ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

Ajikan, AKFG, AKG アジアン・カンフー・ジェネレーション

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Members

Biography

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 band signed by Sony Music.HistoryThe band was first formed in 1996 by Kensuke Kita, Takahiro Yamada, and Masafumi Gotō who met in college, with Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after. They played many small ve...

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 band signed by Sony Music.

History

The band was first formed in 1996 by Kensuke Kita, Takahiro Yamada, and Masafumi Gotō who met in college, with Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after. They played many small venues until they released their first indie EP in 2000, a six-song EP of English cover songs. In the following year, the band tried to get their first Japanese single, "Kona Yuki" (粉雪, "Kona Yuki"), 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 the same year. In 2002, the band would release their first mini-album Hōkai Amplifer (崩壊アンプリファー, Hōkai Amplifer?), 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, "Mirai no Kakera") and "Kimi to Iu Hana" (君という花, "Kimi to Iu Hana"?), which would catapult them to fame. Their first full album, Kimi Tsunagi Five M (君繋ファイブエム, Kimi Tsunagi Five M?), sold over 25,000 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, Ajikan), the shortened version 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, "Siren"), "Loop & Loop" (ループ＆ループ, "Loop & Loop"?), "Rewrite" (リライト, "Rewrite"), and "Kimi no Machi Made" (君の街まで, "Kimi no Machi Made"?). "Rewrite" was featured as the fourth opening song to the anime Fullmetal Alchemist. The band also released their second album, Sol-fa (ソルファ, Sol-fa), 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 FES. 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, "Blue Train"?), and held a short tour in the winter.

The band released two albums in 2006 Fanclub (ファンクラブ, Fanclub?) 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, 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 to release three singles in 2006, Blue Train, World Apart and Aru Machi no Gunjo. Blue Train managed to obtain a #5 spot on the charts while World Apart went on to become the band's first number one single.

Members

Name: Goto Masafumi (後藤正文)

From: Chuubu, Japan

Birth Date: December 2, 1976

Birth Place: Shizuoka, Japan

Instrument: Lead vocal, rhythm guitar

Instrument Equipment: '75 Gibson Marauder, Gibson Les Paul Faded Double-Cut (Faded Yellow), Gibson Les Paul Junior Faded Double-Cut (Worn Cherry), and Roland Custom JC-160 amp.

Favorite artists: Weezer, Teenage Fanclub, NUMBER GIRL, and Eastern Youth

Name: Kita Kensuke (喜多建介)

From: Tokyo, Japan

Birth Date: January 24, 1977

Birth Place: Kanagawa, Japan

Instrument: Lead guitar, background vocal

Favorite artists: Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers, Supergrass and XTC

Name: Yamada Takahiro (山田貴洋)

From: Chuubu, Japan

Birth Date: August 19, 1977

Birth Place: Shizuoka, Japan

Instrument: Bass, background vocal

Favorite artists: The Beatles, Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins and Pet Shop Boys

Name: Ijichi Kiyoshi (伊地知潔)

From: Tokyo, Japan

Birth Date: September 25, 1977

Birth Place: Kanagawa, Japan

Instrument: Drums

Favorite artists: Brian Setzer, and Hi-Standard

Discography

Albums

[2003.11.19] Kimitsunagi Five M (君繋ファイブエム)

[2004.10.20] Sol-Fa (ソルファ)

[2006.03.15] Fan Club (ファンクラブ)

[2006.10.25] Feedback File (フィードバックファイル)

[2008.03.05] World World World (ワールドワールドワールド)

[2008.11.05] Surf Bungaku Kamakura (サーフブンガクカマクラ)

[2010.06.23] Magic Disk (マジックディスク)

Mini-Albums

[2003.04.23] Houkai Amplifer (崩壊アンプリファー)

[2008.06.11] Mada Minu Ashita ni (未だ見ぬ明日に)

Singles

[2003.08.06] Mirai no Kakera (未来の破片)

[2003.10.16] Kimi to Iu Hana (君という花)

[2004.04.14] Siren (サイレン)

[2004.05.19] Loop & Loop (ループ&ループ)

[2004.08.04] Rewrite (リライト)

[2004.09.23] Kimi no Machi Made (君の街まで)

[2005.11.30] Blue Train (ブルートレイン)

[2006.02.15] World Apart (ワールドアパート)

[2006.11.29] Aru Machi no Gunjou (或る街の群青)

[2007.11.07] After Dark (アフターダーク)

[2008.02.06] Korogaru Iwa, Kimi ni Asa ga Furu (転がる岩、君に朝が降る)

[2008.10.15] Fujisawa Loser (藤沢ルーザー)

[2009.12.02] Shinseiki no Love Song (新世紀のラブソング)

