While I think it’s strange to classify genres by the nationalities or races of the artists who fit under them, there is definitely a specific sound that comes to mind when I think of “Japanese hardcore.” It’s usually more aggressive, noisy, and eclectic, with many bands blurring boundaries between straight-up hardcore punk and other areas like noisecore, crust, and grind. Here are some of my favorites.

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00:00. Gauze – “エッサホイサッサ” from 面を洗って出直して来い (XXX, 1997)

01:52. S.O.B. – “Hysteric to Temptation” from Don’t Be Swindle (Selfish, 1987)

03:22. Crow – “混沌神” from 血涙 (Prank, 2005)

07:21. Outo – “正直者は馬鹿を見る” from 正直者は馬鹿を見る (Selfish, 1987)

08:52. Lip Cream – “No Rules” from Kill Ugly Pop (Captain, 1986)

11:14. Friendship – “Rejected” from Hatred (Southern Lord, 2017)

12:25. Colored Rice Men – “Tumble Wind” from New Animal Life (Blood Sucker, 1999)

13:59. Kriegshög – “Heathen (Code Z)” from Kriegshög (La Vida Es Un Mus, 2010)

15:38. Kuro – “X / 絶望” from Who the Helpless (Blue Jug, 1984)

18:14. The Stalin – “水銀” from 虫 (Climax, 1983)

21:40. G.I.S.M. – “Document One” from Detestation (Dogma, 1983)

24:32. Boris – Third untitled track from Vein (Important, 2006)

26:12. Setsuna – “Worst Enemy” from Senseless Apocalypse (Conspiracy Evolve, 1997)