Muses/Jazz Avengers bass maestro Juna Serita are doing solo gigs in Japan playing funky jazz fusion stuff and she has got a great band. The music is top notch, both in a classic way but also innovative. There is a reason why she is hailed as a top musician. Check out the new video on her YouTube channel that features the songs “Madamada Gal” and “Hunter”. Pretty wonderful if you ask me. Her having come up with Muses alongside drummer Kanade Sato speaks volumes.
(Screenshots is from said live video, no malice intended / My background shot)
I have been enjoying Kanade Sato´s 2025 Kanademore solo album “One Second Into The Future” (which made it into my Top 10 list of best albums from last year on this blog). She is known from Muses and Koiai and when she records solo stuff it is basically jazz fusion territory that we are talking about. She really is up there with Billy Cobham and Jeff Porcaro (Toto legend) and this is the best instrumental album that I have heard since Cobham´s “Spectrum” (and that was recorded over five decades ago). Born in 2002, she started to play drums at the age of three and she has been a professional musician since Junior High School. You can track her rise to fame on her personal YouTube channel and at 23 she is already one of the most respected musicians in Japan. She released her first Kanademore EP in 2014 when she was 12. For more information about her career, visit her official platforms. I did notice that she performed with a full classical orchestra recently in Japan, I think that in itself speaks volumes. Also, I did add a tag on this blog a while back. Talent like Sato should be highlighted. You can buy this CD on the official homepage (along with other stuff). I am so glad that I have discovered all this.
(My shot of said CD, many thanks George for securing a copy for me!)
It is always a bit tricky to pick just 10 albums but I will give it a shot. Here is my Top 10 list for 2025 (listed in no particular order, they are all excellent).
THE WARNING – “Live From Auditorio Nacional CDMX” (Mexico)
HAGANE – “Top Of The World” (Japan)
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS – “Armada Live Over Europe” (Austria)
LOVEBITES – “No More Tragedy” (Japan)
BABYMETAL – “Metal Forth” (Japan)
MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – “Don´t Sell Your Soul” (EU)
GLENN HUGHES – “Chosen” (UK/US)
STEVE MORSE BAND – Triangulation” (US)
KANADE SATO – “Kanademore – One Second Into The Future” (Japan)
SALLY – “Burn It” (Japan)
(Covers are from official platforms, my background shot)
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TOP 10 LISTS ON TRINKELBONKER: 10 UNDERRATED ROCK ALBUMS (March 20 2025), TOP 10 GUITAR MOMENTS (March 10 2025), TOP 10 1975 ROCK ALBUMS (February 12 2025), 10 AMAZING ROCK SONGS FROM SWEDEN (January 31 2025), 10 AMAZING ROCK SONGS FROM JAPAN (January 23 2025), TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2024 (January 1 2025), 10 MASTERCLASS ROCK & METAL DVDs (August 31 2024), TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2023 (December 31 2023), TOP 10 BABYMETAL PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2020s (November 30 2023), 10 AWESOME GLENN HUGHES MOMENTS (August 17 2023), 10 AWESOME DAVID COVERDALE MOMENTS (August 15 2023), 10 AWESOME SONGS OF THE 2020s PART 4 (August 15 2023), 10 AWESOME GILLAN SONGS 1978-1982 (July 29 2023), 10 AWESOME BLACK SABBATH SONGS 1980-1995 (July 28 2023), 10 AWESOME SONGS OF THE 2020s PART 3 (July 27 2023), 10 BRUTAL BABYMETAL SONGS (July 26 2023), 10 AWESOME SOLOS BY JON LORD (July 24 2023), 10 AWESOME SONGS OF THE 2020s PART 2 (July 23 2023), 10 AWESOME SONGS OF THE 2020s PART 1 (July 20, 2023)
Time has come to take a look at what I have covered on the Asian/Japanese music scene in the last year so here are the basic information. Tags exists for several artists/bands (see tags for this post). Mentions and actual posts are counted. Before we move in on the Japanese rock and metal scene, lets take a look at the other avenues.
J-POP & GENERAL / Ichiko Aoba (March, June), Scandal (March, April), Soleil (May), The Jazz Avengers (May, June, July), Ondekoza (May), She´s A Rainbow (May), Juna Serita (May), Meiko Kaji (September), Yurika Endo (July), Yui Mizuno (September), Honeybee (August, September), Sakura Gakuin (September, November), Ayaka Miyoshi (September), Metalverse (October), Mariya Takeuchi (October), Hiromi (October), Karen Girl´s (November).
NONE JAPANESE ASIAN ROCK & METAL / Memi (June), Sixiwanzi (December), BLOODYWOOD (March, July, December).
JAPANESE ROCK & METAL by month (mentions in one way or another):
If anybody out there want to send me promotion material (CDs/DVDs), please get in touch (see ”Contact” tag). I am interested in promoting the Asian scene. I am also interested in conducting interviews for this blog via e-mail. See list of interviews that are currently on this blog below (many quotes have been lifted for books on artists over the years). Any fans that see bands out there and want to send over pictures and words about said events can also get in touch. In 2025 I presented interviews with Sally, Saeko and George Murasaki on this blog. My goal with Trinkelbonker is just to have some fun and supporting the Asian/Japanese scene is one of the chosen interests that I cover on this blog. And stats are pretty good, so I think all this can be helpful in some small way for sure. Best hobby in the world in any case.
