Asian Kung-Fu Generation

Comprised of the same members since Asian Kung-Fu Generation’s incarnation in 1996, the band consists of vocalist Masafumi Gotō, guitarist Kensuke Kita, bassist Takahiro Yamada, and drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi. Having met at a music club at the private Kanto Gakuin University, Gotō, Kita, and Yamada began playing together with drummer Ijichi joining after parting ways with his former band. After a few years of honing their skills around campus and in the local Yokohama area, Asian Kung-Fu Generation released their debut English-speaking EP in the year 2000.

Looking to raise their profile further, the band produced the single “Konayuki” which ultimately earned regular rotation by a local Yokohama radio DJ, which led to a subsequent EP “I’m Standing Here” in November 2001. By this time the band were drawing large audiences to their shows in Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, and Tokyo, which led the group to sign with Under Flowers Records. The Asian Kung-Fu Generation released their debut major-label mini-album, “Hōkai Amplifier” in 2002, which rose to No. 35 on the Oricon Indie Sales Chart.

After subsequently signing with the Sony Music imprint Ki/oon Records, the band performed at Shimokitazawa Club Shelter, Fuji Rock Festival and Summer Sonic ’03, before releasing their debut major-label single “Mirai no Kakera”. The band’s debut full-length “Kimi Tsunagi Five M” appeared in November 2003 and rose to No. 5 on the Japanese Albums Chart. Following the release the band won the Best New Artist Award at the Space Shower Music Video Awards, and played a host of festivals in 2004. The same year AKG issued their sophomore album “Sol-fa”, led by the single “Siren”.

The full-length “Fanclub” arrived in 2006, peaking at No. 3 on the Oricon charts, and spawning the singles “Blue Train” and the No. 1 “World Apart”. Following an intensive period of touring, Asian Kung-Fu Generation released their fourth album to date “World World World” in 2008. The record represented the group’s first No. 1 album in Japan led by the single “Aru Machi no Gunjō”. The EP “Mada Minu Ashita, ni” followed in June, spawning the No. 15 charting single “Mustang”. Building on their cultural prominency and international profile, AKG released their fifth studio album “Surf Bungaku Kamakura” in 2008, followed by “Magic Disk” in 2010, and “Landmark” in 2012.