The quick definition of wafuu kei
Wafuu kei (和風系) bands are visual kei bands who always maintain a concept centered around ancient Japan.
A brief history of wafuu kei
VIRUSHANA (美流沙女) is generally called the first wafuu kei band. They formed as a rather typical band in 1995, but by 1999, their look had evolved. As the story goes, the band began wearing kimono onstage simply because vocalist Misuzu (美鈴) had a relative who sold them for a discount. It became their signature look, and ancient Japan became central to their identity (although their music remained relatively unchanged).
Also around 1999, a few other bands with similar aesthetics happened to appear in different parts of the country: CROW, Tsuki NO Kakera (月ノ破片), Oiran (花魁), among others. The first is of particular note: after joining PS COMPANY and changing their name to Kagrra, in 2000, they would go on to become the most recognizable wafuu kei band.
By the end of 2001, Kagrra, had embarked on two oneman tours and progenitors VIRUSHANA (美流沙女) had completed a smaller scale oneman tour of their own. Perhaps because of these successes, several new wafuu kei bands formed around this time. These first wave bands tended to dress almost exclusively in kimono or yukata, and had varying degrees of classical influences in their music.
This first wave also saw the appearance of a very small number of bands who referenced ancient Chinese culture, like long-shang (龍扇 ~long-shang~), KARMA=SHENJING, and P∽L.
Unfortunately, VIRUSHANA (美流沙女) had a troublesome 2002 and unofficially disbanded the next year. Kagrra,, however, continued growing: they made their major debut in 2004 and steadily climbed the ORICON charts through the latter half of the decade. A wave of new wafuu kei bands followed: OTO-ONI (音鬼), Hannya (般若), STELLA..., Kiryu (己龍), and several others.
This second wave of bands differed from the first in that they integrated wafuu kei trappings into the mold of other genres: OTO-ONI (音鬼) with loud kei (ラウド系), Kiryu (己龍) with kote kei (コテ系), IRODORI with koteosa (コテオサ), reirei (麗麗-reirei-) with cosplay kei (コスプレ系), and so on. Although still recognizable due to their integration of wafuu kei aesthetics, they were a far cry from the kimono-only days of the subgenre.
From this second wave of wafuu kei, one band found nationwide success: Kiryu (己龍). They were recruited to B.P.RECORDS in 2009 and through 2015 had an astounding run of consecutive singles that reached #1 in the indie ORICON chart. By the end of the decade, they had even performed multiple times at Nippon Budokan (日本武道館)—even once is considered impossible for most visual kei bands.
Unfortunately, Kagrra, returned to indie status in 2010 and disbanded after a final oneman at Shibuya (渋谷) Koukaidou (公会堂) in 2011. Vocalist Isshi (一志) started his solo project shiki∞project immediately after, but he tragically passed away in July of that year.
But the success of Kiryu (己龍) inspired the formation of even more wafuu kei bands throughout the 2010s: Memento-Mori (メメント・モリ), SUZAKU (朱), and ZIN (ジン) in the first half of the decade; ARCHEMI. (アルケミ), -Shintenchikaibyaku Shuudan- ZIGZAG (-真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ), and Yusai (游彩) in the latter half, among others.
-Shintenchikaibyaku Shuudan- ZIGZAG (-真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ) is of particular note. Formed in 2015 as a wafuu kei/parody band, they steadily softened their music and enacted savvy social media campaigns, and in turn became more popular. Then in 2019, their vocalist joined famous jpop group WANDS—and although neither project acknowledged the other, this association gained the band sudden national recognition that catapulted them beyond the visual kei scene.
Since then, a small number of new wafuu kei bands have appeared, but there has not been a concentrated wave as in decades past. Kiryu (己龍) themselves paused activity in 2023, and -Shintenchikaibyaku Shuudan- ZIGZAG (-真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ) is so popular that they mostly operate outside of the visual kei scene. Still, given the popularity of such themes in Japan, the subgenre is unlikely to disappear altogether.
Why is it called wafuu kei?
Wa (和) was an early name for Japan that was used until the 8th century (at which point the name Nippon (日本) became standard). The suffix fuu (風) means “in the style of [something].”
So wafuu (和風) could be translated to “in the style of [ancient] Japan.” It describes anything culturally specific to Japan from that early period. The term wafuu is often used to describe clothing, restaurants, entertainment, and anything else which can be uniquely “Japanesque.”
