Guiding is a Japanese hardcore band melding some interesting sounds on their new EP, Things to one's self. The duo is comprised of vocalist Kanji Matsui and multi-instrumentalist, Isao Shibata.
"We were in other bands, but due to member circumstances and, above all, the pandemic which made going out difficult, we began working as a duo exchanging ideas online," Kanji tells me.
"At first, we aimed for a primitive hardcore style based on Youth Crew and released two EPs. However, it seems neither of us had Youth Crew deeply ingrained in our roots. Feeling our limits, we decided to take a bold [no pun intended, I am sure - Ed.] step.
"While still cherishing those beginnings, we began incorporating elements from Japanese hardcore bands I love—like GAUZE, Gudon, and G.I.S.M.—as well as early Megadeth, Tankard — which Isao likes. This led us to shift toward the style we have now."
Isao talks a bit about the making of Things to one's self to offer some more context. "I seriously began writing songs for this EP around June 2024. As Kanji mentioned earlier, there’s been a gap since our second EP anger because I was stuck in the mindset of 'Youth Crew should sound a certain way.' That fixation made it hard to come up with new ideas. But I’ve always wanted to broaden our musical range.
"We did try incorporating thrash metal influences on anger, but with this release, we pushed that approach even further. Personally, I feel like we’ve been expanding our sound step by step — from the first EP will, to anger, and now to this new one."
Kanji jumps in: "The lyrics are, as the title suggests, very personal. My life up to this point has been incredibly self-centered. From that, I’ve learned certain lessons: that I must take responsibility for my actions, that I have to define what’s right for myself, and that even when I make mistakes, I have to face them, carry them with me, and keep moving forward.
"I also quote two of my favorite philosophers in the first track. Their views contradict each other, but this isn’t an academic paper — it’s a set of lyrics. It’s a declaration that human beings are full of contradictions."
I've been listening to hardcore since the late '80s and I have to admit that even I'm still not anywhere near as versed on the hardcore scene there as much as I should. Outside of the usual suspects, I still need to do my homework. Naturally, I ask Kanji what are some Japanese bands he thinks more people outside of his country need to check out, no matter the era.
"The Japanese hardcore scene is incredibly vast, so I completely understand if you’re not sure where to begin. That’s why I’d like to introduce two bands who are currently very active and out on tour this summer.
"The first is True Fight. They’re already a well-known name across Asia, but they come from Ibaraki—a regional city that’s relatively close to Tokyo. Their style is a straight-up Youth Crew sound in the vein of Youth of Today, but the bands they share the stage with range from metallic hardcore to indie rock, and even more mainstream acts. Through this, they continue to expand the possibilities of Youth Crew within the Japanese scene.
"The second is Tive from Osaka. Their sound is influenced by Turnstile, but they’ve already moved beyond imitation and are building a world entirely their own. While their circuit overlaps with that of True Fight, they are currently in the middle of their self-proclaimed 'NIPPON TOUR,' hitting every corner of Japan from north to south.
"I hope their tour will become an important turning point for the future of Japanese hardcore—especially for the local scenes. If you check out the bands they’re playing with, you’ll surely get a clear picture of what the Japanese hardcore scene looks like today."
For the closing part of this piece, Kanji keeps it realer than death and taxes: "This time, we are releasing our music digitally only. Many modern bands release vinyl, cassettes, and merchandise alongside their releases. They probably play a considerable number of shows and sometimes go on tour. We should probably do the same, but we’re already well into middle age. If we tried to do what young people in their early twenties do, we would become exhausted both financially and mentally, making it difficult to sustain this project.
"We decided that the best way for us to continue making music on our own terms—free from the 'this is how it should be' mindset—is to take this approach for now. By balancing music with our daily lives in a manageable way, we can continue the project without burning out.
"Besides, we want to prove that there is a way to stay active in music even after stepping back from the front lines in middle and older age. Dadcore also needs to evolve, after all [laughs].That said, the label needs to thrive alongside the band! If anyone wants to release our music on vinyl or cassette, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re looking forward to new connections!"
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Guiding on social media: Instagram
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