January 4, 2010 05:13 PM | by 
As the international popularity of Japanese rock rapidly increases, 2009 can count itself amongst the most noteworthy years for the scene. Below is my list of the most significant events in the J-Rock world for the past 365 days.
Miyavi opens international fanclub, announces (and cancels) the NEO TOKYO SAMURAI BLACK U.S. tour, splits with PS Company after 10 years, starts own company called J-Glam, Inc., gets married, and has a baby.
2009 was the “Year of MYV” apparently. It appears this seminal visual kei megastar was busy with everything except writing new music. No new full album, no new PV, only one single, but he’s sure been busy! “With what,” you say? The year opened with Miyavi headlining the PS Company 10th anniversary commemorative performance Peace & Smile Carnival at the Nippon Budokan on January 3. This performance was recorded for a live DVD called Peace&Smile Carnival 2009 that would be released later in the year. Also later in the year, Miyavi left PS Company after 10 years to open his own management & label group, J-Glam, Inc., the very next day.
2009 also found Miyavi opening his fanclub doors to the international audience with the creation of his Co-miyavi Worldwide International Family. On top of that, in March Miyavi announced his marriage to pop singer & fashion designer Melody., then the birth of their daughter, Lovelie Miyavi Ishihara, in July.
In October, Miyavi announced via his official Myspace that his U.S. tour for NEO TOKYO SAMURAI BLACK was canceled due to an injury. There are doubts and rumors as to the validity of that reason since it was also found out that he lost a key NYC date to a more popular performer, likely throwing a monkey-wrench in the whole tour.
Whew! Hopefully 2010 will be just as profitable and productive for Miyavi and Co.!
Jasmine You, 30, dies suddenly of health complications.
Metal band Versailles had a very successful debut, several lauded live performances, and a promising future, all of which helped them score a major label contract with Warner Music Japan in June 2009. On the 3rd of August, bassist Jasmine You announced he would be indefinitely putting aside all musical involvement due to a serious health issue. Five days later Versailles made the announcement that Jasmine had passed away at the age of 30. Here is the official word from the band’s website:
The band was shell-shocked, along with the rest of the jrock community, at the suddenness of Jasmine’s death. Fans around the world held tributes and created memorials for weeks following the news. Purple-colored mementos and flowers were left at tribute altars around the world as that was Jasmine’s favored color in his costumes and makeup. Candlelight vigils were held in California, New York, Texas, and Seattles, to new a few. A memorial in Argentina had fans leaving purple flowers and lavender candles in honor of the late performer which would eventually spell his initials J.Y. A stunning tribute event held across Europe saw fans releasing lilac-colored balloons into the air. Russia, Ukraine, and Germany over twenty countries participated in the event.
Jasmine You’s unexpected and heartbreaking passing had the Jrock community mourning and holding it’s collective breath for the continuation of a hugely promising band. Luckily, Versailles will soldier on with their major label debut “Jubilee” being released in 2010 as Jasmine’s last work. The outpouring of concern and tributes proved the abundance of love and warmth from the Jrock community and united fans in a celebration of his wonderful life.
PS Company 10th Anniversary Commemorative Performance, Peace & Smile Carnival.
This wildly successful event marked the 10-year anniversary for one of Japan’s top management & record label companies. The 13,000+ tickets for this event sold out within three minutes of going on sale on November 22, 2008. The lineup included performances from all PS Company acts: Miyavi, Kaggra,, Kra, the GazettE, and alice nine., with SuG and SCREW opening the show.
The event has been released as a DVD and can be ordered through YesAsia.com. The disc includes performances form all the acts, which you can have for a mere $60 before shipping…
PS Company has been the Big Cheese for the last decade when it comes to digging through the dregs of the visual kei community and managing to produce talented and noteworthy superstars. For the sake of the vk music scene, and my ears, let’s hope they don’t stop!
Five For Magazine celebrates 2 year anniversary.
This Seattle-based magazine hit it’s two-year milestone in November, making it the longest-running printed publication covering J-rock in English. Five For Magazine, which takes it’s name from a quote attributed to BUCK-TICK singer Atsushi Sakurai, has covered major events in the U.S. and Japan as well as trends in fashion and technology. Production quality and overall look continue to improve with every issue, putting Five For on par with any popular Japanese publication. This bi-monthly ‘zine has consistently presented interviews, photographs, reviews, contests, and editorials on some of J-rock’s biggest acts. Miyavi, girugämesh, VAMPS, Vidoll, MUCC, Versailles, Dir en grey, and countless others have been featured in the past year alone. Five For is the only English-language print publication for J-rock happenings in both the U.S. and Japan that is currently available on the market despite it’s limited storefront shelf space. 2009 also saw the magazine launching it’s popular web forum, staff blog, and exclusive online-only content and giveaways. I can’t wait to see who will be the cover artist for the first issue of 2010!
X Japan announces massive World Tour, cancels pretty much the whole thing.
