知らせ |trans-title=News |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-10-26}}
The band's seventh studio album, I vs I, was released on July 26, 2023{{cite web |url=https://wagakkiband.com/contents/640893 |title=New Album I vs I is set to be released on Wednesday, July 26th! |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |date=2023-05-20 |access-date=2023-07-01}}{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/608253/products/1481092/1/ |title=I vs I {{!}} 和楽器バンド |publisher=Oricon |access-date=2023-07-01}} followed by a national tour, at the end of which, on January 7, 2024, the band announced that at the end of 2024 after celebrating their 10th anniversary, the band would go on an indefinite hiatus so that each member could focus on their own activities.{{cite web |url=https://wagakkiband.com/contents/704295 |title=「和楽器バンド」今後の活動に関するご報告 |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |date=2024-01-07 |access-date=2024-01-08}} A compilation album titled All Time Best Album Thanks: Yasō no Oto, as well as the live video Wagakki Band Daishinnenkai 2024 Nippon Budokan: Yae no Tsubasa, were released on October 9.{{cite web |url=https://wagakkiband.com/contents/767952 |title=New Album All Time Best Album Thanks ~Yasou no Oto~ Scheduled for Release on 10/9 (Wed)! Details of the Tracklist Revealed! |website=Wagakki Band Official Website |publisher=Ignite Management Corp. |date=2024-09-02 |access-date=2024-09-11}}
Members
- {{Nihongo|Yuko Suzuhana|鈴華ゆう子}} – vocals, piano
- {{Nihongo|Kiyoshi Ibukuro|いぶくろ聖志}} – koto
- {{Nihongo|Daisuke Kaminaga|神永大輔}} – shakuhachi
- {{Nihongo|Beni Ninagawa|蜷川べに}} – tsugaru shamisen
- {{Nihongo|Kurona|黒流}} – wadaiko, kakegoe vocals
- {{Nihongo|Machiya|町屋}} – guitar, vocals
- {{Nihongo|Asa|亜沙}} – bass
- {{Nihongo|Wasabi|山葵}} – drums
Discography
{{main|Wagakki Band discography}}
- Vocalo Zanmai (2014)
- Yasō Emaki (2015)
- Shikisai (2017)
- Otonoe (2018)
- Tokyo Singing (2020)
- Vocalo Zanmai 2 (2022)
- I vs I (2023)
Awards
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Ceremony !Award !Nominated Work |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|Japan Gold Disc Award{{Cite web|url=https://www.golddisc.jp/award/29/index.html|title=第29回日本ゴールドディスク大賞｜THE GOLD DISC|website=www.golddisc.jp|access-date=2019-06-18}} |Best 5 New Artists | |
| Japan Record Awards{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicman-net.com/artist/47336|title=レコ大 各賞の受賞作品発表、最優秀アルバム賞にサザン「葡萄」 {{!}} Musicman-net|website=www.musicman-net.com|access-date=2019-06-18}}
|Planning Award |
| 2018
|Excellent Album Award |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://wagakkiband.com/}}
- {{Official website|https://www.universal-music.co.jp/wagakkiband/}} (Universal Music Japan)
- {{Official website|https://avexnet.jp/contents/music_j/WAGAK/}} (Avex Group)
- {{MusicBrainz artist|mbid=c5ae5832-cbbf-44d0-8b9c-36e67360c5b1|name=Wagakki Band}}
- {{discogs artist|3861804-和楽器バンド|Wagakki Band}}
- [https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/608253/ Wagakki Band] at Oricon
{{Wagakki Band}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Japanese folk rock groups
Category:Japanese heavy metal musical groups
Category:Musical groups from Tokyo
Category:2013 establishments in Japan
Category:Musical groups established in 2013