The quick definition of tanbi kei
Tanbi kei (耽美系) bands are visual kei bands who heavily reference themes of French royalty and beauty, and typically play some form of neoclassical/symphonic metal.
A brief history of tanbi kei
Since the Meiji era, when Japan opened its doors to the world, it has viewed French culture as especially romantic and beautiful. It's unsurprising, then, that beauty-obsessed visual kei bands have referenced France in their names and concepts since the start of the genre.
While bands like D'ERLANGER used French names earlier, the first to embrace French-ness as a concept was MALICE MIZER, formed in 1992. They specifically drew inspiration from the surreal, decadent output of French pop artist Mylène Farmer in their designs, titles, and sounds.
MALICE MIZER's 1994 album memoire expanded beyond Mylène, featuring operatic vocals and neoclassical flourishes like harpsichord and organ. And the members themselves began to resemble French royalty that would be at home in the rococo-styled furnishings printed on the cover. These neoclassical sound elements and visual references to 1700s/1800s France would become one of the tenets of tanbi kei.
But MALICE MIZER did not pull this reverence for Revolutionary France out of thin air; it can largely be attributed to 1970s shoujo manga series Versailles no Bara (ベルサイユのばら), which centered on the royal family during the Revolution. It featured impossibly beautiful characters in ornate costumes among rococo backdrops, and this romantic interpretation of 1700s France is the blueprint for the look of tanbi kei.
Over the following years, and especially after their major debut in 1997, MALICE MIZER became more elaborate in costuming and wide-reaching in their sounds. To that end, while they are undoubtedly the starting point of tanbi kei, they are not the most typical or complete example of it.
Of course, MALICE MIZER was not the only band to make this reference. AFTER IMAGE, formed in 1992, also had a neoclassical sound and costuming that vaguely resembled French royalty—follow-up band AMADEUS even more so. But neither sounded exactly like we expect of tanbi kei today. The closest was Raphael, who went major in 1999 and put more emphasis on the guitar. Unfortunately, they disbanded soon after the tragic death of guitarist Kazuki, leaving their story unfinished.
As an aside, Mana has always had an association with the gothic scene in Japan (and is singlehandedly responsible for the “elegant gothic lolita” aesthetic). Due to his influence, later MALICE MIZER and follow-up band Moi dix Mois are more like “gothic metal” than typical tanbi kei. As such, goth-aligned artists like Schwarz Stein and Sito Magus are often also associated with the subgenre.
The person who would eventually “complete” tanbi kei was KAMIJO. He was a roadie for MALICE MIZER, and formed follower band LAREINE in 1994. His band soon grew its own identity by leaning even more heavily into romanticized 1800s French culture. They had a certain lightness which also planted them in the realm of shiro kei (白系)—and thus made them another “incomplete” version of tanbi kei.
KAMIJO's follow-up band, Versailles, formed in 2007 under his then-new label, Sherow Artist Society, and was set apart from preceding bands by its emphasis on twin metal guitarists HIZAKI and Teru. Since HIZAKI's solo debut in 2004, he had carved out a niche in visual kei as its symphonic metal virtuoso princess—which, combined with the operatic vocals of princely KAMIJO, was the perfect realization of tanbi kei.
The Sherow Artist Society label would serve as a base of operations for many tanbi kei projects. In 2007 it held a tour titled Nippon Tanbi Kakumei TOUR (日本耽美革命TOUR) {Japan Tanbi Revolution TOUR}, and sponsored a time-limited tanbi kei super group, Node of Scherzo.
A small wave of tanbi kei bands appeared outside the label too: Dear L'Novel (who were signed to the label of ex-LAREINE bassist EMIRU); Misaruka (who famously covered Gekka no Yasoukyoku by MALICE MIZER); Art Cube (with vocalist Seth of AMADEUS and Moi dix Mois); Scarlet Valse; E'm ~grief~ (whose guitarist would join Scarlet Valse follow-up Zeke Deux); and others all formed around 2007~2010.
But the most successful of them remained Versailles, who made their major debut in 2009. We also have to mention D, who started as a kote kei (コテ系) band but shifted somewhat toward tanbi kei later on—they made their major debut in 2008. And MATENROU OPERA (摩天楼オペラ) followed with their own major debut in 2010, although they operated almost outside of visual kei and had little resemblance to classic tanbi kei bands.
In 2023, members of MALICE MIZER, Moi dix Mois, Versailles, D, and MATENROU OPERA (摩天楼オペラ) came together for a temporary super group of tanbi kei called JVM Roses Blood Symphony. The group released a collaborative single, held several successful lives, and sponsored popup shop with special goods.
Since the wave in 2007~2010, there have been fewer new tanbi kei bands, but they remain a constant presence. Versailles is occasionally active, and the solo projects of KAMIJO and HIZAKI are very active. MALICE MIZER guitarist Mana is semi-active through his gothic metal band Moi dix Mois, and Zeke Deux is leading at the indie level.
Why is it called tanbi kei?
There are many Japanese terms relating to beauty and aesthetics, but tanbi (耽美) specifically refers to aestheticism, as in tanbi shuugi (耽美主義) {the Aesthetic Movement}.
