The four of them came together in the music club of their university in 1996; for Gotoh, Kita, and Yamada, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION was the first band they ever formed.
After a while, they began to perform at the school and in the local Yokohama area. Interestingly, their first songs were all written in English and, in fact, their first independent 6 track album (released in 2000) was entirely sung in English. The CDs were sold at concerts and over the internet.
In 2001, beginning with "YMD" they held many self-planned events at Yokohama's CLUB24.
Once "Konayuki," the first song in which they used Japanese lyrics, was completed, they sent copies to all the independent shows on the FM stations, and were consequently able to get their music played for the first time on FM radio.
After that, they released their second CD of original works, this time using Japanese lyrics. It achieved great success within the region and at all the Live Houses.
From this time on, starting at Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, Kichijouji and other places, they started putting on shows famed for their energy.
In 2002, they submitted a track to the Underflow Records Compilation CD. In November of the same year, they released "Houkai Amplifier," their first Mini Album to be produced professionally. This album, which would decide their future, debuted in the number 1 spot of Highline Records weekly charts, and also made it to the number 35 spot in the Oricon Indies Chart.
On April 4, 2003, "Houkai Amplifier" was re-released under Ki/oon Records. That summer, they appeared at FUJI ROCK (on the "ROOKIE A GO GO" stage), and at SUMMER SONIC '03 in Osaka.
Following their October 16, 2003 single "Kimi to Iu Hana," their first full album "Kimi Tsunagi Five M" was released on November 19.
From January 19 to February 25 2004, they went on the "five nano seconds" tour. All shows immediately sold out and were a massive success.
In 2004, their first proper single "Siren" and their second single, the iconic "Loop & Loop," were released, the former on April 14th and the latter on May 19th.
Their self-planned event ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION presents "NANO-MUGEN FEST" took place on July 1st at Nihon Budoukan and, that summer, they appeared live at festivals in areas all over the country. On August 4th, their new single "Rewrite" was released, followed by "Kimi no Machi Made" on September 23rd.
On October 20, 2004, their long-awaited new album "Sol-fa" was released and this really pushed the band to the forefront of the J-Rock scene. Then, on November 2nd, they started their second national tour: ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Tour Suihai No!
June 8 2005 saw the release of "NANO-MUGEN COMPILATION," an album composed of songs from various acts, both Japanese and English-language alike. Included was their first single after "Sol-fa": "Blackout." Later, the band released their first real single in over a year; "Blue Train."
In 2006, the band released another single "World Apart," followed by their third album, "Fanclub." A month later, they released their latest album "Feedback File," which includes live versions of some of their most popular tracks.
Their song "Haruka Kanata" was chosen to be a theme song for the anime series "Naruto," and the popular single "Rewrite" was selected as a theme song to the hit anime series "Fullmetal Alchemist." The song "Aru Machi no Gunjou" was used in the animated movie "Tekkon Kinkreet," and the song "After Dark" was used as a theme song for the animated series "BLEACH." The song "Maigo Inu to Ame no Beat" was used as the opening theme for the anime "The Tatami Galaxy".
アフターダーク
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
剥がれ落ちた花にも気付かずに飛ぶ
街角甘い匂い流涎
遠く向こうから
何処かで聞いたような鳴き声
夜風が運ぶ淡い希望を乗せて
それを拒むように世界は揺れて全てを奪い去る
夢なら覚めた
だけど僕らはまだ何もしていない
進め
真昼の怠惰を断ち切るような素振りで浮かぶ
生まれ落ちた雲まで見下ろすように飛ぶ
街角血の匂い流線
遠く向こうから
何処かで聞いたような泣き声
ドロドロ流れる深く赤い月が現れて振られる采
出鱈目な日々を断ち切りたい
何食わぬ顔で終わらぬように
夜風が運ぶ淡い希望を乗せて
何処まで行けるか
それを拒むように世界は揺れて全てを奪い去る
夢なら覚めた
だけど僕らはまだ何もしていない
進め
The lyrics of "アフターダーク" by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION describe a tense and uncertain environment that is permeated by a sense of hopelessness and impending doom. The singer of the song is using the cover of the elongated shadows cast by the streetlights to flee from an unknown threat. As he runs, he doesn't even notice the flowers that have fallen along his path. The city is filled with the sweet smell of something that makes him drool, but he's unable to enjoy it because he's haunted by a familiar sounding cry that seems to be coming from somewhere far away.
Line by Line Meaning
背中の影が延び切るその合間に逃げる
Running in the gaps of extended shadows
剥がれ落ちた花にも気付かずに飛ぶ
Flying without noticing fallen flowers
街角甘い匂い流涎
Savoring the sweet scent at the street corner
遠く向こうから何処かで聞いたような鳴き声
A distant sound of a familiar cry
夜風が運ぶ淡い希望を乗せて
The night breeze carries a faint hope
何処まで行けるかそれを拒むように世界は揺れて全てを奪い去る
The world shakes as if rejecting how far one can go, taking away everything
夢なら覚めた
If it's a dream, I woke up
だけど僕らはまだ何もしていない進め
But we still haven't done anything, so let's move forward
真昼の怠惰を断ち切るような素振りで浮かぶ
Floating with a gesture that cuts through the midday lethargy
生まれ落ちた雲まで見下ろすように飛ぶ
Flying as if looking down on the clouds born anew
街角血の匂い流線
The scent of blood at the street corner
何処かで聞いたような泣き声
A crying voice that sounds familiar
ドロドロ流れる深く赤い月が現れて振られる采
A deeply red moon, flowing thick and muddy, appears and beckons
出鱈目な日々を断ち切りたい
I want to break away from these nonsensical days
何食わぬ顔で終わらぬように
So that it doesn't end with an indifferent face
Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.