八十八ヶ所巡礼

八十八ヶ所巡礼 (88/hachijuuhachi kasho junrei) is a Japanese rock trio from Tokyo, founded on 8 October 2006.

Members: Vocals & Bass: マーガレット廣井 (Marguerite Hiroi) Guitar: Katzuya Shimizu Drums: Kenzoooooooo

History: The name means “pilgrimage to eighty-eight places,” a nod to the Shikoku temple circuit, and the mix of the sacred and the uncanny runs through much of their work. The members have stayed the same since the beginning: Marguerite Hiroi sings and plays bass, Katzuya Shimizu handles guitar, and Kenzo plays drums. Their music sits somewhere between psychedelic, progressive and heavy rock. They like sharp turns, dense rhythms, sudden melodic clearings. Hiroi’s lyrics draw on Buddhism, Shinto and old Japanese folklore. Spirits, rituals and omens appear not as decoration but as part of a worldview that feels both personal and theatrical.

Their first full album, Hachi + Hachi, came out in 2010 and stitched together early songs with new material. Over the years they kept releasing albums that pushed their sound further into this strange blend of weight and trance. After a quieter period they returned in 2021 with Genma Taisai, which included a live recording. In 2025 they released their ninth studio album, Hachi + Kyuu, and for the first time put their work on digital platforms, opening the door for a wider audience.

They also have a mascot designed by animator Taniguchi Takashi. It appears on jackets, posters and merch, a small pilgrim figure that ties the band’s imagery back to the name. Although their core following is in Japan, they’ve stepped onto international stages as well, including a performance at the Eurockéennes festival in France. Their music sits in its own corner of the rock landscape. Odd, forceful, playful and a little haunted. If you want, I can put together a clean discography in the same style.

They announced that for their 20th anniversary they will play at legendary Nippon Budokan on August 18th 2026.

About the members: Margarette Hiroi handles vocals and bass. The band lists his role as bass, vocals and “ringleader.” He comes from Yoshida in Ehime, now part of Uwajima. As a teenager he listened to eastern youth, and he has said that Ningen Isu shaped his own musical sense. On stage he talks to the crowd in a peculiar mix of sharp address and polite language, calling the audience “you lot” while never dropping honorifics. His favourite films include The Man Who Stole the Sun, Burst City, the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series and Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer.

Katzuya Shimizu plays guitar. The official credits list him as guitar, strategist and acting coach. He grew up in Uchinada, Ishikawa, picked up the instrument at fifteen and drew early inspiration from Van Halen and Steve Vai. Later he studied under Takayuki Hijikata and Kenji Kitajima. He plays Freedom Custom guitars, including two signature models in white and pale blue. His amp setup centers on a Laney GH100L head and a GS412IS cabinet. Among the pedals he uses are the Digitech WH-4, the Morley Vai-I Bad Horsie, the Xotic RC Booster, the Fulltone OCD and the t.c. electronic Nova System. He also teaches guitar at the Koloidea Music School.

Kenzoooooooo is on drums. His official tags are drums, yakuza and sly laughter. Like Hiroi, he comes from Yoshida in Ehime. He first touched a drum kit in the fifth grade and by high school was absorbed in the instrument, often playing X Japan songs. In private he listens mostly to Black music. He speaks very little in public. On stage and in videos he often performs bare-chested, and before each show he cuts his hair as a way of getting into the right state of mind. The number of o’s in his name changes with each new album. His older brother runs a mandarin farm back home.

Discography:

Albums: 2009.08.18 - 八+八 (Hachi + Hachi) 2011.08.18 - SYG88 2012.08.08 - ○△□ (Maru Sankaku Shikaku) 2013.09.11 - 0088 (Zero Zero Hachi Hachi) 2014.08.08 - 攻撃的国民的音楽 (Kōgekiteki Kokuminteki Ongaku) 2015.08.18 - 日本 (Nihon) 2018.08.18 - 凍狂 (Tōkyō) 2021.08.18 - 幻魔大祭 (Genma Taisai) 2025.05.02 - 八＋九 (Hachi + Kyū)

Mini albums/EPs: 2009.04.29 - 1st E.P 2009.08.08 - 1st mini Album

Singles: 2009.10.28 - 1st maxi single 2011.04.18 - 1st live-venue limited single 2020.05.01 - 幻魔大祭 (Genma Taisai) 2022.04.16 - 鬼畜 (Kichiku) 2022.08.06 - 奈落サブウーファー (Naraku Subwoofer) 2023.12.03 - 近頃どうしてる？ (Chikagoro Dōshiteru?) 2024.07.27 - 摩訶摩訶摩訶 (Makamakamaka) 2024.09.17 - 脳騒曲 (Nōsōkyoku) 2025.03.15 - YAOYOROZ

Live albums: 2014.??.?? - -1010-

Video / visual releases: 2015.??.?? - 攻撃的国民的音楽祭 (Kōgekiteki Kokuminteki Ongakusai)

Participation/tribute albums: 2015.06.17 - 紫光 feat. 摩阿訶烈音 (Shikō feat. Maakaretsuon) 2018.09.19 - ピルグリム (Pirugurimu) 2020.01.29 - 青の世界 (Ao no Sekai) 2020.02.20 - 枯渇って〜鴬谷編〜 / 今過去つ〜渋谷編〜 (Kokatsu tte ~Uguisudani-hen~ / Ima Kako-tsu ~Shibuya-hen~)

https://88kasyo.com/ https://x.com/88kasyo