[2010.03.31] Solanin (ソラニン)

[2010.05.26] Maigo Inu to Ame no Beat (迷子犬と雨のビート)

DVDs

[2004.11.26] Eizou Sakuhin-shuu Vol.1 (映像作品集 1巻)

[2005.04.20] Eizou Sakuhin-shuu Vol.2 Live at Budokan+ (映像作品集 2巻 Live at 武道館+)

[2007.03.21] Eizou Sakuhin-shuu Vol.3 Tour Sui-Cup 2006-2007 The Start of a New Season (映像作品集 3巻 Tour酔杯2006-2007 "The start of a new season")

[2008.03.26] Eizou Sakuhin-shuu Vol.4 (映像作品集 4巻)

[2009.03.29] Eizou Sakuhin-shuu Vol.5 ~live archives 2008~ (映像作品集 5巻 ~live archives 2008~)

[2009.10.07] Eizou Sakuhin-shuu Vol.6 ~Tour 2009: World World World~ (映像作品集6巻 ~Tour 2009 ワールドワールドワールド~)

News & Topics

3

26 Mar 19

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Announces New Single "Dororo / Kaihouku"

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26 Mar 19
2

10 Dec 18

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's "Hometown" Chosen As "Miki Clinic de Kanpai wo" Theme Song

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10 Dec 18
5

6 Aug 18

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Announces New Single "Boys & Girls"

1 comment ·
6 Aug 18
9

26 Jun 17

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's Masafumi Goto To Release A Novel

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26 Jun 17
3

22 Nov 16

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Releases 2016 Version Of "Rewrite" Music Video

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22 Nov 16
6

5 Oct 16

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG FU GENERATION to Release Re-Recording of 2nd Album "Sol-fa"

2 comments ·
5 Oct 16
1

3 Apr 16

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation To Provide "Naruto Shippuden" Theme Song

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3 Apr 16
1

28 Nov 15

[Jpop] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Releases New Single & Blu-Ray/DVD in January

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28 Nov 15
1

28 Oct 15

[Jrock] [Giveaway] Win Free Tickets for Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Live in London!

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28 Oct 15
1

12 Oct 15

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Upcoming Tokyo Concert to Stream Live via YouTube

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12 Oct 15
1

29 Mar 15

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Reveals New Album and Latin America Tour

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29 Mar 15
1

4 Feb 15

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Making A Comeback With "Easter", First New Single In 2 Years

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4 Feb 15
1

19 Jun 14

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Reveals Full PV For "Standard"

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19 Jun 14
1

18 May 14

[Jpop] Tokyo Ska Paradise Announces Collaboration with ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

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18 May 14
1

1 May 14

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Announces the Line-up of NANO-MUGEN FES.2014

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1 May 14
1

15 Apr 14

[Jrock] Gotch of Asian Kung-Fu Generation to Embark on Solo Tour This May

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15 Apr 14
1

26 Jan 14

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Goto Masafumi To Release Solo Single And Album

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26 Jan 14
1

20 Nov 13

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation To Release Photobook “This is ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION”

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20 Nov 13
1

18 Oct 13

[Jpop] Asian Kung-Fu Generation & STRAIGHTENER To Perform Across Asia

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18 Oct 13
1

8 Dec 12

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Announces New Single "Ima wo Ikite"

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8 Dec 12

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

Members

Biography

News & Topics

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Announces New Single "Dororo / Kaihouku"

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's "Hometown" Chosen As "Miki Clinic de Kanpai wo" Theme Song

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Announces New Single "Boys & Girls"

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's Masafumi Goto To Release A Novel

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Releases 2016 Version Of "Rewrite" Music Video

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG FU GENERATION to Release Re-Recording of 2nd Album "Sol-fa"

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation To Provide "Naruto Shippuden" Theme Song

[Jpop] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Releases New Single & Blu-Ray/DVD in January

[Jrock] [Giveaway] Win Free Tickets for Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Live in London!

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Upcoming Tokyo Concert to Stream Live via YouTube

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Reveals New Album and Latin America Tour

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Making A Comeback With "Easter", First New Single In 2 Years

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Reveals Full PV For "Standard"

[Jpop] Tokyo Ska Paradise Announces Collaboration with ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

[Jpop] ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Announces the Line-up of NANO-MUGEN FES.2014

[Jrock] Gotch of Asian Kung-Fu Generation to Embark on Solo Tour This May

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Goto Masafumi To Release Solo Single And Album

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation To Release Photobook “This is ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION”

[Jpop] Asian Kung-Fu Generation & STRAIGHTENER To Perform Across Asia

[Jrock] Asian Kung-Fu Generation Announces New Single "Ima wo Ikite"