Love at first sight with a bass girl! The female bassist of a popular band
There are actually a lot of women who play bass in rock bands—like TOMOMI (SCANDAL), 345 (Ling tosite sigure), Hiromi Hirohiro (tricot), F Chopper KOGA (Gacharic Spin), junko (Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai), and many more! So in this article, we’re going to introduce a whole lineup of female bassists active on the Japanese music scene.
If you’re thinking about starting bass, this might be your chance to find someone to look up to.
Let’s dive right in!
Love at first sight with a bass girl! Female bassists from popular bands (1–10)
Crescent Moon SunsetKusakari Manami (Sakanaction)
While effortlessly handling both electric and synth bass, Manami Kusakari weaves a steady beat within Sakanaction.
Her roots, it seems, were originally in classical music.
Later, she got into rock bands.
She says she took up bass simply because it was the open part when she formed a band.
That said, perhaps her habit of listening to classical music gave her an excellent grasp of the whole musical picture.
Since she’s always liked low frequencies, she may have been unconsciously drawn to the bass all along.
Telecastic fake show345 (Rin to shite Shigure)
The bassist who also serves as vocalist alongside TK in Ling tosite sigure is Miyoko Nakamura, known as 345.
She originally played guitar and sang, but switched to bass when Ling tosite sigure was formed.
She has appeared on the cover of the bass-focused magazine BASS MAGAZINE multiple times, showing how popular she is among bassists.
In addition to Ling tosite sigure, she’s active in a wide range of projects, such as forming geek sleep sheep with L’Arc~en~Ciel’s yukihiro.
DepartureTOMOMI（SCANDAL）
TOMOMI is the bassist and vocalist of the girls’ band SCANDAL, which made its major debut in 2008.
She also writes lyrics for many of the band’s songs, and her worldview has become a defining part of the band’s identity.
She’s highly regarded, having released her own signature bass model with Fender and signed an endorsement deal.
Influenced by Flea, the bassist of Red Hot Chili Peppers, her playing style delivers a groove that’s both fiercely passionate and rock-solid.
Japanese rice is the best in the world.junko（uchikubi gokumon doukoukai）
Junko, who is active as the bassist of Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai.
While the band itself was formed in 2004, she joined as a member in 2006.
She’s known for a heavy sound powered by her five-string bass and for her aggressive live performances.
Although she hadn’t revealed her age until then, during a 2018 concert she announced that she had just turned 60, which became a big topic among fans, who exclaimed, “She doesn’t look 60 at all!” She’s also famously airheaded in a charming way, entertaining fans offstage as well as with her playing.
Don’t Let Me DownF choppā KOGA (Gacharic Spin)
F Chopper KOGA is the bassist and leader of Gacharic Spin, an all-out entertainment girls’ band.
She debuted in 2002 as a gravure idol and even appeared in the TBS daytime drama Kids War 3.
The “Chopper” in KOGA’s name refers to the slap technique on bass, and her intensely percussive, string-thwacking style has become her trademark.
Stairway GenerationSekine Shiori (Base Ball Bear)
This is Shiori Sekine, the sole female member of Base Ball Bear, known as “Sekine-jō.” She originally played keyboards but switched to bass.
Influenced by Number Girl’s Kentaro Nakao, she makes extensive use of down-picking and is known for a masculine playing style using a pick rather than fingerstyle.
She also appeared in the film Linda Linda Linda as Nozomi, a high school girl who plays the bass.
REAL EXISTENCEMISA（BAND-MAID）
Among female bassists, BAND-MAID’s MISA stands out for her commanding presence.
In particular, her bass playing—which underpins the band’s heavy sound—has a distinctive beauty.
Her tone is rich and deep, and you can feel her assertive presence within the rhythm section.
It’s not just her technical prowess; her musical expressiveness is outstanding as well, making her bass solos especially worth noting.
For those looking to start playing bass, emulating MISA’s playing style can be a valuable way to sharpen their skills.