We’re exploring Japanese music! All of it at the same time? Of course not. To make things easier, let’s break this up into separate genres like J-Pop, J-Rock, Visual Kei.

Not familiar with these types of music? Well here’s a good chance to test the waters with these five groups and artists that may just be worth your time:

Alternative rock and punk-rock bands do not only exist in America. Somewhere on the island of Japan, a group of music-loving men gathered together to create their own band that rocked out in a style similar to that of the punk-rock bands found over 5,000 miles away in America.

Largely influenced by Western music, ELLEGARDEN took on an American alternative punk-rock style that made them stand out considerably enough, compared to other Japanese rock groups. With guitarist Ubukata Shinichi, vocalist Hosomi Takeshi, bassist Takada Yuichi, and drummer Takahashi Hirotaka.

First formed in 1998, the group gradually gained a large fanbase not only in Japan, but also overseas in the United States. They participated in many music festivals and released a total of five studio albums, but weren’t hitting the Oricon charts with bestsellers for every album – not that it mattered to them. What really counted was the eager anticipation of countless fans awaiting their next album release.

Not worried about popularity or reputation, ELLEGARDEN focused on enjoying themselves, and that's exactly what the fans saw of them on stage. This sense of zeal for performing on stage fueled the audience's excitement as much as the audience fueled the band's zeal. What captured the hearts of many fans, including myself, was the band's genuine demeanor that did not change whether they were on or off stage.

The lyrics, written and sung by Takeshi, were for the most part English. When asked about where he learned his English in an interview published in the purple SKY magazine, Takeshi credited his English skills to his three-month stay in California and to his constant interaction with English speakers at his workplace upon returning to Japan.

Specifically, I find that the bridge in “Kaze no Hi” really speaks to me:

"Go cry
Go smile
It's something good to do
To live as you want
I'm on your side
Your life is all yours
So don't let other people force you to be good
Be kind to yourself."

Unfortunately, the group disbanded in 2008, and each member went their separate ways as members of different bands, but ELLEGARDEN holds a place in every fan's heart even after the group disbanded thanks to their distinct rock style and dynamic performances. And at least fans will be able to continue admiring and enjoying their work, as each individual member further develops in their career.

I am an occasional fan of Visual Kei bands, which are bands mostly known for their members’ flashy and eccentric way of dressing. One particular band that I've enjoyed for quite a while is DuelJewel. Its current five members include Hayato as the vocalist, Shun and Yuya as guitarists, Natsuki as the bassist, and Baru/VAL as the drummer. Originally formed by Shun and Baru in 1997, the band underwent many changes as members came and left before it stabilized into its present formation with the five members.

The band started off on rocky ground because of the inconsistency of its membership. There were a lot of coming and going, making it difficult for the band to make any significant progress in their career. Although they were able to pull off a few live concerts in Japan, their recognition in the country did not come through until they had their first performance overseas at an anime convention in Texas.

After this first overseas performance, they began showing up at more conventions, gaining more and more fans with each trip to the United States. In 2007, they made an appearance at the J-Rock Revolution Festival in LA with various other renowned Visual Kei artists and bands, such as Miyavi, Girugamesh, Kagrra, and Vidoll.

To some, DuelJewel may fall short of being Visual Kei material, as their manner of dress is a bit toned down compared to most other Visiual Kei artists. In fact, it can be argued that DuelJewel is more of a hard rock band in terms of its sound. Nonetheless, this band is still a great addition to your music list, as they play a variety of different styles, ranging from quick hard rock songs to slow melodic tunes.

On the list of my favorite DuelJewel songs is “Hanauta~Sakura Ryouran~”. I completely fell in love with its slow, mellow introduction when I first listened to it. Following the introduction was a catchy fast-paced chorus, successfully mixing a traditional sounding melody with modernized hard rock. It was the first song I heard from DuelJewel, and it intrigued me enough to want to listen to more of their songs.

I am an avid fan of otome games, which are visual novels aimed towards girls. For those who are like me, you may have heard of the Hiiro no Kakera series. If you have heard of Hiiro no Kakera, then you have most definitely heard of Fujita Maiko.

Her popularity is inconspicuous as her voice is charming. With four studio albums out, mainly Maiko goes around performing in small live spaces, subtly spreading her music for her fans to indulge in. Starting February 2011, Maiko began a free live tour, going around to all 47 prefectures of Japan and performing free of charge. What better way of mixing work with pleasure than to travel all over Japan while spreading your music to a large audience for free?

Maiko might not be widely known by people who are not game fans, but she undoubtedly deserves recognition for having the sweetest voice a person could ever posses. Her songs are put to flight by her voice, which is truly one of pure beauty. Clear, tranquil, and cutting right to the soul, her voice allows her to sing songs about love that envelope the listener's heart with her soft voice.

Not only is Maiko a singer, she is also a songwriter, having virtually written and composed all her songs. As mentioned earlier, Fujita Maiko is associated with the Hiiro no Kakera series, as she sings the opening theme song to every one of the games in the series - each one sounding equally pleasant to the ears.

Just like many others, I discovered Maiko through the otome game, when I watched the opening to one of the games. When hearing her voice resounding in my head like serene chiming bells, I felt relaxed and completely at ease - I'd be content enough to just sit back with my eyes closed so I could properly savor the beauty of her singing voice.

I recommend all her songs, as they are all worth listening to, but I'll just introduce my favorite – “Shunkan.” With her sweet and balanced vocals, you can feel the emotion through the speakers, so much that it's heart wrenching. That is just the kind of power her voice holds over her song and the listener.

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