Visual kei band Z CLEAR call their music “Buchi ROCK”, after the Hiroshima dialect word for “extremely”. The name carries their hometown with it, and it tells you exactly how loud they intend to play.
Vocalist AKIRA and guitarist Miyako started the band in Hiroshima in 2019 as a two-piece, having already played together since their school years. Kochan (bass) and Tommy (guitar) completed the lineup soon after, each arriving from a musical background with little to do with visual kei, creating a sound that doesn’t always behave the way the genre expects. For years the band shuttled back and forth to Tokyo, pouring everything into short sets a long way from home, before deciding the only real option was to move, bringing the spirit of Hiroshima with them. They relocated to the capital in 2024 and signed to PARAGUAS inc., the label home of XANVALA and MISUI, the following year.
On May 6th 2026 they released their first full album, ‘Shidaishigou’, a title that translates to “supremely great, supremely strong”. The album pulls together the band’s Tokyo-era singles and newer material into a record the band describe as an introduction, carrying the same big-dreaming confidence as its title.
Electric Bloom Webzine spoke to all four members about the Hiroshima spirit they carry into Tokyo, the fans they call “Warashi”, the night XANVALA changed their plans, and the attitude packed into their debut album.
For the readers who are discovering you for the first time, how would you introduce Z CLEAR and the idea of “Buchi ROCK”?
AKIRA: “Buchi ROCK” is rock ‘n’ roll that carries the personalities and life philosophies of Z CLEAR’s four members.
“Buchi” comes from Hiroshima dialect. What does carrying that Hiroshima identity mean to you now that you are based in Tokyo?
Tommy: I see it as a self-imposed restraint not to disregard all I gained growing up in Hiroshima. Precisely because it holds such a special place in my heart, I must never forget what’s truly important.
You call your fans “Warashi” and describe shows as running alongside them rather than leading them. Where did that way of thinking come from?
Kochan: First of all, “Warashi” comes from the Japanese childlike spirit known as “zashiki-warashi”. These spirits are believed to bring good fortune to the homes they live in. It felt like the perfect name for our fans, as we receive so much joy from them.
We want to be there for each other, sharing happiness and dreaming side by side. That’s the reason why our relationship with our fans is more like “let’s go together”, rather than just “follow us”. That’s the message we convey at every show.
“When I watched the video for ‘Bu-ikikaesu!!’… I realised I was meant to be in a band, playing in front of huge crowds.”
– Tommy (guitar)
AKIRA, you have said the name Z CLEAR comes from the first band you ever formed, which you originally played in with Miyako. What made you want to bring that name back for this band?
AKIRA: I want to stay true to all the dreams and aspirations we had back then.
The band started as a two-piece before Kochan and Tommy came in. How did the sound and the dynamic between you change as you became a four-member group?
Miyako: I have been friends with AKIRA since our teens. I also met Tommy when I was a teenager. And as for Kochan, we have been childhood friends since kindergarten. I’ve always had a pretty good idea of the kind of music and vibe each of them is into.
We are extremely close, so the way we interact hasn’t really changed. However, what has changed significantly is our mindset. Our determination to make it big with this lineup has grown stronger. On the musical side, we started to focus on writing songs and creating arrangements that let the unique talents of each of the four members truly shine.
You spent years travelling roughly 12 hours each way from Hiroshima for short Tokyo sets. What was it like making those long trips for such short performances?
Kochan: Before deciding to relocate to Tokyo, we were occasionally invited to events there and would travel whenever we had the chance. Once we decided to move, we started taking the trip every month.
It took us around 12 hours each way, but thanks to our camaraderie, the travel time didn’t feel that bad. However, the transportation costs and other expenses were insane (laughs).
We all committed to seeing it as an investment in our future, so we kept making those trips no matter what. Even now, we still hear from many people who say they first discovered us on those trips to Tokyo. It makes us think that all that effort really paid off.
“This might just be my personal take, but I think that anyone who stands on stage has a pretty big ego (laughs).”
– Kochan (bass)
XANVALA played an important role in your decision to relocate to Tokyo. What was it about seeing them live that convinced you the move was worth it?
Tommy: We were invited to see the finale of XANVALA’s “ASK” tour at Shinjuku BLAZE on 27th August 2022. That was the turning point that made us decide to move to Tokyo. It’s hard to explain, but the stage presence of each member, their technical skills, the whole production, the band’s vision… It’s something you can’t put into words, but experience it. It completely blew our minds.
As soon as the show ended, we had a meeting and we all agreed: “We can’t keep going like this. We want to compete in the same league and stand on the same stage”. That’s when we decided to take the leap and relocate to Tokyo (laughs).
Having been based in both cities, what differences have you noticed between Hiroshima and Tokyo when it comes to the visual kei scene?
Tommy: The biggest difference is probably the number of active bands. When we were living in Hiroshima, we were the only visual kei band in the area. But in Tokyo, there are tons of visual kei bands fighting constantly everywhere. As representatives of Hiroshima, we want to compete in Tokyo while bringing more attention to the Hiroshima visual kei scene.
