This is basically a Japanese super group. They are all recognized masters of their craft with awards and national championships to their names. Japan takes music very seriously and supports musical education very strongly.
This is actually two songs...Homura and Akatsuki no Ito! The banjo thingie is called a shamisen and the pic is called a bachi and is played by the beautiful Beni Ninagawa🥰🥰🥰
Thanks for telling Jim that. I ran across Ninagawa Beni's channel the other day. Then I found out who she was. I'd heard several Wagakki Band song. Beni is beautiful and amazing talented. Arigato.
@@JimGames You said you never heard these instruments before? Come on man, you never seen a Samurai movie or anime or something like it? The Koto (harp), Flute, and Shamisen are so archetypical and ancient, they probably go back 2000 years or so.
Not sure I can call it underrated. They just aren't well-known. There is a difference. That being said - always happy to see more people discovering them as I have! Maybe it will get easier finding interviews with subtitles eventually?
Quick instrument rundown... 3String fretless banjo is a shamisen. Horizontal harp is a koto. Vertical bamboo flute is a shakuhachi originally associated with Zen meditation. Drums generically are taikos and of course they have various names which I as a gaijin just can't keep straight despite having lived in Japan for 2 years. If I'm not mistaken wagakki itself is the term for traditional instruments. Fun to see them used with modern stuff though. This old guy has rambled enough.. thanks for your reactions and ciao!
This band has become one of my favourites, their music is stunning. Other good songs to try are Ikusa, Sun Wheel, Sakura Rising, Synchonicity, Senbonzakura, Yoshiware's Lament, Ignite and Tengaku.
Beni plays a Tsugaru-style Futozao (Thick Neck Size) Shamisen.The sharp, flashy style of tsugaru was played in the streets by the bousama (blind musicians) who developed a more lively style.Blind musicians at the beginning of the 20th century, including Shirakawa Gunpachiro Takahashi Chikuzan and sighted playerslike Kida Rinshoei developed a new style of play,based on traditional folk songs ("min'yo"), but with a lotImprovisation and eye-catching finger work. This style - known as Tsugaru-Jamisen, after the native region in northern Honshu - is relatively popular today in Japan. The virtuoso tsugaru jamisen style is sometimes compared to bluegrass banjo. The classic pick is called Bachi. The koto is a Japanese zither and the national instrument of Japan. The bamboo flute is called a shakuhachi and the second drum kit is a wadeiko The singer's very broad vibrato is typical of Shigin, a traditional poem concert style.Suzuhana Yuko, the singer of the Wagakki Band, began studying the piano at age three and shigin from age five. She graduated from the Tokyo College of Music’s Piano Program. Yuko is currently active as a shigin instructor, singer-songwriter, and pianist. The style of dance that Yuko performs is called Kenshibu ('Sword and Poetry Dance') This is a category of Japanese interpretive dances performed to traditional music with poetry. Kenbu refers to dances that are performed with the help of a sword.and Shibu dance with one or more hand fans called Sensu / Ogi (folding fans).The origin is from samurai. In the early Meiji period, Raifu HIBINO (originator of the Shinto school) organized the conventional dancing styles into the current ones by introducing some styles of swordplay.Singing and dancing are performed basically by different persons. The number of performers varies; sometimes one singer and one dancer, but often one singer and two or more dancers. There are no specific costumes for singers, but dancers wear a hakama (divided skirt for men), shiro-tasuki (white sash for holding up tucked sleeves), and shiro-hachimaki (white headband) to express the emotion of the poem. In some dances a fan is used along with a sword.The mask that Machiya wears is based on the Noe Theater . Masks are an essential part of the Japanese Noe theater whilst the actors of the Japanese kabuki theater perform without masks. ..
Excellent! You've done both Band Maid AND Wagakki?! OMG if you do a Baby Metal reaction, I'm going to loose it. I love how you touched on the production. Amazing to have an 8 piece band where you can clearly pick out each instrument. That allows them to have AMAZING dynamics. The dynamics with this band are beyond any band I've heard. Well done Jim.
