J-Rock Explosion

This New Years Eve bears the unfortunate news of the demise of two very influential indie bands.  Mariko Goto announced on Ustream December 26th that midori (ミドリ) would disband.  Their final concert “Sayonara, Goto-san,” was held December 30 at Liquid Room Ebisu in Tokyo.  This translation explains that Goto felt a hierarchy formed among the band members and it could not continue on as a family in its current state.  An official announcement was posted on midori’s website this morning.  They made their major label

KAREN announced in October that they would part ways at the end of the year (long interview in Japanese here).  The band was a side project featuring two members each of downy and Art-School plus Achiko of On Button Down. KAREN released two albums since they formed in 2005.