Top 10 Best Japanese Bassists

I really like the tremendous amount of energy Reita puts into each and every live performance. He gets the fans going and seems to become one with his bass. I miss the sound from the older albums, though, but his bass lines have always been creative and never just a boring "thud, thud" sound.

His stage presence is awesome too. The yells during Ride With the Rockers, the noseband that we all want to sneak a peek behind, and his boundless energy on stage make him a sure bet for a top-notch slot.

The way he's so into the music when he plays the bass, not taking his eyes off for most of the time, concentrating on the strings, which brings out the amazing sound, I think is really commendable.

Also, his solos are very unique. If you watch him play live, it is very interesting, fun, and passionate. He's always having so much fun with the bass that you have to love him.

Toshiya is an absolutely amazing bassist! I have seen Diru twice in concert, and Toshiya can always get the crowd riled up and excited. His bass solos are to die for. I cannot wait until I hear the song "Amon." I did such a fantastic job with that song I get shivers every time I listen to it.

The previous songs he has written, like "Bottom of Death Valley," are still some of my all-time favorites. Vote Toshiya! He really is an amazing bassist.

Are you kidding me? He's the best bassist! Not just in Dir En Grey! Check out D+L! It was his former band before Dir En Grey.

And the way the bass notes sound is absolutely amazing. Those beautiful notes are noticed by all good music lovers because he makes them very, quite notable.

You know what makes this girl great as a bass player? She can sing well while playing something totally different. That is a HUGE skill people don't perhaps realize unless they try it themselves.

She is a colorful player yet never overplays to show off, a thing most guys can't resist, haha. Good feel, good tone, and timing. She moves great around the stage with an amazing upbeat vibe. What more can you ask for? There are only Koga and her up to this standard in bands, different from session players like girls in the Buono band who are highly trained, and Koga, though an amazing player, doesn't sing.

So, Tomomi gets my vote for sure. Oh, and she is adorable beyond belief, which doesn't hurt her cause either. Laugh out loud.

I've been a Masashi fan for many, many years and always thought that, even though it was difficult to hear about Jasmine, he has held his place as a friend and fellow bassist to Jasmine extremely well. He is an absolutely amazing bassist. The way his fingers fly across the strings amazes me beyond comprehension.

His masculine and strong form leaves me breathless, and I feel like I have died and was resurrected just from his amazing playing. He is confident and respectable, and with that, I would definitely say that Masashi is the most amazing bassist.

Pfff... 6th place... Taiji Sawada? Seriously?! Most young Jrock fans just think of bassists from newer Jrock bands or ones who are more well-known, not considering the actual talent they possess.

Taiji Sawada was one of the best bassists from Japan, if not the best. For all of you fans of exclusively newer Vkei, I'd suggest not saying someone is extremely skilled just because of their popularity, as Taiji was incredibly talented. I mean, hate to say this, but look at Toshi. His voice sounds like dying farm animals, and yet he's considered by Japanese people to be the best vocalist in Japan, all because he's the vocalist of X Japan.

Don't believe me? Good. Taiji's talent only deserves to be shared with people who appreciate him anyway.

P.S. Taiji has done a lot for Vkei and Jrock in general as he was in X when they started to get quite popular. I'm sure he's influenced many bassists. Though, 6th place is a huge understatement for Taiji. Saying that he was simply a "great bassist" is also an understatement.

It's sickening to see people like Ni-Ya and Saga above Ue-chan. They are great bassists, but compared to Ue-chan, there is just no question. Futoshi Uehara is the GOD of bass! People like Flea could be compared with him. I'm not kidding! Listen to this guy. He is incredible!

Rokkinpo Goroshi, Buikkikaesu, Futoshi Uehara, Minoreba Rock, etc. The list goes on and on! Toshiya was my favorite, but even a bass monster like Toshiya is no match for Ue-chan!

For Ue-chan to be ranked so low, these people must be joking! Anyone who has listened to this guy play bass knows that he is OUT OF THIS WORLD. No one can beat him at bass, no one!

I do like Nightmare and Gazette more than MTH, but come on! Niya is great, but not as much as Ue-chan. And compared to Ue-chan, Reita is a joke! Ue-chan is the bass master!

Saga is an incredible bassist! He has great skills on the bass along with an amazing overall musical mind, composing most of Alice Nine's music. He writes music with such passion and precision, and it shows in every single note of a song he composes and every single note he plays on the bass.

He is not afraid to tackle any genre or incorporate different musical instruments in his pieces and helps them to mold the overall structure of the composition. His depth of knowledge of music and how to put it together, along with his great ability to play the bass, makes him a strong, well-rounded bassist from Japan!

