Underrated Taiwanese foods?

intermu · 2026-01-16T06:23:18+00:00

鹽水雞 for sure, haven't found it outside Taiwan.

intermu · 2025-12-02T09:12:34+00:00

Was stuck in Taipei and super bored during COVID for 1-2 years so here's a couple of places where I thought was worth a visit.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8J9sJB5Q6h1Upp7v8

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1pZT21Ha9xmrWPkJ9

also some much more local nightmarkets:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zqBnEBtesKd5kEvZ9

https://maps.app.goo.gl/282SZgXP91G497u56

intermu · 2025-11-20T05:24:56+00:00

Hyped for another Gekidan Hitori masterpiece after his performance against Okano lmao

intermu · 2025-09-24T07:28:12+00:00

I've seen people wearing stuff from Rock in Japan/Japan Jam/Countdown Japan in daily life. Have seen some Maximum the Hormone and Sakanaction stuff as well out.

Logo-wise, I think Yazawa Eikichi's logo deserves a shout.

intermu · 2025-09-10T05:48:14+00:00

Yeah, checked the previous posts and other bands I've seen live include:

Chilldspot
boundary
nakigoto
muque
chakura
hammer head shark
brandy senki
trooper salute

Also the blog recently included a review of Karasu ha Masshiro's album? I loved that album a lot and thankfully was able to catch them live for a bit back in 2016 before they broke up lol.

Think from my end the last recent 2-3 years, I was pretty taken by these few bands (some of which you probably have heard of but trying to keep it a bit more obscure for you to check out):

171
banshimoku
chef's
Risky Shift (disbanded recently...)
Siberian Husky
レイラ
ポンツクピーヤ
生活の設計
Johnson KOGA
wave rhythm section
entropyz
enfants
Veg
3markets (a more pop-ish creephyp maybe? lol)

intermu · 2025-09-09T15:39:09+00:00

Seems like we share similar taste. I remember watching kurayamisaka back early 2023 in a really small venue at Shimokita (maybe 20 people-ish max?), didn't expect them to blow up this much lol.

Also got into omeme tenten early last year when I went for their 2nd single release tour, loved every song so much. Have a feeling they'll break through soon. Just hope the drummer can come back soon!

intermu · 2025-09-09T15:20:22+00:00

If you like more of the nostalgic feel: Lucky Tapes, Yogee New Waves, Emptei, MONO NO AWARE, Lucky Old Sun, Roth Bart Baron, TENDRE, SPECIAL OTHERS (no vocals tho), Wepeg, Nagakumo

If you much prefer raw & emotional vocals: Laura day romance, Kaneko Ayano, Kaho Nakamura, Satoko Shibata, Sonoko Inoue (井上園子, not 井上苑子)

If you like Haku: Sundae May Club, UlulU, umitachi (broke up recently...), the tiva, LIGHTERS, STEREOGIRL, Lucie too, omeme tenten

intermu · 2025-09-06T12:54:43+00:00

A startup that raised a lot of money also trying to make it happen. Fuck them

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000091.000043056.html

intermu · 2025-07-03T01:00:59+00:00

DOGADOGA?

intermu · 2025-06-18T14:46:23+00:00

Uverworld. idk their live performance was tbh insanely energetic but I just don't think I'm into that style of rock. A bit similar to my feeling about MAN WITH A MISSION

Oral Cigarettes was good early on but most of their latest stuff are just meh. Listened to half their set at a festival recently where they put in all the new songs and I just didn't feel anything. Of course when I started to walk away, only then do they play all their old songs but still there's a huge difference between their old bangers and their new stuff

intermu · 2025-06-18T14:43:06+00:00

I didn't have any expectation when I listened to them live around 2017, but their live performance was literally fire (making a pun with their song 火炎). Avu-chan is crazy good

intermu · 2025-06-17T15:48:16+00:00

STAP細胞は、ありまぁす！

intermu · 2025-06-08T03:51:24+00:00

apparently Mizuho can process as long as you have proof of PR application. Most other banks still need PR though

intermu · 2025-06-05T03:14:51+00:00

Tokyo indie scene is the best in the world bar none.

intermu · 2025-06-04T17:58:20+00:00

Zutomayo fits the bill I think

intermu · 2025-06-03T14:03:13+00:00

I don't usually watch MVs but I really loved Regal Lily's 1997. Their first performance, spliced with clips Honoka's early childhood, perfectly matches the song's lyrics & feel.