Wafuu kei (和風系), then, means something like “ancient Japanese style.”
What are the other names for wafuu kei?
The term wafuu (和風) is often used by itself (without the kei suffix) to describe these bands. That's simply a matter of preference, and we have chosen to stick with wafuu kei for the sake of clarity.
Similarly, the term wafuu rock (和風ロック), or shortened wa rock (和ロック), is sometimes used. But that phrase has a large overlap with vocaloids and non-visual artists like Wagakki Band (和楽器バンド).
The English term Japanesque is sometimes used as a synonym for wafuu. It therefore occasionally appears in writing about wafuu kei bands.
Some fans consider the first wave of bands to be wafuu kei, and the latter to be a separate subgenre, wafuu kote kei (和風コテ系). However, this gives a false impression that all later wafuu kei bands have styles that overlap with kote kei (コテ系), which is not the case. We prefer to consider all wafuu kei bands as one subgenre, but recognize that each band may straddle multiple subgenres simultaneously.
Lastly, Asia kei (アジア系) {Asia style} is a more generic term that includes bands who similarly reference ancient Asian countries like China. There are so few that it doesn't make sense to call them their own subgenre, but they also technically aren't wafuu since they don't reference Japan.
What does wafuu kei look like?
First wave wafuu kei bands are easy to recognize as they almost exclusively wear variations of kimono and yukata. Second wave wafuu kei bands are more likely to wear costumes similar to those of other vkei subgenres, but which heavily integrate classical Japanese fabrics and wagara patterns.
Wafuu kei bands tend to stick to forests, temples, or other ancient, pre-electric locations for their photoshoots and music videos. They also tend to use props like sensu fans, hannya or other Noh masks, wagasa umbrellas, or ichimatsu dolls in those photos and videos. Many bands also uses those props onstage, either as decoration or as part of theatric performances.
What does wafuu kei sound like?
Like visual kei at large, wafuu kei songs can have any kind of base from light pop-rock to heavy speed metal. The uniting factor among them is a heavy incorporation of koto, shimasen, or other classical instruments. They also often incorporate melodies or lyrical motifs from classical warabe uta such as Kagome Kagome (かごめかごめ) or Touryanse (通りゃんせ). Additionally, the vocalists of these bands often utilize shoumyou-inspired vocals or chants.
Is wafuu kei a legitimate visual kei subgenre?
Yes.
Wafuu kei alignments
Rock mixed with Japanesque pop.
Extremely committed to concept.
Usually purposely-designed, but sometimes store-bought.
No particular leaning.
No particular leaning.
Rarely happy, but not always gloomy.
Depends on the band, but typically more calm.
Often mature in writing.
When was wafuu kei active?
As a subgenre, since roughly 1999, although some bands used such aesthetics earlier. There were particular influxes of wafuu kei bands roughly every five years from that time on. It still exists as of 2025.
What are the representative wafuu kei bands?
Early: VIRUSHANA (美流沙女)
Representative: Kagrra,
Recent: Kiryu (己龍), -Shintenchikaibyaku Shuudan- ZIGZAG (-真天地開闢集団-ジグザグ) (early)
Asia kei: KARMA=SHENJING, P∽L
What is wafuu kei?
2025-01-30
Approve Edit Unrestrict Delete Lock threadWhat is wafuu kei?
I believe it would be worth mentioning in this article the subset of enka solo projects by vocalists of prominent non-wafuu kei bands. I can think of 4 who are currently active in bands and as enka singers, Miyoshi Seiji (美良 政次) , Hanamizakura Kouki (花見桜こうき) , Mogamigawa Tsukasa (最上川 司) (who also sing together as Sakura Zensen (さくら前線) ) and Omitama Takashi (小美玉たかし). Of course, these kinds of projects aren't really related to the development of the wafuu kei scene, but much of the music contains the traditional instrumentation, and the former 3 wear kimono and yukata and are therefore invariably tagged as wafuu kei by this site's community.
2025-01-27
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock threadOh, I didn't actually know we had a “sounds like enka” tag. Cool!
2025-01-27
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock threadThank you for the suggestion. They will be mentioned in the Showa kayou kei (昭和歌謡系) article but it's a good idea to add something here as well.
2025-01-30
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感謝!和風系最高デ御座ル!
2025-01-27
Approve Edit Restrict Delete Unlock threadWhat is wafuu kei?
throwing this article at "kagrra is angura key ^^;;" people like a grenade
2025-01-27
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