Asian Kung-Fu Generation
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| Asian Kung-Fu Generation | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  Kanagawa, Japan |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Label(s) | Ki/oon Tofu |
| Website | www.asiankung-fu.com |
| Members | |
| Kensuke Kita Masafumi Gotō Takahiro Yamada Kiyoshi Ijichi |
|
Asian Kung-Fu Generation (アジアン・カンフー・ジェネレーション Ajian Kanfū Jenerēshon?) is a Japanese rock band signed by Ki/oon Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
Contents |
[edit] History
The band was first formed in 1996 by Kensuke Kita, Takahiro Yamada, and Masafumi Gotō who met in a musical circle of Kanto Gakuin University, with Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after. They played in many small venues until they released their first indie EP in 2000, a six-song EP of songs sung in English. In the following year, the band tried to get their first Japanese single, "Kona Yuki" (粉雪?), onto indie radio shows. The song was eventually picked up by a popular radio DJ and put into heavy rotation due to the demand of listeners. The band released their second indie CD containing songs with Japanese lyrics later in 2001. In 2003, the band would release their first mini-album Hōkai Amplifier (崩壊アンプリファー?), which received immense critical acclaim with the sales of the album reaching 35 on the Oricon charts.
In 2003, the band released the singles "Mirai no Kakera" (未来の破片?) and "Kimi to iu Hana" (君という花?), which would catapult them to fame. Their first full album, Kimi Tsunagi Five M (君繋ファイブエム?), sold over 250,000 copies and landed in the number 5 spot on the Oricon charts in its first week. As their fame grew, fans began calling them simply Ajikan (アジカン?) or AKG, shortened versions of their full name.
When 2004 came around, the band won the award for Best New Artist; their video "Kimi to iu Hana" also won the award for Best Music Video. Over the course of the year, the band would release four more singles: "Siren" (サイレン?), "Loop & Loop" (ループ＆ループ?), "Rewrite" (リライト?), which is the fourth opening song for the anime Fullmetal Alchemist and "Kimi no Machi Made" (君の街まで?). Their song "Haruka Kanata" is the second opening of the anime Naruto. The band also released their second album, Sol-fa (ソルファ?), in 2004. The album would go on to sell more than 600,000 copies and reach number one on the Oricon charts for two weeks straight.
In 2005, they released a DVD that stayed at number one on the Oricon DVD charts for an entire month, and played at sold out venues during their Re:Re: tour. The band also held the Nano-Mugen Festival 2005, where eight different bands played to a sold out crowd. Later that year, the band released another single "Blue Train" (ブルートレイン?) (which managed to obtain a #5 spot on the charts), and held a short tour in the winter.
The band released two albums in 2006: Fanclub (ファンクラブ?) and a B-side compilation called Feedback File. Fanclub stayed in the Oricon top five for nearly two months while Feedback File entered the charts at number two. In July, the band held a sequel to their Nano-Mugen Festival known as Nano-Mugen Festival 2 which featured 12 different artists and sold out for all of its performances. The band then went on to release two singles in 2006, "World Apart" and "Aru Machi no Gunjo", which was featured in the anime film Tekkon Kinkreet. World Apart went on to become the band's first number one single.
In February 2008, the band released a single, Korogaru Iwa, Kimi ni Asa ga Furu (転がる岩、君に朝が降る?), quickly followed by their sixth album, World World World. The album debuted at #1 in the Oricon charts, eventually relapsing into #6 and #9 the weeks after. [1]
Their song After Dark is the 7th opening for the anime Bleach.
Asian Kung-Fu Generation's single and album covers are designed and created by Yusuke Nakamura.[2]
[edit] Member profiles
Masafumi Goto (後藤 正文 Gotō Masafumi?)
- Birthdate: December 2, 1976
- Place of Birth: Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist
- Equipment:
- '75 Gibson Marauder
- Gibson Les Paul Faded Double-Cut (Faded Yellow)
- Gibson Les Paul Junior Faded Double-Cut (Worn Cherry)
- Roland Custom JC-160 amp
- Major: Economics
- Favorite Bands: Weezer, Number Girl, Teenage Fanclub, Eastern Youth and Howard Jones
Kensuke Kita (喜多 建介 Kita Kensuke?)
- Birthdate: January 24, 1977
- Place of Birth: Kanagawa Prefecture
- Lead guitarist and background vocal
- Equipment:
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (Cherry Sunburst)
- Gibson Les Paul Standard Premium Plus (Cherry Sunburst)
- Gibson Custom Shop 1954 Les Paul Standard Reissue (Ice Tea)
- Marshall 4100 JCM 900 Head + cabinet (half-stack).