After a slew of changing plans and delays for the band in 2008, possibly one of the biggest disappointments of 2009 was the cancellation - er.. “postponement” - of pretty much the entire X JAPAN world tour set to take place over the year. The band reformed almost two years ago and have played no more than a handful of shows to date. The international J-rock community rejoiced at the announcement of a long-awaited world tour from the legendary band only to be gripped with disappointment shortly thereafter. A majority of the issue lies in the reoccurring neck injuries plaguing drummer Yoshiki incurred throughout the band’s enigmatic early career. He had healed sufficiently over the band’s hiatus but after 2 back-to-back sold out shows at the Tokyo Dome to kick off the tour, Yoshiki was given the doctor’s orders to refrain from performing. Amidst it all came rumors of bassist Heath leaving the band if his contract wasn’t renegotiated for undisclosed reasons. Shows were scheduled for Thailand, mainland China, Germany, France, the U.S., Finland, and South Korea with only four successfully actualized. Maybe in 2010? Please?
The epic V-ROCK FEST takes over Makuhari Messe, broadcast internationally.
It’s difficult to really appreciate the magnitude of this event if you aren’t familiar with the massive list of artists in the lineup. For two days and on four stages, over 50 international acts performed in the world’s largest visual kei music festival, and it was all available through live internet webcast. V-Rock Fest ‘09 was a truly remarkable feat and definitely marked the pages of history for Japanese rock around the world. Millions tuned in to watch some of the best and brightest of the visual scene take up their instruments in Chiba’s Makuhari Messe, including the likes of Moi dix Mois, alice nine., the GazettE, and newcomers Hangry & Angry. Even Marilyn Manson graced the stage. And if the music and webcast weren’t enough, there were also areas for meet & greets, a flea market for attendees to sell goods, and an international food court featuring cuisine from around the world. Thanks to the marvels of technology, I was able to be there, but if there’s a V-Rock Fest 2010, I’ll certainly be attending in person!
VAMPS prove it is possible for J-rock bands to successfully tour across the U.S.
To many, this may not seem all that important but, rest-assured, it was monumental. VAMPS is a rock band consisting of two of J-rocks leading men, Hyde (L’Arc~en~Ciel) and K.a.z. (Oblivion Dust). The band debuted in 2008 and quickly rose to tremendous heights in popularity by the end of the year. In 2009, the band embarked on a 10-date coast-to-coast U.S. tour, complete with autograph sessions and plenty of opportunities to interact with the fans. The reason this is so important? If J-rock bands even come to the U.S., unless they’re Dir en grey, they usually have 2 or 3 dates at most and rarely venture off the coasts, hovering around Los Angeles or New York City with an occasional appearance in Chicago or Dallas. For a brand new Japanese rock band to have 10 very successful dates in cities all over the country really proves that J-rock awareness is growing in North America. And perhaps it will also provide proof to other bands that it is possible to tour the U.S. without suffering major losses. Hopefully this marks a new phase of J-rock bands losing the fear to perform outside of the major ports and venture into the landscape for the rest of us to enjoy. I think many international acts think their only U.S. fans are in the most populous and culturally diverse cities, but the VAMPS 2009 U.S. Tour proved they are all dead wrong. I predict 2010 will see at least two more bands trying their luck at this: Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet- and girugämesh.
INAZUMA Rock Fest brings wealth and tourism to poor Shiga prefecture. 
The shores of Lake Biwa erupted with music and lights as Shiga prefecture’s first ever outdoor festival kicked off in late September. The event’s mastermind, Takanori Nishikawa (T.M.Revolution), grew up in Shiga and was named Cultural Ambassador to the prefecture in late 2008. Takanori’s hometown is a rather poor area, and his childhood experience in that neighborhood gave him the drive to become one of Japan’s most successful and recognizable celebrities. The INAZUMA Rock Fest brought in thousands of fans and tourists for the two-day event featuring T.M.Revolution, abingdon boys school, BUCK-TICK, tetsu, and numerous other acts from across the country. The festival brought dramatic prosperity and business into the suffering Shiga prefecture, all thanks to the superstar line-up and diligence of a truly talented local native. During his headline set at the close of the event, Takanori was overcome with emotion by the whole experience as he peered out over the crowd knowing he had helped his hometown in such tremendous ways. The event was hugely successful as well as being broadcast across Japan on satellite television. Who says music can’t change the world?
Honorable mentions:
Kanon Wakeshima debuts at Otakon - Protege of e-Malice Mizer and Moi dix Mois guru Mana, Kanon stunned audiences with a beguiling performance at Otakon, making her an instant star.
Final tour from legendary vk band BLOOD - Notable visual kei veterans BLOOD embarked on their final tour before calling it quits. Fans, like myself, mourn the end of a great era.
Dead End reunite - Long after disbanding, visual kei pioneers Dead End make a strong comeback with new music and live shows.
An Cafe go on hiatus - The beloved O’Share Kei band announced they would suspend all activity after the first of the year. Supposedly it’s just to rest and recharge, but one can’t help but wonder…
SUGIZO joins X JAPAN - Legendary guitarist SUGIZO joins the ranks of the greatest Japanese metal band in history. The band made it clear that he joins as the sixth member rather than as the replacement for the late Hideto “hide” Matsumoto.
SuG goes major, leaves PS Company - PS Company’s upbeat indie O’Share kei band SuG stunned the J-rock world with the announcement of signing a contract with major label Pony Canyon. They are scheduled to release their major debut in January.
Now that 2010 is well underway J-rock fans can look forward to an even more productive and entertaining year! Coming up quickly we already have X JAPAN’s 4-song music video shoot in Hollywood complete with meet and greets, and SuG’s major label debut. If January is any indication, we’re in for one amazing ride in 2010!