Great reaction, my man! Just want to point out no one yet in any reactions I’ve seen has touched on the vocalists’ singing style. She specializes in traditional Shigin poetry singing, which is a legit traditional style of singing Japanese poetry. If you look up Shigin poetry you will find clips of normal people performing this slam poetry style. Again, it’s an official Japanese tradition, or Japanese folk. The vocalist, Yuuko Suzuhana, is a professional teacher in the art and is using the band to spread awareness. In other words, she is using her voice as a traditional instrument along with the others, while mixing in more modern influences occasionally. In all honesty, I find it to be their version of yodeling, but with a mystic air. It’s quite different to our western ears, but she alone can take you on that journey you entrusted to the band. No need to react, but would like you to experience her own traditional instrument ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3YNumZWx2HI.html
@@JimGames Tyler also forgot to mention her other skills. Yuko is also a very good pianist as well. Not to mention her other skills of traditional sword/fan dancing. Which she does do on stage from time to time. For an example. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5wYI1G0ZDu0.html
Always love the surprise of the reactor when the beautiful Beni appears! Waggakki means traditional instruments. Yuko, singer, was the catalyst for the forming of the band. A prime purpose of the band is to generate interest by the youth in the traditional musical instruments of Japan. They are very popular in Japan and they have toured in the US and Europe. There are excellent interviews by them from when they in the US. Japan is the #2 music market in the world. The music world there is very dynamic with tons of bands forming and reforming. There is even a school for training musicians for the industry. Do not know who you know of but here are the most are popular in the west: Babymetal (they are huge) Headbanger live and Pa Pa Ya are good starters Band Maid (best rock band in the world) Domination live and Freedom to start Lovebites (power metal at it's best) Shadowmaker (official) and Holy War will get you started. Their all Japanese and of course there is Kpop yet to go.
It may not appeal to everyone because of the traditional instruments and singing style, but since I have a slight affinity for Japanese culture anyway, the combination of rock and tradition definitely draws me in. And one thing is for sure, it takes a lot of creativity and talent to match both worlds and present the whole thing in a fitting way. From my point of view, this task was excellently fulfilled! 🤘
Machiya the guitarist is behind the mixing and production for the songs, sometimes Asa the bassist helps out too. They then communicate with the sound engineers of the concert team.
Man, you just MUST react to their other songs! First of all "Ignite"(music video) and "Synchronity"(live). Youll never gonna regret it!! Amazing reaction :)
Wagakki band is really one of the finest folk metal bands in the world that Ive ever seen with their unique blend of traditional Japanese musical instruments and heavy metal. I love beni playing the shimasen. She's phenomenonally talented and is one of the finest musicians on earth. The rest of the band are hugely talented as well. Masters in their own right. Make their views to 500 million on RU-vid and they will do great. Help spread all over.
glad you like them. the band I´m listening most to in the last couple of months. it´refreshing for the ears. they are all so talented. I like the playing style and tone of guitarist machiya. thanks for reacting to this amazing band.
Hmm... this reaction must have slipped through my notifications.😄 The funny thing is, I was browsing through RU-vid and came across exactly this song. Absolutely amazing!!! Tradition meets Metal.😁 I want more.😊👍
Senbonzakura, a cover of a very produced vocaloid hit. Lots of interesting folk have done that song, but Wagakki Band puts their own mark on it for sure. Another straight up traditional instrument group, Wagaku, has a good cover of Senbonzakura with a singer called Kyounosuke, for some contrast.
That instrumen like benjo is Shamisen, it's traditional instrument, and She is Beni who playing that benjo, she is very Beautiful and talented. Good reaction
Stages of those reaction videos: 1) Nice rock played by Japanese... 2) Wow they play it very well... 3) Nice backtrack... O no, there is another drum 4) What's that nice Japanese banjo? 5) Wait, there is more to go? Fantastic Japanese harp 6) Man, this flute is awesome 7) How can this voice be so good? 8) Can someone please take my jaw from the ground?
Wagakki band was my old passion before I got trapped into b-m pigeon hole. Their music around 2017 is my favorite. I highly recommend you react to yoshiwara lament, gobousei live, synchronicity.
