Who is Your Favorite? These are Some of the Most Popular and Skilled Bassists in Japan! 

As I said in the video and description: This is not a definitive list. If you think another bassist should be in this video, please comment his or her name in the comments, and let's do a part 2.

Misa's guitar battles with Kanami are one of the reasons she is one of my favourite bass players. The ability to pick, slap and pop at lightning speed is also (to me at least) impressive, Misa is my mistress of thunder ❤🤘

An excellent little channel. Thank you

As a Japanese person,I would like to recommend three bassist. Ryosuke Nikamoto(UK Rampage,ZUTOMAYO) Takuma Kaneko Hiromu Fukuda(Suspended 4th) They are leading bassist in Japan lately. I am not good at English, so please excuse me if I am wrong.

There's a song from Maximum the Hormone called literally Uehara Futoshi and he has a bass solo there. You can find the live version Also the breakdown from the song ALIEN has an amazing powerful bass line

They are all incredible bassists, and all occupy the rarefied air atop the world mountain in talent, taste and technique. My personal fav is MISA, as she's the only one I regularly listen to from Japan.

Per capita, Japan probably has the largest population of professional musicians in the world. There are at least a hundred bassists that I can think of who would be candidates for a list like this, but many probably not well-known or even unknown to non-Japanese, and some of whom are studio/session musicians. Certainly one of the most versatile is Boh, best known for Babymetal's Kami Band---I've seen him live playing jazz-fusion gigs and enka gigs and every genre between.

My favourite bassist at the moment is Miyu, I just love what he brings to Asterism and the way he plays in general. A couple that others are not on the list and worth mentioning: F Chopper Koga, Juna Serita, Wakazaemon, BOH, Rina Hoshino, Hiromi Sagane (tricot), Yukiko Shibutani and Ryoji Orihara. Most of these are mainly jazz bassists, but I suspect most others will be mentioned anyway and there are so many great bassists in Japan that it would be wrong to not mention a couple of them.

MISA! MISA! MISA! MISA ARMY! ;)

BAND MAIDのベースの人めっちゃかっけー！指弾きやスラップがピックアップされがちな中（自分も指弾きですが）ピック弾きのかっこよさを再確認しました、ピック弾きもいいな👏

Misa is my favorite. I remember in their live perform Misa was still carrying the melody when Kanami's guitar rig had a problem & at the same time Miku had to take over her singing part.

Great list. Of course, one could add F-Chopper Koga, as well as Boh from Kami Band. And there are lots of other great ones. There is a lot of focus on the guitar shredders, but where Japan is leading the world is in drummers and bassists. Just crazy depth of talent.

Miyu (Asterism) Misa (Band-Maid) Futoshi Uehara (Maximum the Hormone) Fami (Lovebites) Haraguchi (Nemophila) Mina (Girlfriend) Taka (Galneryus) Fujiwara Misaki (Sokoninaru)

Serena (Trident), Rio (Eye's band, ex-Marys Blood), Haru (Bridear), Wakazaemon, Ogawa Hiroyuki (Unlucky Morpheus), Asa (Waggaki Band)

You have a very nice selection. I think two you might have missed are Boh from the Kami Band, he is literally a wizard with the bass, and Juna Serita, who is another very talented Japanese bassist in the Tokyo jazz/funk scene. She plays with the amazing female jazz band The Jazz Avengers, as well as with Tokyo Groove Jyoshi. There's another bassist she works with in TGJ Twin Bass, whose name I can't recall. Asa from Wagakki Band is another excellent bassist.

MISA. Sure, there are better ones (more technical, or faster, or whatever). But MISA has an edge over the others.... she comes in a packet with Kanami (and Band-Maid is my favourite band) 😊

Great video! All of them are great. My favorite is MISA because I think she has the combo for having great technical skills and also be very musical in the way she constructs her bass lines, doing what the songs needs. It's something difficult to explain for me. Another bassists that should be feature on another video are: -Hidekazu Hinata (from Nothing's Carved In Stone, definitely one of my favorites) -Hiromu Fukuda (Suspended 4th) -Natchin (SIAM SHADE)

Miho Rosana ex Destrose and ex Lovebites

Very good list. Juna Serita is my ichiban.

Miyu of Asterism is the best, but my favorite is now Fami - her smile and charisma is contagious.