Mike Eriksson / Trinkelbonker
(Top image includes shots by me (Babymetal) / Sally image courtesy of management, shot taken at March 20 2025 show by Peter Lim / assorted artist shots, CD and DVD covers and screenshots are from various sources – no malice intended)
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CLASSIC ROCK INTERVIEWS ON TRINKELBONKER: DEEP PURPLE 1987 (November 8 2025), NEMEDIAN CHRONICLES 2025 (October 20 2025), DEEP PURPLE TOUR MANAGER COLIN HART 1991 (September 15 2025), SALLY 2025 (April 18 2025), MIKE ERIKSSON 2008 (April 1 2025), JONAS ÖHLUND 2025 (March 19 2025), SAEKO KITAMAE (February 2 2025), MARTINA EDOFF 2025 (February 1 2025), GEORGE MURASAKI 2025 (January 23 2025), JONAS ÖHLUND 2024 (July 22 2024), MURASAKI 2024 (June 28 2024), METALLIC KITTY/DECADENCE 2007 (May 14 2024), FABIENNE SHINE/SHAKIN`STREET 2008 (May 9 2024), ECHOES OF ETERNITY 2007 (May 6 2024), 220 VOLT 2002 (April 17 2024), THEY WATCH US FROM THE MOON 2024 (March 29 2024), BERNIE MARSDEN 1981 (September 3 2023), BRIDEAR 2023 (June 13 2023), STEVE LUKATHER 1989, Part 2 (May 29 2023), LADIES OF ROCK 2008 (April 25 2023), GLENN HUGHES 1993 (February 23 2023), JON LORD 1983 (June 26 2022), BLIND GOLEM 2022 (April 29 2022), PUBLISHER HANS HATWIG 2015 (Part 2, December 24 2021), MURASAKI 2021 (December 3 2021), PUBLISHER HANS HATWIG 2015 (Part 1, November 22 2021), CARINA LIROLA 2008 (November 9 2021), TOTO 1987 (September 17 2021), HEAVEN & EARTH 2001 (July 25 2021), STUART SMITH 1998 (July 4 2021), RAINBOW 1997 (June 28 2021), MARINA AMMOURI 2021 (February 12 2021), VISIONS OF ATLANTIS 2007 (November 10 2020), RITCHIE BLACKMORE & CANDICE NIGHT 2001 (October 27 2020), JOHN NORUM 1988 (October 18 2020), ACCEPT 1986 (July 17 2020), DEEP PURPLE 1996 (June 27 2020), EUROPE 1986 (June 16 2020), DEEP PURPLE PODCAST 2020 (April 6 2020), KIMBERLY GOSS/SINERGY 2002 (March 31 2020), RAINBOW 1997 (March 9 2020), RAINBOW 1996 (March 6 2020), MICHAEL BRADFORD 2003/MAKING OF DEEP PURPLE´S “BANANAS” (March 2 2020), URIAH HEEP 1988 (February 18 2020), ANNE-LIE RYDÉ 1984 (January 21 2020), CRYSTAL VIPER 2020 (January 16 2020), JOHN NORUM 1988 (January 12 2020), ARTOMUS FRIENDSHIP 2019 (November 10 2019), NAZARETH 1989 (August 26 2019), VELVET INSANE 2018 (September 11 2018), JON LORD 1981 (December 15 2015), DAVID COVERDALE 1981 (November 13 2015), GLENN HUGHES 1996 (May 12 2015), TOTO 1988 (March 31 2015), YNGWIE MALMSTEEN 1990 (March 1 2015), MARTINA EDOFF 2009 (December 4 2014), MICHAEL MOJO NILSSON 2014 (January 21 2014), THE HUGHES TURNER PROJECT 2001 (December 29 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1996-1998 (October 9 2013), GLENN HUGHES & JOHN NORUM 1988 (September 21 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1994-1995 (September 9 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1993 (September 7 2013), STEVE LUKATHER 1989 (September 4 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1983 (August 22 2013), RAINBOW 1995 (July 19 2013), MICK UNDERWOOD/GILLAN 1982 (June 11 2013), DEEP PURPLE 2002 (May 2 2013), DEEP PURPLE 1998 ( February 25 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1986 (February 12 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1987-1989 (December 31 2012), JOHNNIE BOLIN 2012 (December 24 2012), MARTIN POPOFF & RICH GALBRAITH 2009 (November 12 2012), DAVID COVERDALE 2000 (October 14 2012), JON LORD 1984 (September 7 2012), JOE LYNN TURNER 1992 (August 31 2012), JUDAS PRIEST 1986 (August 22 2012), RONNIE JAMES DIO 2001 (August 20 2012), NIGHTWISH 2002 (August 14 2012).
