IMARi ToNES -The First Christian Heavy Metal from Japan-: Thank you for The Extreme Tour Japan 2016

Friday, December 2, 2016

Thank you for The Extreme Tour Japan 2016

It has been already a month, but we did "The Extreme Tour Japan 2016" in the past October. (Even though we updated our Facebook&Twitter, we have not posted here yet.)

It was our 4th time (4th year) doing XTJ (The Extreme Tour Japan) and it was another huge blessing for us.

This year we had Victriano from Chile and toured together.

Victoriano are based in Santiago, Chile, literally the other side of the earth from Japan. But they sing in JAPANESE and they play CHRISTIAN ROCK. And most importantly they are eager to spread God's Words in Japan.

So we decided to have them on this tour and it was awesome.

The tour went to places such as Seto, Gamagori (Aichi), Yokohama (Kanagawa), Iwaki (Fukushima), Shimokitazawa, Sibuya, Ueno, Fussa (Tokyo).

We played many shows, together with our friends at Calling Records and other local Japanese bands.

We, as Imari Tones, played 5 shows during the tour period. But I (Tak) also played bass for Victoriano and played even more shows with them.

Other Christian artists involved in the tour were, Soul of Faith, Hiroki Miki, Yona Ishikawa, Xie, Saluki and B.D.Badge. (I hope I didn't forget anyone.)

Without a doubt, the tour was super awesome and super blessed one.

So many miracles, beautiful moments, friendship and great music. Most importantly God's Love.

For me it was one of the most awesome XTJ experiences, maybe as awesome as the first year (2013).

Thank you for all the people involved, all the people who helped us, all the artists, pastors, club owners and awesome audiences.

For your information, there are some articles written about the tour and our Shimokitazawa show. They are in Japanese language but hopefully you can feel the vibe.

http://www.beeast69.com/report/158346

http://www.christiantoday.co.jp/articles/22537/20161111/extream-tour-japan-2016.htm

Also here are some pictures from the tour, mostly our band Imari Tones.

If you want to see other bands and whole tour report, please check the official Facebook page of The Extreme Tour Japan.

https://www.facebook.com/TheExtremeTourJapan/

Sadly I should say, this probably will be the last XTJ we lead, because we decided to "move on" next year. The future of XTJ is at this point unknown. Possibly some friends at Calling Records will take over the leading roll. Or possibly it will be on temporary "hiatus". Only God knows. If you are willing to work for "The Extreme Tour Japan" and help God's Love spread through Rockn'Roll, please let us know. Japan needs Jesus and we need God's Love on "street level".

Thank you very much and God bless you all!!!

Tak / Imari Tones

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Bio, Bio, Bio...

IMARITONES BIO

Written by Phil Putnam

Of the long list of factors that make ImariTones stand out from the world around them, it is their drive, their reach that tops it all. An unapologetically Christian heavy metal band out of Japan, Tak, Hassy, and Jake have a passion to reach beyond their culture to make the music they love, and to reach beyond their music to bring Jesus into their culture. While drawing comparisons to legends like Van Halen, Rush, and Stryper with their hybrid of old school metal/glam/Brit/70's prog rock, they are one of very few bands in the world that can claim true originality. How so? They are the first Christian heavy metal band ever to come out of Japan.

"There are very few Japanese bands who say 'Hey, we're a Christian band.' A Christian band from Japan almost sounds like a joke, since most people in Japan are Buddhists, or Atheists," says Tak, founder, guitar/vocalist, and frontman of ImariTones. Things didn't start out Christian for Tak, though. Having started playing electric guitar at age 14 and joining his first band at 15, Tak gained local teen success in his hometown of Toyohashi and won awards for his songwriting. However, he quit the band at 17 to pursue a career as a lawyer. Music stayed with him, though, and while playing an acoustic show in Harajuku Tokyo in December of 2007, Tak was impressed by several Christian performers who were playing as well. Feeling that Jesus may be the larger meaning behind music that he always felt was there, his mind and heart opened to Christianity.

Breaking many written and unwritten rules of Japanese culture, Tak, Hassy on bass/background vocals, and Jake on drums/background vocals, are reaching upward and forward to see changes happen in the world. Currently based in Yokohama, their astonishing 15-album discography includes Hero of the Lights, Color of Hers, fireworks, Japanese Pop produced by metal legend Sascha Paeth (Angra, Edguy, Rhapsody of Fire, Avantasia, Kamelot), Welcome to the School, and their most recent release Victory in Christ. Not content to play the standard soft pop/rock of the major label Christian industry, their music is 100% heavy metal and 100% independently recorded and produced. Victory in Christ hit the street in October 2010 with the single "Faith Rider" leading the charge. Originally written as a parody of the big 80's metal of Judas Priest and Stryper, it quickly became a fan favorite and was put on Victory in Christ.

With both their commitment to making stellar heavy metal music and their driving passion to share Jesus with their native Japan and the rest of the world, ImariTones is always reaching to join these two primary goals together. "Since we are a Christian band, our goal is not business success," says Tak. "We are not chasing glory in this world. We are chasing the glory of God." Staying independent and record label-free is an important part of the process for them. "We don't believe in 'music business', especially in Japan, and have chosen to go independent, looking for our own way. We really want to change something about society and about what people think and believe. That's our ultimate goal."

That ultimate goal, to see their native Japan embrace Christianity, is what they reach for most of all, even while their sights are set on the USA and the rest of the world. Some think they're a joke, or a contradiction, that Christianity, Japan, and heavy metal just don't belong together. Some think they're ahead of their time. But if you ask Tak, Hassy, and Jake, they'll say they're doing exactly what they love at exactly the right time, and they're never going to stop reaching for more.