One of the most influential bassist inside Japan is TOKIE, the original bassist for Rize, as well as Losalios, Ajico, and Unkie. MISA cites her as a main inspiration and you can see the influence if you watch old Losalios stage performances. TOKIE remains one of the most in demand studio musicians and you’ll see her name credited on countless albums across many different genres.

Fantastic list to start with, all excellent bassists, my suggestions for a part 2 are Juna Serita, Rina Hoshino, Mana Iwanaga, Tokie, Boh, F Chopper Koga, Kiyoshi, Serina, Miho and Wakazaemon. Great video 👍

My favorites-Misa, F Chopper Koga, Boh, Miyu, Fami and Hariguchi-San. There are a ton of studio bassists who play awesome things with Ado, Babymetal, Sheena Ringo, Hatsune Miku etc. of course Mina is pretty great too.

All super talented. Fami is easily my personal favorite.

Good list. I suggest Wakazaemon from East of Eden/Marty Friedman for part 2. Boh from the Kami band of course

Excellent content!

Very nicely put together video, and I appreciate the fact that you include a few male bassists. Miyu Yoshinaka, MISA, and Misaki Fujiwara are my personal top three, but you can't go wrong with any of them. Plus there are plenty more to choose from. I know you've only just started listening to Gacharic Spin and that's presumably why F Chopper Koga only got a clip at the start.

I think, Miyoko Nakamura (345) should be in the next viveo. She's a bassist and vocalist of Ling Tosite Sigure (one of vocalists, actually). But she also have a side project Geek Sleep Sheep (which don't have activity now). Sokoninaru got inspired a lot from Ling Tosite Sigure. Also, another talented bassist is Kamikaze Boy from Man With A Mission. Becides, he's main composer of their songs

MISA MISA MISA! Also, a part from being an amazing basis, Misaki Fujiwara has such an angelic voice and Sokoninaru is such an amazing band.

MISA MISA MISA

I had the pleasure of seeing Nemophila during their first-ever show in NYC last year. They put on one heck of a show. \m/

I love so many bassists in Japan... it's unfair to pick two (one male and one female). BUT if I need to choose them, MISA and Ue-chan are top of my list. They max technical ability, charisma and energy. And between the two, MISA is the winner. Ue-chan looks a bit too much like Flea😅 while MISA is straight out of a manga... slender & beautiful (she downplays it, but she could beat even Saiki in model looks) but incredibly wacky (loves booze, her stances, her bare feet...😉). And a legit bass monster. She's unintentionally a legend, and kinda mindblowing she has　 same-level bandmates like Akane and Mincho🤘

I highly encourage you to check out Hiromu Fukuda from Suspended 4th. His slap and pop game is crazy

MISA MISA MISA. There are some good ones there but music always comes down to a preference and my preference is Band Maid

Misa, Misa, Misa!

Misa is slightly my favorite, in fact, most of the bassists in your video are among my favorites. But what impressed me most about this video are all the brilliant bassists who were left out: Juna Serita, (Rie AKA Suzako Band & The Jazz Avengers) MATATABI, (Onmyouza) F Chopper KOGA, (Gacharic Spin & Doll$Boxx) who is in the intro if this list.😕 Toshiyuki Sugimori, (D_Drive) Okamine Koshu, (The Back Horn) SERINA, (Trident) Mitsuro Sutoh, (Kelly Simonz Band) Koichi Terasawa, (SLY) Satomi Senba, (Show-Ya) Kenichi Suzuki, (Ningen Isu) Hiroyuki Ogawa (Unlucky Morpheus) Naoto Shibata, (Anthem) And I'm sure I'm missing a few more names.

Very good list. I would add Ogawa from Unlucky Morpheus (aka Ankimo), and Sawa Ponyo from Aldious. For "Happiest Bassist" it would be hard to pick between Sawa and Haraguchi. Both are obviously having a blast any time they're playing.

I always put Tetsu from L'arc en Ciel as top number 1. There's a lots of talented bassist in Japan but Tetsu is just legendary. He can make a complex bassline sounds simple and not everyone can do that.

Misa, no question.

MISA is the best because every song of Band Maid she's bass line delicious 🔥

Another bassist who doesn’t get much attention outside of Japan is Miya from the Okinawa punk band Bleach (Bleach03 internationally). The band gained a cult following on the west coast of the U.S. and one of their songs was featured in an episode of Mr. Robot. After Bleach disbanded in 2010, Miya joined the alt/mathrock band Zazen Boys formed by Shutoku Mukai of Number Girl fame.

