One Ok Rock
One Ok Rock got their name from their practice time, One O’Clock. Japanese makes no distinction between r’s and l’s, so One O’Clock sounds like One O-kuroku – which was modified to the name they are now famous by. Morita Takahiro’s surgeon knife vocals are what sets this band on top for me.
完全感覚Dreamer
恋ノアイボウ心ノクピド (Koi no aibou Kokoro no kupido)
東京事変 (Tokyo Incidents)
After leaving a solo career as a pop artist, Shina Ringo started a fusion band know as Tokyo Jihen (Tokyo Incidents). I consider this ultimate dance music.
群青日和 (Gunjou Biyori)
遭難 (Sounan)
Abingdon Boys School
Takanori Nishikawa (aka T.M. Revolution) has a vibrato vocal style that I’ve never heard of before. Aside from being slightly over-produced, this band is definitely one of my favorite karaoke choices.
Innocent Sorrow
Howling
Blade Chord
Lite
This instrumental math rock band will blow your mind. They put together so many poly-rhythms that it makes the mouths of physicists drop.
Infinite Mirror
Ghost Dance
Bump of Chicken
One of the more well known Japanese bands. Everyone in Japan knows Bump.
カルマ (Kharma)
Remioromen
五月雨 (Satsuki Ame – May Rain)
This isn’t exactly one of my favorite bands, but for nostalgic purposes I really wanted to add this song. It was the opening song for my band’s debut in Japan. The first song I ever played at a real gig.
I’m usually not a big fan of Asian music, but I do like this video (particularly the hard rock breakdown).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwGvRll0JGc&feature=related
Also, I liked the video’s you posted. Particularly One OK Rock.
Sadly, seven or so of these links no longer work. I gather that you’re not impressed by SMAP’s 14th consecutive #1 in a row 😉