Hideto Matsumoto (hide): Icon of Japanese Rock and Visual Kei

Hideto Matsumoto (hide): Icon of Japanese Rock and Visual Kei

Hideto Matsumoto (1964–1998), better known as hide, was a Japanese guitarist, singer, and producer. He rose to fame as a member of X JAPAN and later built an influential solo career. Born in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, hide overcame a shy childhood to become a central figure...
Bali Virtuoso Guitar Performance

Bali Virtuoso Guitar Performance

The Bali Virtuoso Guitar Performance, held on March 27, 2016, at Bentara Budaya Bali, featured leading Indonesian and international classical musicians. Guitarists Lianto Tjahjoputro, Intan Mayadewi, Wayan Astrajaya, and violinist Robert Brown performed works by...
SUGIZO: Iconic Guitarist, Violinist, and Activist

SUGIZO: Iconic Guitarist, Violinist, and Activist

SUGIZO (born Yasuhiro Sugihara, July 8, 1969, in Hadano, Kanagawa) is a Japanese rock musician, composer, and producer. He is best known as the guitarist and violinist for LUNA SEA, X JAPAN, and THE LAST ROCKSTARS. Raised in a musical family, he began learning violin...
Summer Sonic: Japan’s Leading Urban Music Festival

Summer Sonic: Japan’s Leading Urban Music Festival

Summer Sonic is an annual urban music festival organized by Creativeman Productions, held every August in Chiba and Osaka. The event features simultaneous performances, with artists alternating between the two cities. The first edition took place in 2000, initially in...
HIZAKI: Visual Kei Icon and Virtuoso Guitarist

HIZAKI: Visual Kei Icon and Virtuoso Guitarist

HIZAKI, a guitarist from Hokkaido with blood type A, is one of the most iconic figures in the visual kei scene. His band history traces an impressive journey: GARNET GRAVE → Crack Brain → Grotesque Romanticker → Schwardix Marvally → BURNING FIRE → SULFURIC ACID →...