It comes from the Aesthetic Movement of France in the late 1800s, which saw artists rejecting natural and moralistic values for decadent (and sometimes taboo) art that had no purpose other than to be beautiful. In other words, art for art's sake, and beauty for beauty's sake.
Because of this origin, tanbi doesn't refer to beauty in the generic sense, but specifically to the beauty espoused by the aesthetics of 1800s France—or at least the version in Versailles no Bara (ベルサイユのばら).
It's not clear when the phrase became recognized as a visual kei subgenre, but MALICE MIZER used it as early as 1998 for their book Tanbi Jikken Kakumei (耽美実験革命) {Aestheticism Experiment Revolution}. LAREINE and Versailles also described themselves using the word, with the latter being called “the strongest tanbi band” (耽美派最強バンド).
What are the other names for tanbi kei?
Occasionally it is referred to as otanbi kei (お耽美系), which means the same thing but sounds slightly more polite.
It is also sometimes written as the more complete tanbiha kei (耽美派系) {Aestheticism style}. Technically speaking, tanbiha (耽美派) is a more specific reference to the Aesthetic Movement than tanbi (耽美), but in practice they are essentially synonyms.
Confusingly, discussions about visual kei may sometimes include the phrases biyaku (美学) or biyaku kei (美学系), which translate to “aesthetic” and “aesthetic style.” However, biyaku firmly refers to the general sense of personal aesthetics while tanbi refers to aestheticism.
Even more confusingly, biyaku kei (美学系) and tanbiha (耽美派) were both proposed as alternate names for visual kei in the 1980s and early 1990s, but neither name took off. Older magazines may therefore refer to seemingly random bands like ZIGGY and L'Arc~en~Ciel as tanbi kei, but such bands are not considered part of the subgenre.
What does tanbi kei look like?
Regal, aristocratic, over-embellished; inspired by the Japanese ideal of Europe (especially France) from centuries past. Emphasizes beauty and is almost never grotesque or scary. Hair that feels meticulously over-styled (especially long styles with curls). Often has one member who plays an onnagata role and wears lolita-style dresses, and vocalists often have a princely appearance.
What does tanbi kei sound like?
Almost exclusively some form of symphonic power metal. Driven by technical guitar and theatrical vocals. May have flourishes of harpsichord or other old-fashioned European instruments. Earlier bands may lack the shredding guitar, but still typically feature neoclassical compositions or instruments. A small subset of bands is closer to gothic metal in sound.
Is tanbi kei a legitimate visual kei subgenre?
Yes.
Tanbi kei alignments
Rock, with some romantic detours.
Completely conceptual.
Purpose-designed costumes.
Frequently emphasizes guitar and vocals.
Separation from fans is part of worldview.
Romantic and melancholic but rarely angry.
Calm and regal.
Purposely elegant, sometimes to a fault.
When was tanbi kei active?
Since 1994, when MALICE MIZER solidified in style. It was technically biggest around the major activity of MALICE MIZER and LAREINE in the late 1990s, but most prevalent in 2007~2010 around Versailles.
What are the representative tanbi kei bands?
Ultimate Representative: Versailles
Founders: MALICE MIZER (merveilles), LAREINE (later)
Goth: Moi dix Mois, Art Cube
Others: AMADEUS, Misaruka, Zeke Deux
Edit History
2025-01-20: corrected typo about EMIRU
What is tanbi kei?
At multiple times you mentioned the 1800's but it's the 1700's,quite literally during the hight of the court at the Versailles palace in France,thus the representative band being named so.
2025-01-24
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock threadThank you for your input. There are some intentional references to the 1800s, but I will schedule time to review and correct as needed.
2025-01-30
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock threadWhat is tanbi kei?
Another great article, but there might be room for expansion. Forgive my diatribe as an obsessive of tanbi kei.
I would disagree that tanbi kei is almost exclusively symphonic metal, I would argue that it is equally represented by the neo-classical rock of bands like Malice Mizer and Lareine, or later bands like 関西耽美系~Lily project~, Secilia Luna and Sito Magus, none of which are necessarily symphonic metal bands the same way Versailles or Zeke Deux would be.
I would also say that it's worth mentioning the crossover zone between tanbi kei and kote kei, with bands like Eliphas Levi and later Madeth Gray'll as well as Metis Gretel, Megaromania, and Vallquar.
Finally, it may be worth mentioning currently active bands in the subgenre such as Vampire Rose and Neth Priere Cain, who would also fit great on the playlist.
2025-01-20
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock threadI can definitely add VAMPIRE ROSE and NETH PRIERE CAIN to the playlist! The prior it looks like one song was already added, but I've included a couple more.
2025-01-20
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock threadYou're right, I will correct the “sounds like” section to be more in line with the quick definition. I'll consider adding something about kote kei (コテ系) overlap in the future, if I can do so in such a way that doesn't muddy the definitions. Thank you!
2025-01-23
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock threadWhat is tanbi kei?
Great articles, can't wait for more!
2025-01-20
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock thread