According to website JRock Revolution, the site has apparently partnered with Rock Band developer Harmonix to poll its readers about which J-Rock acts it would like to see in Rock Band.
In 2008, Harmonix and MTV joined forces with Tokyo-based developer Q Entertainment, the studio behind Lumines, to make a Japanese version of Rock Band. It's 2010, and it is believed that the Q Entertainment localization of Rock Band is on ice. The music of Japanese group X Japan, however, did appear in the second Rock Band game.
This April, Harmonix seemed to hint that a standalone version of Rock Band Japan was not going to happen, but appeared "optimistic about the possibility of having some non-Kanji J-Rock and J-Pop as DLC at some point".
Could this latest poll be connected with some sort of J-Rock DLC? Here are the top acts as voted by JRock Revolution readers:
1. the GazettE
2. Dir en grey
3. X JAPAN
4. MIYAVI
5. GACKT
6. An Café
7. D'espairsRay
8. Nightmare
9. L'Arc~en~Ciel
10. Versailles ~Philharmonic Quintet~
Many of these groups are visual kei bands — though, L'Arc~en~Ciel isn't visual kei, but rather, rock. Sad panda not to see Hyde here as his first single, Evergreen, is a fine, fine tune. Guess they got him covered with his band L'Arc~en~Ciel. Never mind! Carry on!
Fun fact: Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's favorite group is X Japan.
Rock Band Poll Final Results [J-Rock Revolution via Joystiq via Dtoid] [Pic]