Great video and list. Two to look at for next time: Kiyoshi - super great bassist. I don't know the name of the guy but the bassist from Banshimoku is insane live.

My favourite is Misa

FAMI MIHO 🤘🏽LOVEBITES RULES🤘🏽

My current three favourites are Serina (Trident), Yamamoto Hikaru (session, but currently with Yoasobi) and whoever was playing for Lie and a Chameleon (I cannot remember his name). Oh and the bassist of Vivid Undress is great too.

Glad to see one of the most underrated bassists, currently playing in one of the most underrated bands, making it into your thumbnail.

Of all the list, only Fujiwara Misaki who do the Vocal, as a lead singer or backing vocal on top of crazy tempo, effect change that Sokoninaru always do

Everyone on this list is a very talented musician! I suggest Tatsuya Kitani, who is known as a pop singer, but his bass line as a support member of "Yorushika" is amazing.

Japanese musicians Male/Female at very young age, they are all already next level musicians ...... another popular and skilled Japanese bassist.. MIHO(LOVEBITES), HINOSE, JUNA SERITA(TOKYO GROOVE GYOSHI), CHOPPER KOGA(GACHARIC SPIN)...

Asa from the Wagakki Band Miyoko "345" Nakamura from Ling Tosite Sigure SIN (Shinya Shinohara) from SiM Ryota Kohama from One ok Rock

Great video - most of my favorites are here.

Good video but please add Juna Serita in the next one!

Margaret Hiroi of Hathijyuhathikashojyunrai. 八十八箇所巡礼のマーガレット廣井 彼は作詞作曲をし、歌い、魅惑的なベースラインを弾きます。

Misa from Band-maid is my favorite

MISA🎸⚡MISA🎸⚡MIDA🎸⚡Amajing Bassist😍from 🎀BAND-MAID

I'd like to see Tomomi (Scandal), Toshiya (Dir en Grey), 345 (Ling Tosite Sigure), Masashi (Versailles Philharmonic Quintet) and Hirohiro (Tricot) in there.

Heath from X Japan, I am no musician so I don't know about his skills but he was a cool and hardworking guy till the end

Seiji Kameda of Tokyo Jihen Taiji and Heath of X-Japan J of Lunasea Toshiya of Dir en Grey Tetsu of L'arc~en~Ciel Kenjirou Murai of Cali=Gari, Sex Machineguns and Coaltar of the Deepers These are the names that immediately come to mind when I think of Japanese bassists.

I like Fami and Mina.

You forgot Boh! who used to playe bass for Babymetal

F Chopper Koga (Gacharic Spin), Asa (Wagakki band), Margaret Hiroi (88Kasyo Junrei), Hirochan (Otoboke Beaver), Boh (Kami band - Babymetal) & (and its a big one): Kiyoshi the female artist without a band rather than Kiyoshi Kitagawa, this one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sstSVUG5psM.html Would suggest KURENA ISHIKAWA if your happy straying into jazz with an upright.

I would take MISA , she has an IRON MAIDEN style !

With 7 strings bass a great bassist can play bass like guitar for sure! My personal fav is Ayumu whom I heard for the very first time. All the rest play bass in the same way, apart from Miyu and possibly Misa. She changes up the style multiple times during one song, in the similar way Akane does.

Hiromu fukuda the bassist for suspended is one of the most skilled bassist I have ever seen I recommend checking him out and Kumayoshiro/Takuma Kaneko also has extremely good technique it's just refined and also sounds really really good 2 bassist I highly recommend checking out

Thanks for introduce Misaki Fujiwara, I’m a big fans of her

MIsa, she brings so much to every songs.

Tomomi Ogawa of Scandal... She's skilled too 😊

I would have to add Tokyo Jihen's Seiji Kameda, Kiyoshi, Mina from Girlfriend and the guy from School Food Punishment.

Fami!🤘

definitely Boh ! wish eastern kami band would return

Okey dokey ! It was wonderful to see Galneryus and Nemophila on the list. I've got plenty to add. Toshiya from Dir en grey he mixes slap technique and more for extreme metal / progressive metal. Also for one of the most catchy bass lines and brilliant bass solos check out Cage by Dir en grey. Their song Botttom of the death valley has a fantastic bass line too . There's so many to list. L'Arc en Ciel - Tetsu. He is not only a brilliant song writer. He plays unique bass lines , incorporating slides into his bass lines and creates beautiful counter melodies with his bass parts.