- Bogner Ecstasy 4x12 with 1 cabinet in live and 2 in studio (Seen on "Aru Machi no Ganjou" and "Korogaru Iwa, Kimi ni Asa ga Furu" PV)
- Major: Economics
- Favorite Bands: Radiohead, Mannix, Supergrass and XTC
Takahiro Yamada (山田 貴洋 Yamada Takahiro?)
- Birthdate: August 19, 1977
- Place of Birth: Shizuoka Prefecture
- Bassist and background vocals
- Equipment:
- '62 Fender Jazz Bass (Lake Placid Blue, 3-Tone Sunburst)
- Ampeg Bass AH 300 Amp head
- Major: Literature
- Favorite Bands: The Beatles, Oasis, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Pet Shop Boys
Kiyoshi Ijichi (伊地 知潔 Ijichi Kiyoshi?)
- Birthdate: September 25, 1977
- Place of Birth: Kanagawa Prefecture
- Drummer
- Pearl Drums (custom set)
- Sabian cymbals
- Major: Engineering
- Favorite Bands: Brian Setzer and Hi-Standard
[edit] Discography
[edit] Indies
- Caramelman and Asian Kung-Fu Generation (2000)
- The Time Past And I Could Not See You Again (2000)
- I'm Standing Here (November 30, 2001)
[edit] Albums
- Hōkai Amplifer (2003)(EP)
- Kimi Tsunagi Five M (2003)
- Sol-fa (2004)
- Fanclub (2006)
- Feedback File (2006)
- World World World (2008)[3]
- Mada Minu Ashita ni (2008)(EP)
[edit] Singles
"Mirai no Kakera" (August 6, 2003 Oricon #34)
"Kimi to Iu Hana" (October 16, 2003 Oricon #14)
"Siren" (April 14, 2004 Oricon #2)
"Loop & Loop" (May 19, 2004 Oricon #8)
- "Loop & Loop" (ループ&ループ Rūpu&Rūpu?)
- "Entrance (Live)" (エントランス(LIVE) Entoransu (LIVE)?)"
- "Rashinban (Live)" (羅針盤(LIVE)?)
"Rewrite" (August 8, 2004 Oricon #4)
"Kimi no Machi Made" (September 23, 2004 Oricon #3)
- "Kimi no Machi Made" (君の街まで?)
- "Hold me tight"
"Blue Train" (November 30, 2005 Oricon #5)
"World Apart" (February 15, 2006 Oricon #1)
- "World Apart" (ワールドアパート Wārudo Apāto?)
- "Eien ni" (永遠に?)
- "Uso to Wonderland" (嘘とワンダーランド Uso to Wandārando?)
"Aru Machi no Gunjō" (November 29, 2006)
"After Dark" (November 7, 2007 Oricon #5)
"Korogaru Iwa, Kimi ni Asa ga Furu" (February 6, 2008 Oricon #6)
[edit] DVDs
- Image Work Collection (映像作品集 1巻 Eizō Sakuhinshu 1kan?) (November 26, 2004)
- Image Work Collection (映像作品集 2巻 Eizō Sakuhinshu 2kan?) (April 20, 2005)
- Image Work Collection (映像作品集 3巻 Eizō Sakuhinshu 3kan?) (March 21, 2007)
- Image Work Collection (映像作品集 4巻 Eizō Sakuhinshu 4kan?) (March 26, 2008)
[edit] Miscellaneous
- Nano-Mugen Compilation (2005) (June 8, 2005)
[edit] In popular culture
- In a volume of the popular Hellsing manga, the band is parodied by members of the Vatican and named "The Vatickung".
- "Loop & Loop" is one of the songs in the Nintendo DS musical game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan.
- "Rewrite" is the 4th opening of the anime Fullmetal Alchemist. It won 'Best Anime Theme Song' at the first American Anime Awards in 2007.
- "Haruka Kanata" is the 2nd opening for the anime Naruto and the 3rd opening in the English Adaptation.
- "Rewrite" and "N.G.S." are covered in the GuitarFreaks and DrumMania music game series by Konami. "Rewrite" is also in the expansion pack for the Nintendo DS game Daigasso! Band-Brothers, as well as in Taiko Drum Master Portable for the PSP.
- "After Dark" is the 7th opening for the anime, Bleach.
- "Aru Machi no Gunjō" is a theme song for the movie Tekkon Kinkreet.
[edit] References
- ^ Oricon Ranking. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
- ^ Yusuke Nakamura. DigMeOut.net. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
- ^ Asian Kung-Fu Generation