Magazine sales are down (plenty of titles have disappeared in the last five years). The UK is totally dominant on the import scene in Scandinavia, followed by Stateside titles. A new trend are the specials that are dedicated to one artist/band. They seem to be doing OK and they are probably here to stay. Nostalgia is the name of the game, even Metal Hammer is now readable for older rock fans. Classic Rock is broadening its appeal as well. Ozzy/Sabbath and Castle Rat can be featured in both. There is an overlap. Rock Candy is basically dipping into the old Kerrang! archive, with some new stuff added, mostly with older artists. Some good stuff but it looks like a fanzine. Nobody has taken the Japanese scene seriously, except for a handful of artists (Babymetal, Lovebites, Hanabie and looking back, Loudness). No big features on the scene at large. I have seen this however in magazines in Europe, like in the Czech Republic, but Japan is still largely underground in the English speaking magazines (nothing much on Hagane, Roselia, Nemophila, Koiai or musicians like Saki and Kanade Sato). This is not helped by labels and festivals still ignoring the Japanese scene. Had it not been for YouTube and social media, we would largely be in the dark. Things could improve. The way things are, for magazines to matter five years down the road, they need to rethink and expand the talent pool (maybe get rid of some tired writers). I would find the talent needed on YouTube. There are people out there that are really nailing it. But these people are not recruited. Also, I wish there was a hub (outside of eBay) somewhere that sold music magazines from the whole world. That would have been pretty awesome. I love magazines deeply, I hope the scene will be able to prosper and carry on for a long time. Maybe, some day, we will spot Sixiwanzi in an English speaking publication. And maybe we could have some Deep Purple and Babymetal back to back some day, like it bloody well should be.
(My shot in a local magazine store in Östersund, Sweden this week)
I need to address the fact that Koiai has moved on and are now a stable unit again. Singer Mirei Sakurada has joined and they have just released a live clip on YouTube for the song “Beep Beep”, recorded on November 22 at the Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall that is pretty awesome. Of course, the core of the band is still there, guitarist Li-sa-X, guitarist Hazuki (Nemophila) and drummer Kanade (Muses) and on this night they were supported on bass by Yunika Impact. I think Wakazaemon is still the official bass player, but they all have careers to handle (in her case, very high profile). I am really looking forward to more music from this band. Best Toto sounding band since, well, Toto… Meaning, they have the groove and the sheer excellence down to a tee. Mirei fits in very well.
(Images are screenshots from the new video, check it out!)
I do enjoy adding stuff to the different collections, and today I focused on the Japanese one (which does not include Babymetal, they have their own going in this house). I am now at binder 12 and I added 151 pages all in all today, with bands like PaleNeo (guitarist Ayari can be seen here), Li-sa-X, Empress, Onmyo-za, Saki, Hagane, Bridear, Paradoxx, Nemophila, Koiai, Gacharic Spin, Sally, Rie a.k.a Suzaku, Muses, Asterism, Mellows, Eye, Anthem, L´Antica, Undying Words, Maki Oyama, Isiliel, Bone Dawn, Hades, Aldious and Hanabie. Nearly 100% female stuff, a sign of the times.
(My shot of PaleNeo spread in Metallion 82, picture by Daisuke Honda)
This is good news coming out of Japan. We have new EPs/mini albums coming out on November 19 from both Muses and (Muses guitarist) Rie a.k.a Suzaku. The Muses EP is called “4 Seasons” and it sports five new songs; “Feel Like Something Good – Sparkle Of Spring”, “Summertime”, “Autumn Wind”, “Winter Hero” and “4 Seasons”. Then we have the EP from Rie called “Sky” which also sports five songs; “Battle For Freedom”, “Sin”, “Hope For Tomorrow”, Flower Of Life” and “Empty”. Needless to say, this is essential stuff.
Fall has arrived early in my neck of the woods. Cold winds and rain. Winter came along quite early last year and I hope we do not get to see a repeat of that this time around (I have outdoors projects that I want to attend to without being bothered by bugs). I do have some time in September set aside for this, which is good (panic stations might still be avoided). Speaking of the hobby side of things, I find it quite interesting that the June 10 runaway post about Fate Gear and Koiai (just some news in passing) is still the biggest draw to this blog. Has been for most of this time right through my holiday and beyond, save for a few days here and there. I have tried to figure out why this is the case but with no luck. It basically means higher traffic, just for this post alone (and it goes on and on). I like it though (somebody of some clout has certainly linked to this post). And yesterday I spotted that if you visit the George Murasaki page on Discogs, it links to my big December 3 2021 interview with the man (the first of several by now) on this blog. Nice. Of course, this blog is a hobby and there are days when I can not spend too much time on it. But I can tell that there is a pretty devoted following. I appreciate this very much.
(My shots of front porch view, the George Murasaki Discogs page and some Koiai/Fate Gear stuff in the collection)
The July 19 post “10 Reasons Why Japanese Rock Rules In The 2020s” is doing well. Top draw on the blog now. I have seen some nice feedback on social platforms. Well, I did have a lot of fun writing that one.
trinkelbonker