Wagakki Band have the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in their mind as they announced the release of a new “global compilation greatest hits album” which compiles a list of tracks the band wants people around the world to hear. Titled Kiseki BEST COLLECTION II, the album will drop on March 25, 2020.

The band have named their name known worldwide for their fusion of rock music with traditional Japanese wagakki instruments. The new 24-track compilation album will showcase the band in all their glory, featuring tracks such as their hit cover of Senbonzakura, which has over 117 million views on YouTube (as of February 19, 2020); Sasameyuki which combines the power of rock, the beauty of wagakki, and a delicate orchestral sound; and other major tracks like Chikyu Saigo no Kokuhaku o, Children Record, and Soko ni Aru Kamoshirenai.

Kiseki BEST COLLECTION II will be released in several versions. The Music Video Edition includes 21 music videosーmusic videos which the band have come to receive international praise for. The Live Edition includes the best live tracks from the band’s concerts all the way from their solo concert at Shibuya club asia in January 2014 to their performance at Saitama Arena in 2019. There’s also the CD-only edition, as well as a special edition exclusive to the Japanese online retailer mu-mo which comes with everything from the music video and live editions, as well as a rare mini album which is hard to get your hands on today entitled Josho which was released in November 2013 before the band’s major debut under the name “Yuko Suzuhana with Wagakki Band.”

Wagakki Band will once again perform their annual New Year’s party this year on February 29 and March 1 at Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo

On Saturday 13th April 2019, Wagakki Band performed a commemoration concert at Izumo Shrine, which is one of Japan’s most ancient shrines. The Wagakki Band 5th Anniversary Tandoku Hounou Koen in Izumo Taisha concert entertained a full crowd of 3,500 fans who were burning with excitement. The band have performed tradition-themed live performances at other world heritage sites such as Nikko Tosho-gu shrine, Heian Shrineand Munakata Taisha.  To commemorate the reconstruction of Izumo Shrine which takes place every 60 years, Wagakki Band released their first album Vocalo Zanmai on 1st April 2014. As it has been five years since their debut, the band launched this commemoration live performance!

Wagakki Band started the night a little bit past 6 pm, drawing fans directly into their peculiar world by performing Akatsuki no Ito. One after the other, they plunged straight into Sen-ikusa and Yoshiwara Lament as the audience welled with more and more excitement. 

Afterwards, vocalist Yuko Suzuhana recited poems which were the perfect fit with the shrine setting. Suzuhana mainly sang Chinese poetry, which was brought to life by the surrounding shrine atmosphere. The line: “I am trying to build a palace in Izumo to take a new wife, and the multifold fences look like overlapping clouds,” was perfect for the setting and performance, wrapping the fans in a special atmosphere.

Wagakki Band kicked off part two with Hikari no naka de, which is the ending theme song for the upcoming kabuki play adaptation of manga series Naruto. Next, they performed a unique jazzy interpretation of Synchronicity, followed by a drum battle between Kurona on the Japanese drums and Wasabi on the drum kit! The venue overflowed with cheers of support as the sound and light performance filled the stage. The band finished the main part of the show with their most popular song Senbonzakura, to which the audience erupted into cheers.

As the band members left the stage, the crowds of fans begged for their return by singing Akatsuki no Ito. This is no unusual phenomenon, as this is usually the case with their live tours and New Year’s live performances. Upon hearing the call from their fans, the band returned to the stage. They performed Appare ga seigi, which is the Gulliver commercial song for which the band even performed on air during the New Year period. To end the evening, the band performed Yuki Kage Boushi whilst spinning light sticks along with the audience for an overwhelmingly beautiful ending.

On 27th April, they will hold their last ever Heisei era live performance called POP HILL 2019 in Kanazawa (Ishikawa prefecture). Whether you’re a fan or not, be sure to check out Wagakki Band!

The music video for Wagakki Band’s hit cover of Senbonzakura broke 100 million views on YouTube on March 2, 2019.

Senbonzakura was originally composed by Vocaloid music creator Kurousa-P and performed by Hatsune Miku. Released in 2011, the song went on to become a huge hit and is one of the most well-known Vocaloid songs.

