Mikio Fujioka

Mikio Fujioka

Mikio Fujioka holds a deeply special place in BABYMETAL's history. Not only for his talent as a guitarist, but for the immense affection he awakened among bandmates and fans. He was one of the most beloved musicians of the Kami Band and one of the most human figures within a structure surrounded by masks, mythology, and ritual anonymity. His style combined technical refinement, harmonic sensitivity, and very particular warmth. He was not a cold or merely virtuosic guitarist. There was in his way of playing a luminous quality, almost affectionate, that left a very deep mark on the band's memory. That mixture of talent and humanity explains why his loss was experienced as something so devastating within the BABYMETAL community. Mikio passed away on January 5, 2018, after an accident, and his death marked one of the most painful moments in the project's entire history. The Kami Band lost one of its most cherished members, and the fandom a beloved figure, almost protective. His legacy is not limited to the notes he played or the shows he participated in. Mikio became forever associated with the most emotional dimension of BABYMETAL's instrumental side. Speaking of the Kami Band without reflecting on him would be unfair.