Shizuka (静香, /ʃiːzuːkɑː/; Japanese pronunciation: [ɕizɯᵝka̠]) was a Japanese rock band founded in Tokyo in circa 1992. The group made atmospheric, psychdelic-noise songs, and was regarded for its distinctive style in the Tokyo psychedelic music scene. The band produced four albums in its eighteen years of existence, and generally remained undocumented and unknown.
Shizuka started around 1992 as a solo musical project by Shizuka Miura (vocals and rhythm guitar), but she soon formed a duo with Maki Miura (lead guitar). Afterward, the band was formed with the joining of Jun Kosugi (drums) and Tomoya Hirata (bass), and later established with Tetsuya "Seven" Mugishima (bass) who replaced the first bassist. The group had many lineup changes throughout its history, having been Shizuka and Maki the only permanent members up until Shizuka's death in early 2010.
Shizuka's musical style was characterized by psychedelic music, folk music, noise rock, and acid rock, some of which were influences from the underground rock scene in Japan. This influence was performed by the veteran musician Maki Miura through his psych-noise guitar playing, and by underground drummer Jun Kosugi. In contrast, Shizuka Miura, as the frontwoman and only singer, featured slow, chanted, and tremulous vocals—characteristics that connoted sadness and a "haunting, gothic atmosphere".
Of Shizuka's four albums, Heavenly Persona (天界のペルソナ, Tenkai no Perusona) (1994) was the band's debut and only studio album. The other three were live albums: Live Shizuka (1995); Tokyo Underground '95 (2000); and Traditional Aesthetics (伝承美学, Denshō Bigaku) (2008). They also had two video albums released: Shizuka (静香) in 1995, and Endless Dream (終わりのない夢, Owari no Nai Yume) in 2010.
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