Wagakki Band released their cover of it on YouTube in January 2014 in the form of a music video. The band received huge attention and adoration for covering a Vocaloid song with traditional Japanese instruments. The cover instantly became an worldwide hit and can be credited with opening Wagakki Band up to an international fan base. It is arguably their most well-known production to date.

The music video was shot at Nakoso no Seki in Iwaki, Fukushima which has become something of a holy ground amongst fans.

Band vocalist Yuko Suzuhana expressed her delight at the music video’s milestone: “How many zeroes is 100 million?! The concept behind this video was to create something incredible that had never been seen before. It’s amazing looking at the comment section and seeing how global it’s gone!! Thank you so much. Kurousa is very happy too.”

The song’s original composer and lyricist Kurousa also commented: “100 million is an extraordinary number of views. As the creator, I am overjoyed. When I was contacted and went to see the video on YouTube after a long time, I saw how there were so many comments from people not just in Japan but overseas too. It touched me to see so many people commenting ‘I love Japan.’ I give my gratitude to all the fans and everyone in Wagakki Band.”

A live performance of the song is included on the band’s upcoming live DVD and Blu-ray release which features their New Year’s performance at Saitama Super Arena. It will be released on March 20.

Osare Company’s Shinobu Kayano is the designer in charge of the costumes for famous Japanese idol group “AKB48”. It has now been revealed that Kayano was also the designer behind the costumes used in the recently released music video Sasame Yuki (Light Snow) by one of Japan’s most popular and quirky music groups Wagakki band. Whilst the unique taste of Wagakk Band’s costumes lingers in her designs, Kayano also stays true to representing the pop culture side to Japan. Her latest costume designs come in a new, never seen before fresh form.

Shinobu Kayano’s comment:

“In order to fully capture Wagakki Band’s beautiful music and vocals in a visual way, I particularly focused on colour hues, creating original patterns to suit each individual, as well as creating a beautiful scene of gradations when the band members are all together. I used a range of materials to create these costumes. I hope that fans enjoy the unique beauty of each band member.

“Light Snow” is the lead track of Wagakki band’s latest album “Otonoe”, however not long after the album release did the band release the opening theme song for the film “Koi no Shizuku”, for which AKB48 star Rina Kawaei plays her first ever leading role. They even performed the theme ending song for the anime “Kyōto Teramachi Sanjō no Holmes” live in Kyoto, and the theme song for the short film “Toi Jikan, Tsuki no Akari”, which has even been shown at international film festivals and will be released as a single on 14th November!

Wagakki Band performed as part of Wagakki Summit 2018 at Heian Shrine on September 23 and 24. Wagakki Summit was first held last year as Japan’s biggest festival for wagakki music. The festival is held under the full co-operation with the city of Kyoto where the Agency for Cultural Affairs will be relocating in 2021 in the hopes of changing the city from “the face of Japanese culture” to “a window into promoting Japanese culture.”

Besides Wagakki Band performing this solo dedication tour at Heian Shrine, the band also teamed up together with the Wagakki Summit executive committee to help supervise at the Ninomaru Palace of Nijo Castle, a designated World Heritage Site. The wadaiko drum player of the band Kurona also performed as a special guest for two performances. The entire show was a must-see for Wagakki Band fans who used the Ninomaru Palace as their stage.

Additionally, for the second year in a row, Wagakki Band performed once more as the festival’s main act at Heian Shrine, captivating 8,000 people over both days.

Vocalist Suzuhana announced to the crowd, “Let’s have a special time at this special place!” Their full set-list was comprised of 17 songs which includes their 3rd single Sasameyuki which is releasing on November 14, their hit cover of Senbonzakura, and a string of performances from sword dancing to reciting poetry.

The band also announced again this year that their Heian Shrine solo concert is authorised by the Tokyo 2020 Sankaku Program, a plan to breed opportunities in the run up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Their concert was authorised as a fitting performance for their cause.

Keep up to date with Wagakki Band as their career continues to unfold.