Asian Kung-Fu Generation
I find it hard to categorise J-Music, based on genres we have in Australia, or the West in general.
Take Asian Kung-Fu Generation, for example. In Australia, you could possibly classify them as mainstream rock, alternative rock or occassionally almost Pop/Rock. So, are they J-Pop or J-Rock? Are they J-Pop/Rock? Does that genre even exist?? J-Alternative?
I think I’m going to stick with J-Rock, because they do actually use real instruments like guitars and not synthesisers and keyboards like your typical J-Pop idol.
Anyway, like most Japanese music I encounter, I first heard Asian Kung-Fu Generation (Ajikan for short) in the theme song to an anime - in this case, Naruto. Their track Haruka Kanata is a great song to scream along to, and although a bit unrelated, seems to fit the mindset of the character Uzumaki Naruto perfectly. It is my favourite of the Naruto theme songs, although there is a lot of great music in that soundtrack, which I’ll cover in another post.
But anyway, onto the meat of the story. Ajikan are 4 strapping young 20-somethings who formed in 1996. They comprise of Yamada Takahiro (bass and vocals), Gotoh Masafumi (vocals and guitar), Kita Kensuke (vocals and guitar), and Ijichi Kiyoshi (drums, and who actually joined the band later in their career). Their own personal tastes in music are definitely in the rock and alternative genres with Weezer, Oasis, Radiohead, Supergrass and even the Pet Shop Boys cited.
The band worked hard to get their fame. They sent out demo tapes to radio stations for free and could only afford to sell their music online at the start of their career. But after the 2002 release of the mini-album Houkai Amplifer, their mainstream success began. During the next year, Haruka Kanata would be licensed for Naruto and English-speaking fans started to become fans. This is slightly ironic because the first album they released back in 2000 had purely English lyrics.
The band built on their popularity by winning many awards and touring with a few summer festivals. They also released another single for an anime, this time the final ending song for Fullmetal Alchemist, titled REWRITE.
These are still early days in the career of Ajikan though. I’m sure more tracks will be released for anime and they might even reach L’arc en Ciel infamy (that is, release a track for just about EVERY ANIME EVER MADE >.< ) although they'll probably do it without the make-up.
Sources and Links:
Wikipedia
An awesome Ajikan English fansite by Izzy
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October 29th, 2005 at 12:19 pm
Asian kunk-fu Generation rocks*–*
December 17th, 2005 at 12:46 am
Ajikan is my all-time favorite J-Indie/J-rock band! I’ve been following them for only about 2-2 1/2 years but ever since I first heard Rewrite and Kimi to Ui Hana, i fell in love >w< There’s lotsa great communities out there that give a bunch of info about teh band and where you can talk to fans from all over. A great one is ajikan.24ji.us Just click on the forum and link and do the free registry, then you’re in! So, overall this band is great and now’s a great time to become a fan b/c they’ve just released their new single “Blue Train” and have plans for thier next CD to be out by Spring 06! Ajikan is love!
February 22nd, 2006 at 1:47 am
Ajikan they are the best singers ever ..well first is Riky Martin .But still they rock ……
yeahhhhhh….woooooooo…*-*…
March 1st, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Ajikan owns. This is the first J-Rock band I ever heard, thanks to Rewrite from Full Metal Alchemist. ROCK ON!
March 16th, 2006 at 4:35 am
so i’ve never heard of them because i’m pretty much american. But i’ve read about them and i would love to!
April 29th, 2006 at 3:12 am
My favourite group.. ^^
AK-FG For - Ever!!
May 23rd, 2006 at 4:44 pm
I really love their songs ! though i don’t really understand them `coz i’m a filipino… but what the heck the rythm and the way they play is super cool !! i’d be willing to learn japanese for these guys ;) kudos !
=3
[peace.love.rock`n`roll]
May 24th, 2006 at 12:33 am
Hey, there’s awesome Filipino music too. I don’t know much about it, but the Rok On album (music inspired the the computer game Ragnarok Online) was great! It was my first taste of Filipino music and I wanna hear more :D
July 3rd, 2006 at 9:23 pm
asian kungfu gen is awesome….
loved the song rewrite
hope they come to singapore soon….
July 12th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
I love AKG, I just hope they keep singing in japanese cos their english songs realy suck if no1 minds me saying so. Blackout is the best song :):):):)
August 6th, 2006 at 8:53 am
i love asian kung fu gen, they have an awesome sound, style, and are just all around cool. i don’t think there is a song of their’s i don’t like, but loop&loop is probably one of my favorites. i want to see them in wisconsin (good luck, i know)
November 5th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Asian Kung-Fu Generation is the best group punk/Japanese rock, enchants to me. I enchant myself and to me it will continue enchanting, is the best thing. I hope that they continue making temazos like Furasshubakkhu or Haruka Kanata… They are the best ones
May 7th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I just discovered this band.. I think that they are absolutely amazing. I’ve never really heard that much Japanese music… but i love them.
August 28th, 2007 at 3:03 am
AK-F G -4ever!/ “Rewrite” is my favorite song!
October 11th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
asian kung-fu generation is the best
i love them…
i love japanese music…
October 19th, 2007 at 1:44 am
I loooove this band.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:19 am
AK-F G Roxz big time!!!