In Hiroshima, you often shared stages with idols and singer-songwriters rather than other visual kei bands. Did that influence Z CLEAR, whether in your music, performances, or style?
Miyako: More than anything, I’ve realised that genre divisions are irrelevant. We are a visual kei band, but when the venue is filled with musicians and attendees, in the end, I think there’s something that connects everyone on an emotional level.
And it’s because of those experiences that Z CLEAR’s music has parts that, in a good way, don’t quite sound like typical visual kei. I think one of the things that makes Z CLEAR what we are today is the belief that as long as you love music, you’re welcome to raise your fist with us.
“As long as you love music, you’re welcome to raise your fist with us.”
– Miyako (guitar)
“Buchi Battle” is your recurring two-man event series, built around inviting bands you respect for a real musical clash rather than a friendly joint show. Why does that competitive edge matter to you, and which clash has pushed you hardest so far?
Kochan: This might just be my personal take, but I think that anyone who stands on stage has a pretty big ego (laughs). On top of that, we’re all up on stage to express and unleash our emotions through the music.
I think what makes a two-man event special is having two bands collide, both wanting the audience to walk away saying “They were the coolest band of the night”. We invite bands that can bring that kind of clash to “Buchi Battle” events.
To be honest, every band has been great opponents and pushed us to give our absolute best, but if I had to pick one, it would be -URU-. He came as a solo act and put on a performance that gave us chills. The difference in the number of people on stage didn’t matter at all. Frankly, we felt like we lost that day (laughs).
Miyako has said Z CLEAR never scraps a song and refines everything through to release. How does that work in practice when an idea is not coming together?
Miyako: When I’m stuck, I just ask the other members for advice. AKIRA was originally a drummer, so I consult with him about drum phrases. During recordings, I ask Tommy about finer details, like which approach works better. I also tell Kochan about adding a certain phrase and he instantly gets it and plays exactly what I have in mind. Rather than trying to do it all by myself, I rely on the other members’ strengths, and together we complete the song as a team effort.
Lately, though, when I present a song to the other members, they often react positively and say, “That’s so cool!”. Then we end up moving straight into recording without much back-and-forth.
As the songwriter, I think I’ve gotten better at taking what each member wants to express and adding, subtracting, and sometimes even multiplying or dividing those ideas to finally shape a song with the right balance.
AKIRA discovered X JAPAN through his parents, and they inspired him to pursue music. Tommy, what about you, which band or artist first made you want to play?
Tommy: Soon after I started playing guitar, what made me want to start a band was being blown away by the genre-blending rock band MAXIMUM THE HORMONE. When I watched the video for ‘Bu-ikikaesu!!’, it felt almost like a revelation. I realised I was meant to be in a band, playing in front of huge crowds. That was the moment I committed my life to being a musician.
“Let’s raise the flag of ‘Buchi ROCK’ together.”
– AKIRA (vocals)
‘Shidaishigou’ means “supremely great, supremely strong”. What makes this album live up to that for you?
Kochan: We would like people to pay extra attention to the lyrics. ‘Shidaishigou’ is an album that serves as an introduction to who Z CLEAR is as a band. We chose these tracks so people can understand what kind of band Z CLEAR is and what kind of music we want to deliver to the world. Honestly, these songs are very important to us.
In ‘DINER’, we even dare to include a line that says, “We’re going to make it to Tokyo Dome”, which is a pretty bold statement (laughs). But we really mean it.
If you consider the meaning of ‘Shidaishigou’, this is an album packed with the spirit of dreaming big, being confident, and aiming high. I hope listeners keep that in mind.
Music video for Z CLEAR’s ‘DINER’
The album was a limited physical run of 500 copies alongside the digital release. For a band that started selling CDs at live venues, what does it feel like to have a full album out in the world?
Miyako: Every time I make a song, I do it with the hope that it will spread across the world. I was really happy to take that first real step with a nationwide release. The fact that people can actually walk into a record store and pick up our CD, rather than only finding it at our shows, is incredibly special to us.
Once again, I was in charge of the design of the artwork and booklet, so I greatly appreciate it when people notice small details on them. I’m hoping this release will reach as many people as possible.
Do you have a message you’d like to share with readers and fans around the world?
AKIRA: Please keep listening to Z CLEAR’s rock ‘n’ roll. Let’s raise the flag of “Buchi ROCK” together.
Z CLEAR’s debut album ‘Shidaishigou’ is out now via PARAGUAS inc., available digitally and as a limited physical run of 500 copies. The band have since shared a new single, ‘Senbou no Kaze’, their latest release outside the album.
Z CLEAR’s latest music video for ‘Senbou no Kaze’
Z CLEAR
Shidaishigou
Release Date: 06/05/2026
Label: PARAGUAS inc.
Stream: Listen here
CD: CDJapan
