Visual Kei emerged in the late 1980s, pioneered by the band X Japan. [5],
along with others such as D'erlanger and Color, who are regarded
as influencing the fashion and music associated with Visual Kei bands.[20] X
Japan's drummer Yoshiki Hayashi
used the term to describe the band's slogan "Psychedelic Violence Crime of
Visual Shock".

By 1999, mainstream popularity in Visual Kei was declining, X Japan had disbanded, and the death of lead guitarist Hideto Matsumoto in 1998 had denied fans a possible reunion. It wasn't long before Luna Sea decided to disband in the year 2000, and L'Arc-en-Ciel went on a hiatus the same year.[20]

In 2007 the genre has been revitalized, as Luna sea announced they would perform a one-off performance, and X Japan announced they would reunite. With these developments, Visual kei bands enjoyed a boost in public awareness, described by the media as "Neo-Visual Kei". [21].[20]