They are great Japanese bassist. But I guess most of Japanese won’t say them because there are so many popular bassist in Japan more than them. So this video is good opportunity they are known overseas music lover. Btw, my favorite bassist are Hidekazu Hinata (STRAIGHTENER/Nothing’s Carved In Stone) Ami Kusakari (Sakanaction) Hama Okamoto (OKAMOTO’S) Ryosuke Nikamoto (UK Rampage/ZUTOMAYO(as a support)) and more…

Great list. MISA fan but have seen a few of the others. Mostly female? Nothing wrong with that... very good but guys step up.... Thank you for making the video.

Haraguchi-san and MISA MISA MISA for me 🤟😊🇯🇵

No Miho founder of Lovebites and ex Destrose who just head bangs naturally plays a solid laid down line for the band to work off of she is a beast

For me it's MISA, followed by Misaki

Add F Chopper Koga, Wakazaemon, Kyoshi

I'd like to add to the list Shunsuke Matsumoto from Cö shu Nie, his bass playing is incredible!

My top three are Taiji (RIP)- X-Japan, Heath (RIP)- X-Japan, and Reita - The GazettE

The bassists from the band Ruins are worth listening since there are only drums and bass in the band, playing very complex stuff. There were four different bassists during the band history. Not sure if the band is still a thing today. And I missed Koga obviously

The favorite one is definitely Haraguchisan. No doubts. My crush ❤️ However I also really enjoy listening to bass lines of Koga (from Gacharic Spin), Serina (from TRiDENT), and Misaki (from Sokoninaru). Apparently the drummers of those bands are also super talented and sound incredible.

You’re right: without Misa, Band-Maid wouldn’t be what they are today. Just as any of the bands of the other bassists mentioned in the video wouldn’t be what they are today without those bassists. And without any other member, actually. I think Japan has a lot of very skilled musicians and, as a consequence, has a lot of amazing, very unique bands. And I’m not discrediting the skills of all these bassists (and several others). On the contrary, they do fight for the spotlight on every song. Hats off to all of them! And to their bands, a big thank you for creating such great music for us to enjoy!

I recommend Ryosuke Nikamoto as known as the bassist of zutomayo and UK rampage. The famous songs are お勉強しといてよ(obenkyo shitoiteyo)/zutomayo or the De'but/UK rampage and etc.

Misa vs Fami vs Mina !!! Veryhard choice !

Misa, Misa, Misa :)

As an American i would pick MISA , the style & type of musical taste , i see she is quite popular by comments here .

you must add Daisuke Bohte(aka BOH) He was babymetal kamiband bassists. He use unique 6 string bass.

Misa.

Misa 😂

Kiyoshi Tetsuo Sakurai Boh Kenji Jino Ken-ichi Suzuki Rio (jk) Mio (jk)

Yusuke Takeda (RADWIMPS), KenKen(RIZE), Tomoya Tabuchi(Unison Square Garden) and Kyujitsu Kacho are my favorite Japanese bassists

Yeah i think i'm up to date to JP bassists. Miyu and his band was the only one i never heard of, everyone else i listen pretty often.

Not a definitive list, but quite an impressive one nonetheless. Certainly, all those bassists are world-class musicians, but of course, of courssssee, MISA, MISA!, MISA!!! is my numero UNO!followed very closely by MINA!!! and FAMI!!!...also I am quite impressed with Mayu...uhmm, MIYU also!😄 Great vidddd!!!👏

Mine is Misa BM, Lin solo bassist, Waka EoE, Haru bridear.haru is a very solid bassist

I suggest F Chopper Koga, Wakazaemon and the funk/jazzrock bassists Juna Senrita and Rina Hoshino.

As awesome as they are through two decades of playing music I much preferred bassist that can stay in the pocket, serve the song and can still be groovy while doing that. Seiji kameda of Tokyo jihen is awesome doing that.

I was surprised to see that this list was missing - F Chopper Koga from Gacharic Spin, make her shine in chapter2, she is one hell of a player

Kiyoshi, she's awesome and has even played bass for Marty Friedman

Man misa must be the greatest bass player ever I see that name a lot maybe I need to see more then a couple clips. I’d like to add Haruhisa Takahata of the metal band -Gotsu Totsu Kotsu great player and does brutal vocals too.

All visual kei bassist are superb