Japan's girl group Hanabie has gained attention for its unique 'Harajuku-core' sound, blending metalcore with cuteness and pastel colors. Formed in 2015, the band recently reached a career milestone by opening for nu-metal pioneers Limp Bizkit. Their music challenges the conventional boundaries of the metal genre.
While J-pop and J-rock dominate Japan's mainstream charts, a heavier undercurrent of metal and its subgenres like metalcore has been gaining momentum. Following acts such as the angelic Babymetal and guitar-driven Band-Maid, the girl group Hanabie (stylized as HANABIE.) has established its own gleefully chaotic niche. This Tokyo-based quartet combines guttural screams with cutesy elements and pastel palettes in a style they call 'Harajuku-core,' named after the fashionable Tokyo district.
The band formed in 2015 when high school students Yukina (vocals), Matsuri (guitar and vocals), and Hettsu (bass and background vocals) started as a cover band for Maximum the Hormone. Drummer Chika joined in May 2023, leading to a career highlight that November when they opened for nu-metal legends Limp Bizkit. The members use only first names to protect their privacy.
Hanabie's 'Harajuku-core' demonstrates that metal need not conform to a single mold, offering a maximalist mix of intensity and whimsy. Their rise adds diversity to Japan's metal scene and inspires emerging artists in the genre.