THE RICECOOKERS

I’m not sure how I came across these guys, but they somehow came across my plate…or shall I say my bowl? And I think they are great! The name of the band is THE RiCECOOKERS (best name ever!) and they’re based out of Brooklyn, NY. Well, technically, these guys aren’t from Brooklyn, but they live here now. They’re really from the Boston area and believe it or not, all Japanese! That’s not the reason why I like them. Their music and songwriting is actually really good. I was able to listen to a few tracks off of their latest EP, Again And Again. The title-track along with the songs “Veronika” and “Someday” really pull you in. Singer Tomomi Hiroishi’s voice is modern and engaging. These guys are an alt-rock band that is sure to survive here in the Big Apple.
THE RiCECOOKERS are an all-Japanese rock band that formed back in 2004 up in Boston, but with dreams of becoming rock stars, they knew they had to move to a more creative area of the country and are now based in Brooklyn. The band was formed by singer Tomomi Hiroishi, guitarist Kota Fujii, and bassist Daisuke Wakabayashi, who met at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where they were classically trained and also where they were given the opportunity to perfect their musical skills. Drummer Sohei Oyama would end up joining the band later to round out the lineup. Back in 2010, THE RiCECOOKERS made their debut by releasing an EP titled Four Of Our Songs, and soon after their first Japan tour, one of their songs was chosen for a Japanese TV drama calledSPEC, which ended up becoming a movie series as well. Along with appearing at various rock festivals, THE RiCECOOKERS continue to tour Japan occasionally and since 2010, they’ve not only been playing at local venues in NYC like Arlene’s Grocery, Pianos, The Knitting Factory and Fontana’s, but they’ve also been back to Boston, Delaware, here in Jersey and Connecticut.
This past August, THE RiCECOOKERS released their latest EP, Again And Again, featuring the songs I mentioned earlier, and is available on iTunes and Amazon. I have to admit that since I started playing music, I always wanted to put together an all-Asian band like Loudness, EZO and X-Japan, but I could never find other Asian rockers who were like me. Other Asians were always into house music and crap like that, so it’s refreshing to see a good all-Asian rock band out there in my neck of the woods trying to make it. By the way, I’m not dead yet, so I’m still down if there are any talented Asian guitar players, drummers or singers out there. Anyway, check out THE RiCECOOKERS at wearethericecookers.com. - The Aquarian Weekly

One word describes The Ricecookers, and that is Subarashii! Their third EP, Again and
Again, is sure to get your head bobbing and your air guitar thrashing. This band of
Japanese rockers was formed in one of America’s oldest cities – Boston, Massachusettes
– where they decided to show us all that they have the chops to make the whole world
rock. The Ricecookers have a flare that’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the American
music market, and this could bode well for them stateside.

I’ve heard a lot of J-Rock bands that really suck, but The Ricecookers are not one of
those bands. Judging by the looks of their social media feeds (Facebook & Twitter),
these guys have made an impact on Japanese rock fans. The question is whether or not
this third release can help them successfully grow their buzz enough to capture a U.S.
based audienc? I think Again and Again is a trail blazing release waiting to pop. If
properly exposed, this EP could open doors for the band on a grander scale than their
previous two releases have done. Every track on Again and Again is endowed with a
colorful grunge sound that spray paints, “The Ricecookers Were Here,” all over our
eardrums. I really dug the vocal performances and musicianship on the songs, but of
them all, the title track to the EP (Again and Again) stood out as the front runner. I
enjoyed the music a lot, and the melodies are very catchy. I’d definitely recommend
checking this EP out.

We may be actually looking at the first J-rock band to score a Grammy? I don’t recall
there ever being a Grammy winning J-rock band. I do remember Japanese guitarist,
Takahiro Matsumoto, of the duo B’z, winning his first Grammy in 2011, but that came as
the result of a collaboration with Larry Carlton. The collaboration, however, did not
include Matsumoto’s B’z bandmate, Koshi Inaba. So, only time and marketing will tell if
The Ricecookers can mount up their saddles and someday ride off into the sunset as the
first ever J-rock band to score the most coveted award in music. Until then, lets show our
support by buying a copy of Again and Again. - I am Entertainment Magaizne

The Japanese local band scene seems to be scarce in New York these days. Once flourishing with [in a sense] “underground” talent, now pickings are slim. I've been a little disappointed at the lack of growth in the scene, until I saw a band that restored my faith in Japanese indie music in New York City…

I arrived at Trashbar, a cozy college-style music bar in Brooklyn, to see what I expected to be a good show. The live area was far off to the back, separated from the main bar by two thick blanket curtains. It almost had the appearance of a grocery store with two automatic doors, which I can only assume is to keep the sound in. The stage itself was small and gave a personal feel to the show. The guys came out for the sound check and the show seamlessly began...

The first song, NEVERDIE, got the fans riled up and screaming the band members' names. The MC was typical of a local band. Vocalist, Tomomi, didn't have much to say at first. However, he did thank everyone for coming and made a funny joke in an attempt to drum up more business for the bar, “Hey guys! Please make sure to grab something from the bar and tip the bartenders. Get a drink, ‘cause we all know music sounds even better when you’re drunk!”

It was cute and got a good laugh. Their next few songs, Bleed Aut, Nobody Man, and Free kept the fans dancing. Each of the members have a unique stage presence that really came out during each of their songs. With all the joyous expressions of the fans mixed with the electric energy coming from the stage, the positive vibes filled the entire room.

After another brief MC, they played again and again, the title track from their new EP. It was nice to see how the crowd reacted to a song they hadn't really heard before. It gave a fresh perspective during the set. Next up in the set came NAMInoYUKUSAKI, a popular song with fans of Japanese dramas. This song really got the fans jumping and singing along. The guys then played, hero, to close the set. Knowing it was the last of the night, the crowd became more energized. Everyone just went crazy and all out until the very end.

The guys left the stage, fans still calling out and screaming for an encore. I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss that the show was over. Sadly, the guys did not come out for an encore, but they did come out to greet their fans after the show.

Their show was so full of promising light and breathed life back into the [or so I thought] slowly dying scene of Japanese indie music in New York. The RiCECOOKERS really give me hope for the future. They are musical "heroes" and hands down a must see. - NIPPON PROJECT

"The singer is a talented musician who has a distinguished voice and uses the discreet funk and soul influences somehow woven into his fingers and passes to the guitar. The band’s guitarists and drummer nail play the music and are able to play the music in sync with every song. The band really catches up rock with harmony vocals, and lyrics that tell the stories of life in New York City." - AsianInNY

“Widely known as the band who plays the lead song for the popular Japanese TV drama series SPEC, THE RiCOOKERS’ new album is filled with various genres and musical elements, unlike their previous album which was a more straightforward sounding guitar rock dominated album. Their ability to transcend the lyrics in both English and Japanese, emotional melody only they themselves can recreate is their uniqueness. ” (bounce magazine/ December 2013) - Tower Records