Asian Kung-Fu Generation
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 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 2001. In 2003, the band would release their first mini-album Hōkai Amplifier (崩壊アンプリファー, Hōkai Amplifier?), 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?) 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, "Siren"?), "Loop & Loop" (ループ＆ループ, "Loop & Loop"?), "Rewrite" (リライト, "Rewrite"?),which is the opening song for the anime Fullmetal Alchemist and "Kimi no Machi Made" (君の街まで, "Kimi no Machi Made"?). 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, 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 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, "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, 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 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.
Asian Kung-Fu Generation's single and album covers are designed and created by Yusuke Nakamura.
Member profiles
Masafumi Gotō (後藤 正文, ゴトウ マサフミ?)
Birthdate: December 12, 1976
Place of Birth: Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture
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, キタ ケンスケ?)
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).
Major: Economics
Favorite Bands: Radiohead, Mannix, Supergrass and XTC
Takahiro Yamada (山田 貴洋, ヤマダ タカヒロ?)
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, イヂチ キヨシ?)
Birthdate: September 25, 1977
Place of Birth: Kanagawa Prefecture
Drummer
Pearl Drums (custon set)
Sabian cymbals
Major: Engineering
Favorite Bands: Brian Setzer and Hi-Standard