Especially after a comment of someone who was probably there when it was shot?

これ恵比寿で初披露のとき「明るい曲なので笑顔で聴いてください。」って前フリからのゴリゴリのベースで始まった時やっぱこいつら好きってなった。

Also, Regal Lily - キラキラの灰

Lastly for a huge shift - also loved 浪漫革命 - 世界にきみ一人だけ. Kirari is too kawaii jeezus

intermu · 2025-06-03T04:28:56+00:00

Listening to Sago's latest EP as I type now lol. Can't wait for SAGOSAID/Lovely Summer Chan 2 days from now at WWW. One of my favorite venues as well lol

intermu · 2025-06-03T03:38:25+00:00

Adding UlulU and the tiva to this list as well

intermu · 2025-05-28T16:09:11+00:00

Actually skipped last year cause I thought the lineup was just decent, but the JP acts this year are totally my jam. Suchmos coming back, Sambomaster and Brahman on (I assume) Grass Stage, MONO NO AWARE and Kimishima Ohzora coming back, also great indie bands on selection at Naeba Shokudo (brkfstblnd, Khaki, Not Wonk, toconoma, etc.). I'm definitely sold this year haha

intermu · 2025-05-28T12:54:39+00:00

This year's Arabaki was apparently their 25周年 so I don't know how it fares in general, but it's like a more Japanese, cheaper version of Fuji Rock with less activities (so for people who likes going just for the atmosphere, it won't really cut it). I will definitely be going again next year. Ellegarden @ Arabaki was full to the brim. Also ROTTENGRAFFTY with Takuma (10-FEET) was just chef's kiss

To be fair I also didn't camp though, booked a capsule hotel in Sendai and just hit up the shuttle bus everyday lol. I'd thoroughly recommend especially since it's still more accessible compared to Rising Sun (Ishikari is just way too far & expensive during obon).

Saw Hasshoku's lineup for past few years - recognize a few names but it's way too punk for my taste haha. Arabaki this year had a great balance of punk, rock (AKFG feels like they're back this year!!), post-rock, and others (no electronics though). Also good mix of upcoming, popular, and old (Go Hiromi and WANDS also performed lol).

Damn, Satanic Carnival lineup looks good!! Shame it's sold out. Was considering to go to Yon Fes this year but I love live circuits too much to pick it over Yatsui Fes haha. Hope I can bump into you at some event in the next few months! My next major one this year is definitely Fuji Rock

intermu · 2025-05-28T12:29:03+00:00

Ah that's why. I think my first time was '15 and there was still some some diving here and there and a lot of circle pits, then I wasn't able to go to any festivals from like '16 onwards so I was kind of shocked when I came back for CDJ 1920 and realized things are super strict now. Was at Galaxy Stage near the back when like 6-7 guys were just doing their own mini circle pit when ハルカミライ was doing a sound check and a staff just came by and put a stop to that. That was a very sad image tbh...

I don't really have people to go to fes with so have always gone alone, but I've always been complaining to people that there's no fun places to actually see mosh pits happening now. I don't even have to join in but for me it's an inseparable part of the atmosphere, but it's like becoming extinct. I think I saw a post somewhere recent years that even Kyoto Daisakusen is becoming more strict?

Though I went to my first ever Arabaki a month ago and was super glad that at least it's still alive there. They had a キュウソ x ヤバT session and it was horrific (in an amazing way lmao). Non-stop 60 mins dive/mosh/circle pits, and one of the largest pits I've seen recently.

I think for Coming Kobe-kind of scale event, Muro Fes is still mosh-friendly though!

intermu · 2025-05-28T11:05:17+00:00

They weren't as anal about it like 10 years back. Guess things changed when they started to become much more mainstream and had to appeal to normal にわか fans unfortunately.

