Mentai Rock is the name given to the collection of Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

 artists who gained national popularity during the late 1970s. Continuing through the early 1980s, the collective had little in common other than their origin - the Hakata

Hakata-ku, Fukuoka

is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is best known as the location of Fukuoka's main train station, Hakata Station.-Geography:...

 ward

Wards of Japan

A is a subdivision of one of the cities of Japan that is large enough to have been designated by government ordinance. Wards are used to subdivide each city designated by government ordinance...

 of Fukuoka City. The phrase, Mentai Rock, was derived from the name of a local delicacy, mentaiko

Mentaiko

is the marinated roe of pollock, and is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine. Mentaiko originated from myeongran jeot of Korean cuisine and was introduced to Japan after the Russo-Japanese War. , a Busan-born Japanese, adapted Korean mentaiko to Japanese tastes in Fukuoka in the 1950s. The name...

, made from roe

Roe

Roe or hard roe is the fully ripe internal egg masses in the ovaries, or the released external egg masses of fish and certain marine animals, such as shrimp, scallop and sea urchins...

. Many believed that their origin also had a common influence on the overall sound, despite the wide variety of genres represented.

Mentai Rockers

• Sunhouse
• Sheena & the Rokkets
  Sheena & The Rokkets
  are a Japanese guitar rock band. They are one of the Mentai Rock artists who were popular in the late 1970s. Their single Lemon Tea is widely covered in Japan, by, for example, Mad Soldiers, the Red Pepper Girls and Hitomi.- Singles :#涙のハイウェイ...
  
  
• The Roosters
  The Roosters
  The Roosters were a Japanese rock band that mixed punk, blues-rock, ska and straightforward rock and roll.-History:They formed in 1979 in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka. Although there were four different lineups throughout the life of the band—all centered around guitarist Hiroyuki Hanada--Shinya Ohe...
  
  (z)
• The Rockers
• A.R.B.
• The Mods
• 山部善次郎(YAMAZEN)
• Accidents
• Modern Dollz
• HEATWAVE
• Zi:LiE-YA
• Rock'n'Roll Gypsies

Post-Mentai Rockers

• Blankey Jet City
  Blankey Jet City
  Blankey Jet City was a rock and roll/rockabilly trio from Japan.- Members : Vocals, Guitar* He also plays in Sherbets and Jude and was a part of Ajico...
  
  
• Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
  Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
  Thee Michelle Gun Elephant was a Japanese garage rock band formed in 1991.-History:The band was formed in 1991, while the members were students at Tokyo's Meiji Gakuin University. They later drew influence from The Roosters...
  
  
• Shiina Ringo
  Shiina Ringo
  , known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer-songwriter, music composer and music producer. She is also the founder and lead vocalist of the band Tokyo Jihen.She describes herself as ""....
  
  
• Group Tamashi
  Group Tamashi
  is a Japanese rock band. It was started by actors in a theatrical company called "Otona Keikaku" in 1995. Its original members were Hakai , Boudou , and Baito Kun . When it started, the group was just a group of comedians using the guitar. The members perform in many theaters, and also at Shōten...
  
  
• Number Girl
  Number Girl
  was a rock band formed in Fukuoka, Japan in August, 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. They disbanded in 2002 following bassist Nakao Kentarou's departure from the band....
  
  
• Mo'some Tonebender
• Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
  Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
  , commonly abbreviated by fans as Skapara or TSPO, is a Japanese ska and jazz band officially formed in 1988 by the percussionist Asa-Chang, and initially composed of over 10 veterans of Tokyo's underground scene...
  
  
• Katteni-Shiyagare
  Katteni-Shiyagare
  is a swing/jazz band with punk influences, formed in 1997, with its major label debut on Epic Records Japan in 2004. They are perhaps best known in the US for the opening theme to the Japanese series Kemonozume, "Auvers Blue"...
  
  
• King Brothers
  King Brothers
  King Brothers [キング・ブラザーズ] is a rock band from Nishinomiya City in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Formed in 1997, the band made its major label debut on Toshiba EMI in 2001...
  
  
• Gyogun Rend's
• The Neatbeats
• Ajico
  Ajico
  Ajico was a band, formed as a side project by Japanese singer Ua, and Kenichi Asai of Blankey Jet City. In the summer of 1999 after supplying music for two of Ua's songs, Asai and Ua decided to create a music group, and Ajico was born.-Singles:...
  
  
• Losalios
• Rosso
  Rosso
  Rosso is the major city of south-western Mauritania and capital of Trarza region. It is situated on the Senegal River at the head of year-round navigation. The town is 204 km south of the capital Nouakchott...
  
  
• Zazen Boys
  Zazen Boys
  Zazen Boys is a Japanese band formed by former Number Girl guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. Stylistically, their music consists mostly of complex rhythmic songs reminiscent of math rock, as well as extended improvisational songs characterized through live performances.-History:After the...
  
  
• Radio Caroline

External links

Mentai Rock in its various forms is not well documented in English. Occasional articles appear in the local press, so it's worth checking out Fukuoka Now or Japanzine

Japanzine

Japanzine is a Japan-based English-language magazine, published by Carter Witt Media. Now 20 years in publication, it is the successor magazine to "The Alien" and caters largely to the expatriate community in Japan...

if you are interested in reading more.

• Article on the history of the Fukuoka Live Scene