He is truly worthy to be called a god of bass. If you have not done so, look for Kami Band solos on YouTube or look up the BABYMETAL world trailer to see him jam.

You can even look up BOH on Nico Nico to see him just mess around with his bass and make godly sounds.

His technique on bass is awesome. It's rare to see a bassist who handles a 6-string bass like a god.

I like his style of playing bass. Very exciting.

Toshiya of Dir en Grey = false no. 1 bassist in Japan. Crazy Cool Joe, with Kyo Isono Hiroshi's solo and also their band that reunited, influenced many bands musically and in fashion.

Aki is the best bassist ever in Japan, in my opinion. Not only as a bassist but as a musician. He composed most of the songs for SID, and he can play the piano and guitar.

He's a perfect musician, and every bass line he created is very detailed and difficult. You can hear every beat he played in every song clearly. No bassist has ever been this good before.

Surely he's one of the best bassists! Though he plays bass in the band, he catches attention. He has the talent and the looks.

He is not only a bassist but a composer too! He has composed songs that have been used in anime and movies! He's also friendly with other rockers!

Yukke! His performances are superb! He can even play the contrabass. His way of playing is powerful and amazing! He also keeps his fans entertained and is aware of his fanbase.

He should get more attention!

Yukke is a great bassist! His skills are just amazing, and he deserves to be called one of the best bassists out there. Yukke is such a wonderful bassist!

Yukke is definitely my favorite bassist in Japanese rock, especially when he plays slap or contrabass!

I thought slap bass was just for showing off and had become outdated. And yet, here she plays like it's mainly her style and doesn't look like an old style.

F Chopper Koga is an amazing bassist. She is definitely the Queen of slap bass.

The best skill for every style and song of Nightmare! His passion for the music and his role in the group make him my favorite bassist ever!

He has the sexiest bass lines ever! Too bad he kind of gets drowned out by the guitarists.

The sexiest and most talented bassist I have heard in a long time!

"From zero to hero" will be the best line to describe Ryota. Coming from such an inexperienced bass player, he became one of the many great bassists out there, along with his great friends that made up ONE OK ROCK today.

He is, for sure, a hard-working man, and not to mention his kindness towards his niece. He is such a great uncle. I never knew someone who sometimes looks fierce outside but is actually sweet inside. Do not let his appearance fool you, as he is a hard-working and kind-hearted person. Sometimes he can be silly too! But I think that's why people fall for him in one way or another.

This man packs the groove, style, and knows his music. Arguably a genius composer if you look into his composing history in Luna Sea and his solo works. Instead of focusing on showcasing an insane amount of technicalities, he likes to challenge the opposite - making music sound great in its simplest form. His beliefs as a musician and in life have inspired and earned him respect from both fans and musicians alike.

He's just way too tight when playing together with Shinya, seriously. The bass lines really get the combination between memorable and still having energy (unlike many Japanese bassists who play an obscene amount of flourishes in their lines while forgetting that there are root notes too...).

Of course, his solo work is simple as hell, but hey, he's singing there.

Oh, and he's a good songwriter too...

How can Yutaka be down to the 8th position? He at least deserves a few positions higher than this. Deeply stylish bass lines, not only for his technique but also for the way he can use them, and an amazing consideration of what he does.

Prick up your ears a little more, to our cute man!

He's so creative. His music is sensual, precise, and intense. Uta's sound is well-rounded, robust, and strong. Buck-Tick is an amazing gestalt, and its power comes directly from the man playing the bass.

U-ta is a very talented bassist. He has a lot of experience, and I think new J-rockers have a lot to learn from him.

Even if I love the Gazette, and also Reita, I can certainly say that U-ta is one of J-rock's founding figures.

I've started to fall in love with bass solos because of Janne Da Arc, especially Ka-yu. He is the best for me!

He is a great singer and composer too!

So handsome and talented bassist!

In the beginning, Lay had to lead the rhythm section for a less experienced drummer and the melody section for a less talented guitarist. He was good enough to manage.

I like his style of playing: hard and aggressive, but also surprisingly soft sometimes. I wish he could get more recognition, as in my opinion, he's truly one of the best bassists of his generation.

I saw Tsunehito live both times D played in America. He is so incredible live that it really shows how superior he is compared to a lot of other bassists.

He has a fantastical style and personality, and he is just an all-around incredible force to be around.

He has a great affinity with the bass. Every sound he produces is done with passion and dedication, which are also very characteristic of him.

He is a very young musician but very talented and has a big musical projection with D. I sincerely hope that he can win this poll.