The last time we’ve heard about Japan invading the US was in the 50’s, but little does one know that they’ve come again, but this time with guitars, not guns.

Japanese rock, or Jrock for short, isn’t something that’s very new, even to Americans. Fans, Americans and Japanese alike, have been practically worshipping this music for decades, although lately there has been a boom in the industry.

Twenty-one year old, Roger Shackleford knows a lot about Japanese bands. He runs the radio show Tainted Reality, which plays a lot of Jrock, on Thursday nights starting at 6 p.m.

The radio show is broadcast on the internet, and could be found at www.wixq.com. Not only does he run the show, but he is also the American agent for the Japanese band, BLOOD.

“This summer was huge for bands coming over. There were a lot of bands, some not so popular,” Shackleford said.

But there is the question of why they are coming now and why all of a sudden? For example, the very famous band Dir en grey has been together for nearly ten years, but the first time they’ve ever played in America was this past March.

“The Japanese are starting to notice that there really is a market here for their music,” Shackleford said.

The singer, HYDE, also the leader singer of L’Arc~en~Ciel, had four concerts this summer in California, all of which sold out.

They’re not just playing small concerts either. Some bands had or are playing at conventions where thousands could attend, and others are headlining with famous American bands.

“Dir en grey got to headline with Korn on the Family Values tour this year, and that has to be saying something,” senior Jasmine Johnson said.

She has only been to one concert featuring the Jrock band The Pillows, but she said that she would definitely go to another one.

Not everyone is a fan of this music, but a change or addition to one’s music preferences isn’t a bad thing.

Junior Phil Mangiaracina listens to old rock, country, and jazz, but he had this to say about Jrock. “I really think I might [go to a Jrock concert], but I don’t know any bands. I’d like to see if I’d like the music,” he commented.