Harmonizing Ancient Japan with Heavy Metal

Founded in 2013 by vocalist Yuko Suzuhana, Wagakki Band (和楽器バンド) created a completely new sonic paradigm by uniting four classical Japanese instruments (koto, tsugaru-shamisen, shakuhachi, and wadaiko) with a contemporary 4-piece rock setup (8-string guitar, 5-string bass, drums, and backing vocals).

Their viral breakthrough arrived in 2014 with their reimagining of the Vocaloid classic "Senbonzakura" (千本桜). The music video became an international phenomenon, surpassing 160 million views on YouTube and introducing global audiences to the breathtaking possibilities of traditional-modern rock fusion.

"Our goal has always been to show the world the soul of Japanese traditional instruments not as museum pieces, but as living, roaring forces of modern rock." — Yuko Suzuhana

Shigin Chanting & The 8-String Guitar Dynamic

At the core of Wagakki Band’s vocal identity is Shigin (詩吟)—the ancient art of declaiming classic Japanese poetry using microtonal vocal inflections and melismatic vibrato. Suzuhana, who won the All-Japan Shigin Contest Championship, weaves these thousand-year-old vocal techniques effortlessly around the heavy, progressive riffs of guitarist Machiya.

Machiya's 8-string Ibanez and custom guitars provide the low-end heaviness required to anchor the piercing treble frequencies of the shamisen and the resonant acoustics of the 13-string koto.

Arena Spectaculars & Global Cultural Ambassadorship

Wagakki Band quickly graduated to selling out Japan's most prestigious arena, the Nippon Budokan, and the Saitama Super Arena. Their annual "Daishinnenkai" (New Year Grand Concerts) are legendary for their cinematic scale, featuring sword dancers, projection mapping, and ensembles of 50 traditional drummers.