Sato Taiji and Kasumi Ren is a pure Fuji Rock experience. A combination of the essence of this very festival. That is, Rocking hard and maintaining a certain Japanesque feeling. So while a good chunk of Japanese rock can surely be found all over the fest, the pairing of a traditional Japanese hard rocker with a traditional Japanese dancing troupe is a rare find I couldn’t pass up seeing. This combo works better than it should or you might think it would.

The Sato Taiji group is comprised of an assortment of characters you’d expect to see at a traditional Japanese Bon Odori festival. There’s taiko drummers, dancers, percussionists and more. Much like at a Japanese festival, this group entices the audience to join in the revelry and get into the party.

Our early afternoon crowd in the small Cafe de Paris stage didn’t need much convincing however. The festival was just getting started and people were looking for the party. Lucky for us Sato Taiji brings an instant party. Now add a grizzled Japanese rocker into the fray with Kasumi Ren. Ren adds to the sound with his electric guitar and raspy vocals, now our post modern Japanese folk rock music takes shape.

The sound and the show today was exciting, lively and a whole lot of fun to witness. I know this pair doesn’t perform together often so if you spot them together at an upcoming gig don’t hesitate to check out the pairing of rock and Odori, a combo I didn’t quite know we needed until I witnessed the excitement it can elicit and the dance party that ensues.