Plastic Tree · 絶望の丘

Quiet voices drift through fading light,
carrying forgotten fragments of feelings.
Soft distortion melts into the air
like rain falling over empty streets at midnight.

Somewhere between beauty and decay,
between silence and noise,
Plastic Tree continues to bloom quietly—
fragile, distant, and impossibly alive.

Who are Plastic Tree?

Plastic Tree is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in December 1993 in Chiba, Japan by vocalist Ryutaro Arimura and guitarist Akira Nakayama. Since their formation, the band has been known for its emotional atmosphere, poetic lyrics, and distinctive sound that blends alternative rock, dream pop, gothic influences, and visual kei aesthetics into something uniquely their own. Rather than relying only on heavy instrumentals or dramatic visuals, Plastic Tree became recognized for creating music filled with fragility, loneliness, nostalgia, and quiet beauty. Their songs often feel dreamlike and melancholic, exploring themes such as memories, isolation, youth, emotional vulnerability, and the complexity of human emotions. The current lineup consists of Ryutaro Arimura as vocalist, Akira Nakayama as guitarist, Tadashi Hasegawa as bassist, and Kenken Satou as drummer. Each member contributes greatly to the identity of the band, especially through the emotional delivery of Ryutaro's vocals and the atmospheric guitar melodies created by Akira. Plastic Tree officially debuted on a major label in 1997 and gradually built a loyal fanbase both inside and outside Japan. Over the years, the band released many beloved albums and singles that established them as one of the most unique and respected names within the Japanese rock scene. Even after more than three decades since their formation, Plastic Tree continues to preserve the emotional and artistic identity that made listeners fall in love with their music in the first place.

Plastic Tree members

Ryutaro Arimura

Vocalist, Lyricist

Birthday: March 6, 1973

Ryutaro Arimura is the vocalist, lyricist, and one of the founding members of Plastic Tree. He is known for his fragile and emotional voice, poetic lyrics, and mysterious artistic presence. His writing often explores loneliness, dreams, nostalgia, emotional pain, and the beauty hidden within sadness. Ryutaro's soft yet haunting vocals became one of the most recognizable aspects of Plastic Tree's identity and helped shape the melancholic atmosphere the band is loved for.

Akira Nakayama

Guitarist

Birthday: January 16, 1971

Akira Nakayama is the guitarist and co-founder of Plastic Tree. His guitar melodies are an essential part of the band's dreamy and emotional sound. Akira is admired for creating soft, atmospheric, and nostalgic instrumentals that perfectly complement Ryutaro's vocals. Even with his calm and reserved personality, his guitar work carries deep emotion and became one of the defining elements of Plastic Tree's music.

Tadashi Hasegawa

Bassist

Birthday: November 16, 1970

Tadashi Hasegawa is the bassist and leader of Plastic Tree. Since the early days of the band, his bass playing has helped create the warm and emotional foundation of Plastic Tree's music. Tadashi is appreciated for his stable performances and the subtle emotional depth he adds to the band's melancholic atmosphere. His role became essential in balancing the softness and intensity present in many of their songs.

Kenken Satou

Drummer

Birthday: January 8, 1978

Kenken Satou is the current drummer of Plastic Tree and joined the band in 2009 after Hiroshi Sasabuchi's departure. His drumming style combines emotional sensitivity, precision, and energetic performances while preserving the delicate atmosphere that defines Plastic Tree's music. Fans appreciate the energy he brings to live concerts and the balance between power and softness in his performances.

Albums

Hide and Seek (1997)

Puppet Show (1998)

Parade (2000)

Träumerei (2002)

Shiro Chronicle (2003)

Cell (2004)

Chandelier (2006)

Nega to Poji (2007)

Utsusemi (2008)

Dona Dona (2009)

Ammonite (2011)

Ink (2012)

Hakusei (2015)

doorAdore (2018)

Jūshoku Teiri (2020)

Plastic Tree (2024)

Plastic Tree for me

Plastic Tree wasn't the band that introduced me to the visual kei community, but they were the band that made me fall even deeper in love with it. It was sometime in 2023, during the period where I spent most of my days searching for new music and exploring different emotions through sound. I was constantly jumping from one band to another, trying to find something that truly resonated with me. At that time, music had already become more than just entertainment to me — it was a place I escaped to whenever reality felt too heavy or emotionally exhausting. One night, while randomly listening to music on YouTube, I came across the music video for "Andrometamorphose" by Plastic Tree. I clicked on it without expecting much, but from the very first seconds, something about it immediately captured my attention. The song begins with a slow guitar riff, soft and distant, almost like a fading memory. Then Ryutaro's voice appears — fragile, dreamy, and strangely comforting. His vocals didn't feel perfect in a polished way; they felt human, delicate, and painfully sincere. As the song continued, more melodies slowly began colliding with one another. The instruments felt chaotic yet gentle at the same time, like emotions overflowing quietly inside someone's heart. And then suddenly, everything exploded. Not loudly in a violent way, but emotionally — the kind of feeling that reaches directly into your chest before you even realize it. I remember sitting there completely still, feeling as if I was on the verge of tears without fully understanding why. That was the moment Plastic Tree became special to me. There is something about Plastic Tree's music that feels different from every other visual kei band I have listened to. Their songs do not try to overwhelm the listener with intensity alone. Instead, they feel fragile, nostalgic, lonely, and deeply human. Listening to them feels like walking through abandoned streets after the rain, holding memories you cannot explain to anyone else. If I had to describe their music in one image, I would describe it as white roses blooming under the rain — beautiful, delicate, slightly cold, and carrying the scent of hazy bittersweet memories that refuse to disappear. Even now, whenever I listen to Plastic Tree, I still feel the same strange comfort I felt the first time I heard them. Their music became one of those rare things that quietly stay with you for a long time, living somewhere deep inside your heart. I'm still not very good at expressing my feelings, but I hope this feeling can somehow reach you too.