Any video on the same channel (frank garcia or something) is a banger. I don't know where they get the videos from but either way wagakki band is one of my all-time favourites and an awesome representation of our culture
Thanks for the review, you will also like their most famous song Senbonzakura, they have played Bring me to life with Amy Lee too Also highly recommend Synchronicity from Wagakki Band for a Jazz style music, and 砂漠の子守唄 (Sabaku no komoriuta) for a very unique style of music Wagakki Band are also very famous on great live performance, If you want to a review any of them, recommend to use live version, it is safer from copyright stuff
Cool reaction! They play different genres so its not just rock/metal. Basically they combine traditional instruments with Western sound, thats their 'thing'. If you want a more like 'anime' song where they are shredding you can try 'Hakushu Kassai' For a jazz/swing vibe try 'Synchronicity' For a metal sound try 'Ikusa' They also recently did a colab with Amy Lee They have more cool songs! I would recommend 'Hotarubi' for you to react! Its my favourite! Whichever you choose you will not be disappointed! My advice to you would be to react to live versions, because: 1) They are great live! 2) Their record company is a serious copyright stiker, so reacting to the official MVs might be risky
@@JimGames Honestly, the band look rather bored playing Bring Me to Life, which I can understand as it's a rather boring song IMO, Sakura Rising with Amy Lee on guest vocals is vastly superior.
Nice reaction as always👍 The name of the band "WA-GAKKI" consists of two different words in Japanese. "WA" broadly means traditional Japanese culture as a whole, while "GAKKI" means musical instruments. JFYI😏
just had to interject a line or two, the Bassist: HIS name is Asa. Shocked the heck out of me and I'm straight as an arrow. But at certain angles, he's pretty. And of course, the confusion isn't helped by the fact he dresses as a female and wears feminine make-up and eyelashes... still as for talent, none are to be matched much of anywhere. Also, I LOVE Misa of Band-Maid... SHE is gorgeous.
if you liked this, i recommend these tracks --- "Hakusu kasai" / "Hoshidzukiyo" / " ikusa" / "hangeki no yaiba" / "synchronicity"... live performances by Wagakki Band .... if you want something soft and melodious, then -- "sabaku no kumoriuta" / "youshiwara lament" / "perfect blue" / "Kyoshu No Sora" -- by Wagakki Band ..
Ningen Isu, some old guys who go hard. And for pure musical creativity, Susumu Hirasawa. Dude plays the angle grinder. And the Tesla coil. Look for a few of his Live Hybrid Phonon videos. More Wagakki Band? I like Synchronicity, Tengaku, Rokuchou Nen to Ichiya Monogatari
These guys are really awesome! You want more Japanese music? You've done 1 song by UnluckyMorpheus and if you want another song by them with more violin try Tower of Blood. Here'sa short list of other bands you have yet to react to: Maximum the Hormone - Yoshu Fukushu Doll$Boxx - Shout Down Undead Corporation - Blow Band-Maid drummer Akane was inspired to learn to play drums after seeing the Maximum the Hormone drummer. Both Unlucky Morpheus and Doll$Boxx are fronted by the same singer but the two bands have different sounds. UM being melodic speed metal and Doll$Boxx being more of hard rock/funk. The guitarist for Undead Corporation is also a guitarist for Unlucky Morpheus. Also the drummer for Unlucky Morpheus is a past member of Undead Corporation (and Galneryus). He is featured in the video for Blow. Also, all of these bands have female members and multiple vocalist but only one has a keyboard player. I'll let you discover which one 😁 Hope you get around to these other awesome artists 🤘😊🤘
+1000 for MtH. They are definitely unique. They are what would happen if System of a Down had a very weird baby with a screamo, punk, ska, disco, polka playing Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band. That is a good thing by the way.
