88Kasyo Junrei | Artist

88Kasyo Junrei is a Japanese rock band formed 2006 in Tokyo by Margarette Hiroi (vocals, bass guitar), Katzuya Shimizu (guitar), and Kenzo (drums). The band was founded by Hiroi who had previously been briefly with influential psychedelic band Green Milk From the Planet Orange. Centered around the charismatic bassist/singer and lyricist, Margaret Hiroi, and guitarist, Katzuya Shimizu, who looks a bit like a Japanese Jim Morrison, 88Kasyo Junrei delivers psychedelic, progressive and heavy noiserock with some sixties style influences. The third member on drums is called, Kenzo, who looks a lot like a muscular Buddhist monk. The band is very influenced by the religion of Buddhism and Shinto, and their name means “Pilgrimage to 88 places”, inspired by the Shikoku Pilgimage of a Buddhist monk, who was said to have travelled to 88 different temples. Their songs are also very influenced by the two religions and are often about different religious issues like the eating of meat seen in the perspective of reincarnation. As a recording outfit, the band has released nine studio albums from their debut in 2010 through to their latest in 2025, plus several live albums and EP's. All their releases are of consistently excellent standard, but standouts include 8+8 (2010), Maru sankaku shikaku "Circle, Triangle, Square" (2012), Aggressive National Music (2014), Tokyo (2018), Genma taisai "Great Demon Festival" (2021), and Hachi+Kyū "8+9" (2025). In terms of musical influences, members have cited japanese bands such as Ningen Isu, X Japan and Eastern Youth, plus western artists King Crimson and Van Halen. Singer and front-person Margarette Hiroi, who identifies as non-binary, is also well-known in pop culture as the real-life inspiration for the character Kikuri Hiroi from the anime and manga series Bocchi the Rock!.

Artist Website: wikipedia/88Kasyo_Junrei

Featured Albums: 88Kasyo Junrei

Related Artists: Green Milk from the Planet Orange