So I was recently exploring around on YT, and I immediately remembered this band exists. “Strawberry Song Orchestra”. They’re a VisualKei band from Japan, and my god are they BIG. They consist of 14 official members, 7 of which are actors. The Shamisen player from what I know is just a guest.
The band tends to call themselves “Freak Show Punk”, and they put on very theatrical performances.
And the cool thing is, they’re not the only band of their type. They’re considered an “EroguroKei” band. EroguroKei is this style of VisualKei that has influences from Eroguro art, a macabre art style from the 1920’s. It generally has deep Japanese folk influences too. There is also this seperate style called AnguraKei, which goes into the Japanese folk influences, and 1920’s aesthetic, but goes beyond the Eroguro theme, and often into more militaristic themes, or even full on traditional themes. AnguraKei bands also tend to be darker, whereas Eroguro bands tend to be lighter, and more goofy.
The movement is said to be started by a band called Caligari, but the first band to use Eroguro themes is Ningen Isu, which was also one of the first Japanese Folk Metal bands. While most Eroguro bands tend to be light and usually Punk based, beginning around 1999, there was a rise in darker, heavier Eroguro bands, such as Kagerou, and Mucc.
While some bands do use Japanese instruments, most synthesise them. Strawberry Song Orchestra is the only one I know of to use a real Tsugaru Shamisen.
Anyway, here is the song. It’s pretty catchy and fun. I’ll also share some examples of other Eroguro bands if anyone wants to know more
Some more examples of EroguroKei
Kagerou - A very influential one from the early 2000’s. One of the first ones to be darker, their lyrics were often known for their critiques on Japanese society. Sadly, their lead singer died in 2010 from heart issues.
Inugami Circus Dan - One of the earliest, known for their female lead singer. Also is considered the first “AnguraKei” band
Memento Mori - Known for their use of traditional Japanese instruments (Though, they are synthesised…) and personally one of my favourite.
Ningen Isu - One of the first bands to use eroguro themes (Their name is taken from a short story by Edogawa Rampo, who is considered to be the Japanese Edgar Allan Poe. In fact, that’s where his pen name comes from.) Also one of the earliest Japanese folk metal bands. Particularly known for their dark, Sabbathy sound and Japanese folk vocals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eumbys6N7lU
Wow, that’s interesting! Personally I’m not a fan of that really metal-esque sound but somehow the shamisen works with it. Visual Kei and its variants are a pretty unique thing, how did they actually get started with it? Is it kind of on the lines of bands like KISS in general or a more understated aesthetic? Sorry for all the questions, it’s just neat to me and I’m not really knowledgable about it.
If you like bands that use shamisen I recommend checking out these, sorry for the wall of text. There’s actually a lot of Japanese bands with actual shamisen players, and I’m a fan of pretty much every one 
There’s Aufheben (the Japanese one, apparently here are a few :p) with songs like Shameleon or Kaguya you might like. They have a pretty unique style, and it seems pretty jazz inspired.
Also Kurofune is awesome too, they also do jazz and use a Tsugaru shamisen in their music. The singer’s voice is surreal and absolutely beautiful in my opinion.
KiKi Band, a side project of the amazing Tsugaru Jamisen players Kanami Takeda and Hikari Shirafuji, qualifies too I’d think. They just released a jazzy take on Takeda Bushi, it’s beautiful imo.
Then there’s Kiju Kitamura’s band, which Bachido’s own Reigen Fuji participates in. Kiju-San also has a project called Shamitonadeshiko blending hip hop and minyō which works amazingly well. Their version of Soran Bushi has the whole name from Jugemu Jugemu (the rakugo play) rapped
Shinobu Kawashima does both shamisen, piano, and vocals for her band, and they range from rock to jazz to pop. I listen to their album Fantastic Shichihenge on repeat .p
Oyama Yutaka of the Oyama Ryu also plays in a band, they’ve been on NHK Blends and have an album on Spotify ranging from traditional to a bluegrass Kokiriko Bushi to rock and roll, all using Tsugaru Jamisen.
I’m also a huge fan of Wagakki Band which uses a Tsugaru Jamisen player, their rendition of Rokuchounen to Ichiya Monogatari was one of the ways I got into shamisen in the first place.
Wow, that’s interesting! Personally I’m not a fan of that really metal-esque sound but somehow the shamisen works with it. Visual Kei and its variants are a pretty unique thing, how did they actually get started with it? Is it kind of on the lines of bands like KISS in general or a more understated aesthetic? Sorry for all the questions, it’s just neat to me and I’m not really knowledgable about it.
Why yes, actually, Vkei is sort of considered an equivalent to Glam Rock bands like Kiss. It started from these heavy Thrash Metal bands that wore big hair and androgynous makeup, and eventually spread onto more gothic rock bands inspired by musicians like Siouxsie. It’s been a thing since the 80’s
I’ll listen… not now because I feel a bit tired… but in these days! For sure!
Also I’m not as frequent as I were time agooooooo
Hey Aimi! I’m back… have you ever heard of crowclass?