OKUCHIBA Fes Vol. 8 [ROCK in ASAHI II]

The Ever-Evolving "OKUCHIBA Fes" Event Returns with a New Name!

This 8th edition marks Part 2 of "ROCK in ASAHI"!
The large hall at the Toso Culture Hall will be filled with rock energy in this exciting, high-powered series!

The event is set to be held at Toso Culture Hall, which is said to be a culturally significant building designed by renowned architect Kunio Maekawa. The garden is also beautiful.

Upon entering the venue, there was a "Guitar & Bass Workshop" set up in a corner of the lobby, where a young boy was receiving a bass lesson. This is a perfect example of the OKUCHIBA PROJECT’s spirit—not just sharing the joy of listening to music, but also encouraging the joy of playing it.

Almost exactly on schedule, the event's host, bassist of the band BARAKA Shinichi Echikawa took the stage.

“Did anyone come by train? Thank you so much for making the long trip out here!”

Amazingly, some attendees had traveled from distant regions like Kansai and Hokuriku.

“We split Chiba Prefecture in half, and while the left side near Tokyo has plenty of large-scale festivals with audiences of 20,000 or more, we thought, “why not create something wonderful on the right side too?” That’s how we started this music festival in 2021. So today marks our 8th festival!”

A round of loud applause filled the hall, and Echikawa, who had poured his heart into giving back to his hometown, appeared deeply moved.

This time, two bands took the stage: Echikawa’s band BARAKA and DIAMOND SHAKE!
It was the start of a hot, electric night where two powerful rock acts would collide.

BARAKA took the lead.
Now a familiar presence in the OKUCHIBA area, BARAKA is a progressive instrumental rock trio composed of guitar, bass, and drums. They've been one of Japan's premier prog-instrumental bands who have been touring internationally for over 20 years.

On January 15, 2025, they released their 18th album, Superior Force, and are currently in the middle of their tour.

There’s a striking contrast and at the same time, a strange harmony between the peaceful scenery of OKUCHIBA and BARAKA’s intricate, weighty progressive sound. It’s as if the music, no matter how far it travels, always carries the air of its hometown.

Echikawa’s bass playing is remarkably versatile. He’s more than just a supporting role and his bass playing paints landscapes together with the synthesizer pedals at his feet.

And then there’s the guitar, which is the centerpiece of any instrumental band. Mr. Takami’s guitar doesn’t just sing—it speaks. Like a storyteller, his expressive playing projects vivid stories directly into the hearts of the audience.

Then came a single “thud” from Hiraishi’s kick drum, shaking the entire venue with raw energy. For people today who are so accustomed to digital images and screens, the sound of live drums brings the essence of a real, live performance into sharp relief.

From their latest album, they launched into the high-speed, adrenaline-filled track “Superior Force I,” followed seamlessly by “Maverick” from their previous release. The synchronized unison between guitar and bass that was honed over years of playing together was absolutely exhilarating.

They then performed another track from the new album, The Infinite Wall, with a rhythm that felt deeply physical and etched into the body, yet incredibly comfortable.

The set continued with “STELLA MARIS”, a richly mood-setting piece they’ve taken a liking to recently, followed by the slightly heavier “The Definition”.

“This will be our last song!”

With that introduction from Takami, they closed the set with their powerful finale, “Bharmad”.
The audience was treated to the full scope of BARAKA’s grand and immersive stage—a truly unforgettable performance.

BARAKA Official Site

Diamond Shake is a new band formed in 2021 by Diamond☆Yukai, who made his mark with the Red Warriors, and Takehiko "Shake" Kogure, with the theme of reviving rock and roll.

On bass is Kazunari Hiraishi, who, believe it or not, is the younger brother of Masaki Hiraishi, the drummer from BARAKA.
This made the night especially memorable, as it marked a rare and special occasion: a musical face-off between brothers on the same stage.

“It’s great to play together as brothers, of course, but getting to face off in our own bands like this is really special. I’m truly grateful to everyone who made today possible.”

With those words, Masaki Hiraishi, who in a way could be called the star of the night, greeted the audience.

“I first started a band with drummer Hiraishi back when we were in college. I remember going over to his house and meeting Kazunari, who was just a junior high schooler back then,”

shared Echikawa, casually offering a rare and personal episode.
Surrounded by all these rock musicians, it’s probably best to keep quiet about the warm, fuzzy feeling that moment gave everyone.

As a moody sound effect played, the crowd began clapping along. The venue shifted into a standing room, and then, the rock stars made their grand entrance.

The first song was an upbeat rock-and-roll number called “Konna Yofuke ni” (“At This Late Hour”).
In their self-titled song, “Diamond Shake”, mysterious synth sounds created a laid-back, mature rock atmosphere.

“Hello! We’ve been waiting to see you! This is Diamond Shake’s first live show of the year! It’s a short set, but let’s go on this rock-and-roll journey together!”

From the keyword “journey”, they smoothly transitioned into “Travellin’ Down”, a refreshing track perfectly suited for a drive through OKUCHIBA. Before the show, Yukai and Kogure even took a trip to nearby Kujukurihama Beach.

Their setlist was drawn from their first album Diamond Shake and last year’s cover album Rock and Roll Golden Madness Era. Together, it created a powerful whirlwind of rock-and-roll energy throughout the venue.

After each song, the crowd called out to the band members.

“We’re going to play the music of the rock stars we’ve always admired!”

With Aerosmith’s “Mama Kin”, the excitement reached its peak!

Next, they performed “Dragonfly Kaze no Monogatari” (“Dragonfly Wind Story”), a superb rock ballad whose lyrics and sound gently resonate with an adult’s heart.

“Now, let’s finish with a bang! Come on!”

The final song of the main set was “Love is R&R”, a bursting rock number that serves as the band’s signature song.

“Encore! Encore!”

Despite worries about catching the last train home, the audience naturally erupted in calls for an encore.

“We want to finish by rocking out together with our best rock and roll number!”

The rock stage came to a powerful close as they rocked the venue thoroughly with The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil”.

Diamond Shake Official Site

Once again, the audience was completely immersed in rich, intense rock sounds!

Next time, the event will be held on October 26, 2025, at the Tako Town Community Plaza Cultural Hall!
Look forward to an exciting cross-genre lineup!

For more details, check out the OKUCHIBA PROJECT website, where updates will be posted regularly.