陰陽座 | en

陰陽座 (Onmyouza, stylized as Onmyo-za) is a heavy metal band from Japan who released their first commercial album in 1999. They play quite orthodox style heavy metal music mixed with Japanese folk themes and pop music elements. Since their debut, they have appeared in traditional clothing characteristic of Japan's Heian period.

Their songs mainly deal with oni, yokai, Japanese dragons, etc, but some songs have a more concrete theme and inspiration. For example, Onmyo-za has composed many "Ninpouchou" (Tales of Ninja Magic) songs, which are a tribute to the Japanese author Futaro Yamada and his Ninpouchou series. Kouga Ninpouchou was written for the anime "Basilisk", whose story is from Futaro Yamada's "Kouga Ninpouchou". There are also some other songs inspired by Osamu Tezuka and Kyogoku Natsuhiko. The trilogy "Kumikyoku Yoshitsune" is based on the legend of Japanese ancient tragic hero Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

Each of their stage names has double meaning with a sense of humor. Kuroneko(黒猫) literally means "black cat", which symbolizes her personality, as well as being a nickname she used before starting Onmyo-za. Matatabi(瞬火) means flashing fire, but it can also be read as a silvervine/catnip (loved by cats). Maneki(招鬼) practically means "summoning oni", but its reading reminds most Japanese people of maneki neko (beckoning cat). Karukan(狩姦) is not clear in its literal meaning, though Karu(狩) independently means "attacking" or "hunting" and Kan(姦) means evil or debauchery and so forth. However, Karukan when spoken sounds familiar to Japanese people as a brand name of cat food. When written Tora(斗羅) has little literal meaning, but its spoken pronounciation means tiger in Japanese. It is also a nod to the fact that he is a big fan of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.

On 10th March 2009, Tora left Onmyo-za, he is now their support drummer instead. He joined the band originally as support with his birthname Atsushi Kawatsuka and now it is his choice to be credited once again with his real name, since Tora 斗羅 was only his name as a full member of the band.

Members
Vocal: 黒猫 (Kuroneko) (ex. ＬＯＲＥＬＥＩ → 空想科学病人～紙とメモ紙～ → 陰陽座)
Bass & Vocal: 瞬火 (Matatabi) (ex. 空想科学病人～紙とメモ紙～(Gt. as 木天蓼 大成) → 陰陽座(Ba. & Vo. as 瞬火)
Guitar: 招鬼 (Maneki)
Guitar: 狩姦 (Karukan)
Drums: 斗羅 (Tora) → 河塚 篤史 (Kawatsuka Atsushi) (ex. PLÈ,SÚRE → 廃人黒薔薇族(as 葵) → 花＊花(support) → Ove(support) → 陰陽座(support) → 陰陽座(as 斗羅) → 陰陽座(support as 河塚篤史) → NESS)

Discography
1999.12.05 陰陽座 (Kikoku Tenshou) (album)
2000.08.19 桜花ノ理 (Ouka no Kotowari) (maxi single)
2000.12.24 百鬼繚乱 (Hyakki Ryouran) (album)
2001.12.16 月に叢雲花に風 (Tsuki ni Murakumo Hana ni Kaze) (maxi single)
2002.01.10 煌神羅刹 (Koujin Rasetsu) (album)
2002.07.24 封印廻濫 (Fuuin Kairan) (album)
2002.12.25 妖花忍法帖 (Youka Ninpouchou) (maxi single)
2003.01.22 鳳翼麟瞳 (Houyoku Rindou) (album)
2003.06.04 鳳翼天翔 (Houyoku Tenshou) (maxi single)
2003.06.25 赤熱演舞 (Sekinetsu Enbu) (live album)
2003.10.01 醒 (Mezame) (maxi single)
2004.01.07 睡 (Nemuri) (maxi single)
2004.03.03 夢幻泡影 (Mugen Houyou) (album)
2004.09.23 組曲「義経」～悪忌判官 (Kumikyoku "Yoshitsune" ~ Akki Hougan) (maxi single)
2004.10.27 組曲「義経」～夢魔炎上 (Kumikyoku "Yoshitsune" ~ Muma Enjou) (maxi single)
2004.11.26 組曲「義経」～来世邂逅 (Kumikyoku "Yoshitsune" ~ Raise Kaikou) (maxi single)
2005.04.27 甲賀忍法帖 (Kouga Ninpouchou) (maxi single)
2005.06.22 臥龍點睛 (Garyou Tensei) (album)
2006.02.08 陰陽珠玉 (Inyou Shugyoku) (best album)
2006.06.07 陰陽雷舞 (Onmyo Live) (live album)
2007.06.27 黒衣の天女 (Kokui no Tennyo) (maxi single)
2007.07.25 魔王戴天 (Maou Taiten) (album)
2008.08.06 紅葉 (Kureha) (maxi single)
2008.09.10 魑魅魍魎 (Chimimouryou) (album)
2009.01.21 相剋／慟哭 (Soukoku / Doukoku) (maxi single)
2009.08.26 蒼き独眼 (Aoki Dokugan) (maxi single)
2009.09.09 金剛九尾 (Kongou Kyuubi) (album)
2011.02.09 紺碧の双刃 (Konpeki no Soujin) (maxi single)
2011.12.21 鬼子母神 (Kishibojin) (album)
2013.04.12 龍凰珠玉 (Ryuuou Shugyoku) (best album)

http://www.onmyo-za.net/ .