Japan Underground Digest No. 61

Steel yourself for a descent into the darkest realms of Osaka's Gutterlands for an anti-human splatterfest like you've never imagined

The international touring circuit between, say, 2016 and 2020 over here wasn’t all that great, or so I recall. A few bands a year, usually at fests or on extended tours, but nothing particularly, what, like, amazing, or anything. The bands that did come over were great, of course, but I mean the booking schedule wasn’t all that packed with touring bands.

Then Corona hit and of course that fucked everything up so no need for comment there.

Then around... what was it, August ‘23? Jeez, that feels so long ago now, but when the scene finally “re”-opened, it did so in a pretty big way, especially considering the years of down time. It started off strong, and then kept going, and it didn’t take too long for international bands to start coming in.

Of course, only so long after the scene got back on its feet the yen crashed, which was also great for touring bands, so that pumped the numbers further. And ehre we are, today, with fuckin’ heaps of touring bands coming through - though usually with very limited dates - and I’m super stoked to see all this cross pollination.

The Bands:

• Anti-Sapien [Crust/Death, New York]

• Floaters [Sludge, Kanagawa]

• disturd [Crust, Hyogo]

• Face Clasher [Grind, Shiga]

• Disad [Hardcore, Kansai]

• Hemipenis [Doom/Hard Rock, Osaka]

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The Venue: Hokage

One of Osaka’s highest regarded venues (I’d say it’s them and Bears?), Hokage’s got mad history and a personality to boot. If you know Osaka, you know Hokage. Tucked into the slums of Shinsaibashi, it’s one of Osaka’s Underground Strongholds. Raw, loud, sweaty, and surprisingly well-kept, Hokage’ll show you what you want and much more.

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From the Archive: Deidora (泥虎)

One of my favorite not-so-young-anymore up-and-comers, these guys crank out the riffs. Fuckin’ Bay Area Thrash, except Tokyo Bay and a bunch of decades after the fact. Whatever, they’re a fun crew, and really know how to pack the house.