Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, commonly abbreviated by fans as Skapara or TSPO, is a Japanese ska and jazz band formed in 1988 by the percussionist Asa-Chang, and initially composed of over 10 veterans of Tokyo's underground scene. At the time, the band's sound was unlike that of any of its contemporaries in the then fledgling Japanese ska scene, and over the course of the past 31 years, they have been influential on Japanese music as a whole. Its sound, the product of the musical influences of its members, is a mix of traditional ska, jazz, and rock. In the vein of many other more traditional ska acts, many of Skapara's songs are purely instrumental.
Asian Kung-Fu Generation is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Yokohama, Japan, in 1996. For its entire career, the band has consisted of vocalist Masafumi Gotoh, guitarist Kensuke Kita, bassist Takahiro Yamada, and drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi. Starting out as a college band, Asian Kung-Fu Generation released a series of independent EPs featuring lyrics mostly sung in English. In 2002, they released their major-label EP debut Hōkai Amplifier, from that point singing their lyrics in Japanese. The band's musical style is influenced by seminal Western alternative rock acts as well as their own local Japanese indie-rock and punk scene. Their songs incorporate various aspects of the genres, most typically expressing fast tempos and prominent power chord guitar riffs in addition to rhythmic groove and emotional lyrics. Despite the indie nature of their music, the band has enjoyed worldwide commercial success in addition to critical acclaim. Asian Kung-Fu Generation has been cited as one of the best, most balanced modern rock bands to emerge from Japan in the 2000s.
Sol-fa is the second studio album by Japanese rock band, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, released on October 20, 2004.
Masafumi Gotoh is the lead vocalist, main songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after. As the main songwriter of the band, Gotō is accredited for engendering a majority of their lyrics, but has a strong tendency to share songwriting duties equally among his bandmates. His vocal style most often alternates between soft, melodic singing, and harder, harsher, yelling. Masafumi has a degree in economics and his favourite artists include Weezer, Number Girl, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and Beck. He produces records for other artists such as Chatmonchy, Dr. Downer and The Chef Cooks Me. He was also one of the founding members of the band Skeletons (スケルトンズ).
Mada Minu Ashita ni is the second major-label EP by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation, released on June 11, 2008. The mini-album features songs conceived around the time of the recording of their preceding full-length album, World World World.
Hōkai Amplifier is the major-label debut EP by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation, released on November 25, 2002 on Under Flower Records.
"Siren" is a song by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released as the lead single of their second full-length studio album, Sol-fa, on April 4, 2004. With the band's then-newly emerging popularity, the single managed to debut at number two on the Oricon charts. Although the song's B-side, "Siren#," shares a nearly identical title with the single, the two are somewhat different from each other. While both retain the same instrumental, the lyrics and melody of "Siren#" are different from that of "Siren." In a sense, "Siren#" can be considered a continuation or a remix of its A-side.
"Loop & Loop" is a song by the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was the second single released from their second full-length studio album, Sol-fa, on May 19, 2004.
"Korogaru Iwa, Kimi ni Asa ga Furu" is a song by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released as the third and last single of their fifth studio album, World World World, on February 6, 2008. The song was first introduced late 2007 during a live, onstage performance in Korea while the band was on its Project Beef tour. The song was ranked 8th on fans request for band's 10th anniversary live setlist on September 14, 2013.
"Shinseiki no Love Song" is the 13th single of Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation, released on December 2, 2009. There is a limited edition version with a DVD.
"Solanin" (ソラニン) is a song by Japanese rock band, Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released as a single on March 31, 2010. The song was written for the film of the same name. The music was composed by band member Masafumi Gotoh, while the lyrics was written by Inio Asano, creator of the manga of the same name that the film is based on. Asian Kung-Fu Generation's recording was not used in the film. Instead, a cover, credited to Rotti, a fictional band from the film, with vocals by Aoi Miyazaki, who plays Meiko in the film, was used.
"Marching Band" is the 16th single of Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation for their first best-of album Best Hit AKG. The single was released on November 30, 2011. The song "N2" is also featured on the album Landmark.
"Sore dewa, Mata Ashita" ) is a song by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released on July 25, 2012 and reached number 11 on the Oricon charts, make them failed to enter Top 10 since Kimi to Iu Hana. It was used as the theme song for Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie and one of three song by Asian Kung-Fu Generation in the Naruto media, alongside Haruka Kanata and Blood Circulator. The song was ranked 9th on fans request for band's 10th anniversary live setlist on September 14, 2013.
"Re:Re:" is a song by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation from their second full-length studio album, Sol-fa. In 2016, they re-recorded Sol-fa and new version of Re: Re: was released as the lead single on March 16, 2016. The 2016 version of Re:Re: was used as the opening for the anime Erased. The song was ranked 2nd on fans request for band's 10th anniversary live setlist on September 14, 2013.
"Blood Circulator" is a song by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released on July 13, 2016 and reached number 13 on the Oricon. It was used as the third opening for the 20th season of the anime Naruto Shippuden and the third song by Asian Kung-Fu Generation in the Naruto media, after "Haruka Kanata" and "Sore dewa, Mata Ashita". Masafumi Gotō said, "The offer came to places where there was no song, no idea, no time, but I could not find a reason to refuse, I thought that I had to write down even while I was sleeping." Single's B-side, Hakkei, sung by band's guitarist, Kensuke Kita. This is the fourth time since Re:Re:'s B-side, "Time Traveller" in 2016.
"Right Now" is a song by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released as the single on January 6, 2016 and it was used as the theme song for the 2016 film, Pink and Gray. This is the second time the band didn't use Yusuke Nakamura's artwork on their single, instead they just used the simple artwork of pink and grey color to fit in with the film.
"Kōya o Aruke" is a song by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released on March 29, 2017 and was used as the theme song for the 2017 anime film, Night Is Short, Walk On Girl. Yūsuke Nakamura, the illustrator for all of the band's artwork, is also the person in charge of the original character design for the movie.
"Boys & Girls" is a song by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released on September 26, 2018 and reached number 18 on the Oricon. "Boys & Girls" features lyrics described as cheering on all people of today’s generation which thread through a mid-tempo number characterised by powerful and surging guitar riffs. B-side single, "Shukujitsu" was composed by bassist, Takahiro Yamada.
Best Hit AKG 2 (2012–2018) is the second best-of album by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. It was released on March 28, 2018, alongside two compilation album, Best Hit AKG Official Bootleg "HONE" and "IMO". Best Hit AKG 2 contain songs and all singles from 2012–2018 and new song, "Seija no March". HONE and IMO are playlist created by Masafumi Gotoh around Best Hit AKG released. HONE has a selection of heavier tracks, whilst IMO version is a mix of “power pop” themed songs. Artwork for both album drawn by Gotoh and based The Beatles's red and blue album.
"Dororo" and "Kaihōku" are songs by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Both songs were released as a double A-side and become their 26th single on 15 May 2019. "Dororo" was used as second opening theme for 2019 remake anime, Dororo. "Kaihōku" was used as official support song of Fujieda MYFC and was broadcast at the stadium in a match against AC Nagano Parceiro. Prior to the single release, "Dororo" was available for digital download on iTunes.