Yoshiwara Lament is another great song. It sounds upbeat but is actually a sad song. It is about an Edo era prostitute that wishes that someone would purchase her and take her away from the brothel. It was written by the bassist for vocaloid music and then remade by Wagakki Band. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DD6LHfm5AZY.html
Jim, the instrument you cala japanese banjo, is a samisen. Is the traditional instrument of a gheisha to entertain her gests. It has 3 strings and I understand that traditional the white parts was made of the skin of a cat. The flute is a bambu flute the name is a shaku. The citar is also a traditional instrument, its name is koto Wilfred
Greetings from Norway. Love your reactions! Please react to Eviør with her song «Falling free». As you like Aurora, you should try Eviør. Also her song «Salt» from the train station is great
Wagakki band wants to promote the Japanese traditional instruments and other form of art, by combining them with modern music. They have made songs for anime, tv broadcast, covered popular vocaloid songs (their 1st album only), do charity for the craftsmen of the Japanese instruments ect. "Homura" is the only regular instrumental on the set list. It's a tradition for the band to do no vocal performances, to let all those instruments get the attention, but only at live concerts. They almost never repeat instrument combination. tono monogatari yon yon ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WlSVRNAkVXY.html (more traditional) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jZP0Aiqfjrw.html tomodachi ninarouyo ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3wyDFmR3N_0.html "Strong faith" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UyuzfQkUlyY.html This music video really explaines the band well, if you'd risk a copyright strike. Some reactions were not affected, so it's a hit or miss. I just think certain songs are appreciated better in original audio. They are awesome live either way. The same way for "Synchronicity" MV. The lyrics and video tell the same (?) story. Also there are English subs, as far as i remember. "Sabaku no komoriuta" is also a good representation. Almost no genre is foreign to them. Two times they add a whole orchestra for a concert, to make things even better. The vocalist Yuko is a pianist too. Sun wheel, Okinotayuu, Shizumanai taiyou, World domination I don't want to repeat other people' suggestions.
These below are the titles I recommend if you want to know more of them: Senbonzakura: a vocaloid song that they adapted to a real singer, not a computer generated voice. It's this title that made them famous ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ssxCJHXGbs8.html Yoshiwara's lament; a song initially written by the bassist that has been adapted ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DD6LHfm5AZY.html Chie no kajitsu + Somosan seppa: 2 instrumentals, one very rock/metal, the second very traditionnal but both excellent ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OaC6ZY0KYVc.html And in their most recent songs, from their October2020 album: Sun wheel (very rock/metal): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wr7oHjMXpgs.html Queen of the night (very traditionnal): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AoY5f979VtM.html And there's the collaborations they made with Amy Lee from Evanescence: Bring me to liefe (Live): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hk1GtYK7BJM.html Sakura rising (a quite optimistic song and another collaboration with Amy Lee): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cyFskO6iB2E.html
Actually 'wagakki' means 'Japanese instrument', not 'traditional instrument'. After opening the country in the latter part of the 19th century, many western instruments like piano, violin, organ, guitar etc. comes to Japan and these were sometimes called 'yogakki', so the instruments already played in Japan had come to be called 'wagakki'. It's similar to 'yoshoku' and 'washoku' in cuisine, 'yoshi' and 'washi' about paper. So acoustic or electric all guitars are not 'wagakki', and traditional but not Japanese instruments like lute, yuquin, morin khuur, clavecin, gamelan etc. are not 'wagakki' too.
Waggaki Band...they arent just musician but they are Gods and Goddess and engineers of their own musical instruments... Suzuhana Yuko - Vocals Machiya - Guitar Asa - Bass Wasabi - Drums Beni Ninagawa - Tsugari Shamisen (traditional 3 string guitar) Kurona - Wadaiko ( traditional drums) Kiyoshi - Koto ( traditional harp) Daisuke - Sakuhachi ( traditional flute) ...sir...i recommend to please do comment to their other songs.. -Ignite -Sunwheel -Valkyrie -Okinotayuu -Zenbonsakura -Perfect Blue ( live ) -Subaku no Komoruita -Tengaku - Seime no Aria - Sycnhrocity - Ikusa - Bring me Back to Life with AMY LEE - Homura + Akatsuki no Ito live and still more.. I be following your reactions sir.... im not a japanese.....I one of their Fans.... Im a Filipino... Thank You
Queen of the night ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AoY5f979VtM.html and synchronocity ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nwXtiTxtiHs.html are great songs with really good MVs. There are live versions, too, of course, but I find the artistry they put in their videos should be just as appreciated as their performances.
I think you will like this "wagakki band sincrhonicity" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wRYVPDKuqMk.html this song is great unfortunately underrated i hope you can react to this song.
Don't talk over the music. Pause it to give your comments. Your reaction may well be the first time listeners hear a band. Homura & Atsaki No Ito are presented as one performance , and to cut in while the performance continues in the background does your viewers no favors. Yes, they are individual compositions, but review them as presented, not only half way.