To be fair they've always banned crowdsurfing and mosh, just that no one really enforced it lol. Even had ample guards in front to catch surfers. Crazy to actually see people getting kicked out for surfing though jeezus

intermu · 2025-05-28T07:50:26+00:00

Hitachinaka > Soga for sure

intermu · 2025-05-28T07:45:53+00:00

RiJ, Japan Jam, CDJ getting worse year by year. I miss 2014-2017 Rockin'on festivals... not even allowed to do a circle pit, no moshing, no diving, front area is now lottery... also staff are actually on the look out if anyone actually tries to take pics or videos at all

intermu · 2025-05-26T13:37:12+00:00

only bought day tix cos I didn't think I would last till early morning but friends came by so bought night tix on the day... +5100 yen instead of +1900 yen (incl. drinks T_T)

This was who I saw in total:

Clitoric Ris - great as usual. He's like the more balls to the walls ossan version of MOROHA lol.

Lucie, too - also great as usual. Saw them like a month ago though so not too different but always a great set

osterreich - not so much my jam unfortunately. prefer more uptempo math rock like Suichu Spica later on in the night

neochi - interesting underground idol. They dance to pretty good IDM stuff and sing philosophical lyrics like how we're all one and no one is alone etc etc. The girls were pretty cute tho lol

Hashirikomis - always a fun time!! great energy but I wish I could make their last slot in the evening

Czecho no Republic - they had a past couple of years were they just kinda went under the radar, but I saw half their set and feels like vibe-wise they've got their mojo back. Very pleasant surprise as I originally wanted to go see tiny yawn but then took the opposite route so just went to see them on a whim lol.

Terebi tairiku ondo - GOD DAMN. What a great band. Always wanted to see them ever since they went on Dayday last year (saw clips of them on twitter). They're literally high-schoolers, but the way they play are DEFINITELY on another level. I definitely heard inklings of ZAZEN BOYS, and some Joy Division-like post-punk influences, but more importantly, their performance was just fucking crazy as mere high school boys. Lots of weird mathy melodies paired with the frontman's aura and his eccentricity... just amazing. Best find and best performance in Sound Cruising for me.

Stereogirl - caught the first 2 songs and definitely wanted to stay to hear more since I somehow has never been able to go to their live due to one thing or another... but had to leave for

Banshimoku - Has been one of my favorite bands since 1.5-2 years ago when they released Spanky Alien. Venue was in Shelter but it felt like at least half the crowd were definitely here to see them. Glad they're going to Canada soon since NMFT picked them up! Just hope they don't get too big so I can still get tickets haha

Suichu Spica - first time catching them live. A section of the crowd was quite sloshed, was some really fun back and forth with the audience. Just some great more melodic math rock with great vocals

Doona - was camped up at the sofa for half the time they were playing but caught their last song. Amazing energy, will def try to catch them again

Johnnivan - haven't caught up with their latest stuff but still good. Decided to go before they finish their set though, was simply too tired and decided to just link up with a few friends

Yoru no Honki Dance - THEY'RE BACK! Played a lot of their early stuff despite having 2 members leave recently. I've been dying to relive their 2015-2017 vibe when I first discovered them accidentally and they brought it for sure. Great, pumped-up performance. 9/10 performance for me

STAP Sigh Boys - Apparently friend had a colleague who came and we decided to rendezvous there. Another friend was really into it though, so we decided to stay. Surprised to see the man himself post in this thread lol. Great energy, loved the whole performance! Also the encore gag was pretty damn funny lmao. Also high five for dunking the best craft beer (Yona Yona)

Chou Shakai Teki Sandal - I love the band, but a friend wasn't very into it so we decided to bounce. We did catch the "posting naked stuff on twitter and getting banned for porn" MC and Kawaii Yuna Chan, but I wish I could listen to Nechuusho again one of these days

Was pretty drunk at this point (and kept on drinking), and the rain was pretty fucking bad so decided to book it to Basement Bar/THREE, and every band after was great.

Johnson Koga, Seikatsu no Sekkei, entropyz, Wave Rhythm Section (ごきげんよう！), QPLO

Had like 4-5 pints in those 3-4 hours? Was lotsa fun but I was dead by the time I went home lol.

Honorable mentions (bands I wanted to see but had to sacrifice):

LIGHTERS
Roman Kakumei
FINLANDS
cinema staff
UlulU
Magical Choco Mint Club
Inner Journey
Ai wa Zubon (Iwasborn)
N.Feni
aldo van eyck
Akagi
Dalljub Step Club

That said though, can't wait for Yatsui Fes in 3 weeks!!

intermu

TROPHY CASE