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".
ワールドアパート
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
限りない時代のアイデア
砂嵐の夜に加速して
気づいたら此処は何処か
即席の歌で舞い踊る
実態のない未来と愛の輪
僕たちの日々のささやかな願いすら
僕の両手にはこれだけだよ
心の中に革命を
遠く向こうで
ビルに虚しさが刺さって
六畳のアパートの現実は麻痺した
目を塞いで
僕は君を想い描いて
想像の世界で君も全部なくして分かったよ
僕の両手にはこれだけだよ
君の両手にはそれだけだろ
目蓋の奥に浮かぶイメージで
心の中に革命を
遠く向こうで
ビルに虚しさが刺さって
六畳のアパートの現実は麻痺した
目を塞いで
僕は君を想い描いて
想像の世界で君も全部なくして
分かったよ
The lyrics of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's song, ワールドアパート (World Apartment), describe a journey from the edge of the world to the heart of the city, surrounded by boundless ideas and a sense of urgency. The singer is caught in a sandstorm night, confronted with an uncertain reality that is both exhilarating and terrifying. The lyrics emphasize the power of imagination and the interplay between individual desires and collective aspirations. The singer is caught in between an ephemeral future and a concrete present, struggling to reconcile the two and find a sense of purpose.
The song's title, ワールドアパート, is a pun on "world apart" and "world apartment," suggesting a sense of detachment and interconnectedness. The lyrics touch upon themes of alienation, disillusionment, and hope. The song's structure is characterized by a driving beat, layered guitar riffs, and a soaring chorus, creating a sense of momentum and intensity. The lyrics evoke a sense of disorientation and wonder, inviting the listener to join the singer on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
世界の果てから街へ飛ぶ
Flying from the edge of the world to the city
限りない時代のアイデア
Ideas of an endless era
砂嵐の夜に加速して
Accelerating through a sandstorm night
気づいたら此処は何処か
Realizing that we don't know where we are
即席の歌で舞い踊る
Dancing to an impromptu song
実態のない未来と愛の輪
A circle of love and a future without substance
僕たちの日々のささやかな願いすら
Even our modest daily wishes feel like a dream
夢のようだよ
It's like a dream
僕の両手にはこれだけだよ
This is all I have in my hands
心の中に革命を
A revolution in my heart
遠く向こうで
In the distance
ビルに虚しさが刺さって
Emptiness stabs the buildings
六畳のアパートの現実は麻痺した
The reality of my six-tatami apartment is numb
目を塞いで
Closing my eyes
僕は君を想い描いて
I picture you in my mind
想像の世界で君も全部なくして分かったよ
I realized that even you disappear completely in my imagined world
君の両手にはそれだけだろ
That's all you have in your hands, right?
目蓋の奥に浮かぶイメージで
With an image that floats behind my eyelids
Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nico Qian
Flying into the city from the end of the world
Are endless ideas of this era
Accelerating into a night of sandstorm
I suddenly realised that I'd lost my way
Dancing lightly to an impromptu song
An illusory ring made of the future and love
Even the humblest wish from our daily lives
Is like a dream
My two hands hold only so much
Bring about a revolution in my heart
Far away in the distance
Is a building pierced by emptiness
Paralysing the realities within my small studio apartment
Closed my eyes
And pictured you
Erased you and everything from my imaginary world
And finally understood
My two hands hold only so much
Your two hands hold just that much
With images that surface deep behind my closed eyes
I'll bring about a revolution in my heart
Far away in the distance
Is a building pierced by emptiness
Paralysing the realities within my small studio apartment
Closed my eyes
And pictured you
Erased you and everything from my imaginary world
And finally understood
れすといんぴーす
世界の果てから街へ飛ぶ
限りない時代のアイデア
砂嵐の夜に加速して
気づいたら此処は何処か
即席の歌で舞い踊る
実態のない未来と愛の輪
僕たちの日々のささやかな願いすら
夢のようだよ
僕の両手にはこれだけだよ
心の中に革命を
※ 遠く向こうで
ビルに虚しさが刺さって
六畳のアパートの現実は麻痺した
目を塞いで
僕は君を想い描いて
想像の世界で君も全部なくして
分かったよ
僕の両手にはこれだけだよ
君の両手にはそれだけだろ
目蓋の奥に浮かぶイメージで
心の中に革命を
(※くり返し)
Rick Rodz
sekai no hate kawa machi e tobu
kagirinai jidai no AIDEA
sunaarashi no yoru ni kasoku shite
kidzuitara koko wa doko ka
sokuseku no uta de maiodoru
jittai no nai mirai to ai no wa
bokutachi no hibi no sasayaka na
negai sura yume no you da yo
boku no ryoute ni wa kore dake da yo
kokoko no naka ni kakumei wo
tooku mukou de
BIRU ni munashisa ga sasatte
rokushou no APAATO no
genjitsu wa mahi shita
hi wo fusaide
boku wa kimi wo omoi egaite
souzou no sekai de
kimi mo zenbu nakushite
wakatta yo
boku no ryoute ni wa kore dake da yo
kimi no ryoute ni wa sore dake daro
mabuta no oku ni ukabu IMEEJI de
kokoro no naka ni kakumei wo
tooku mukou de
BIRU ni munashisa ga sasatte
rokushou no APAATO no
genjitsu wa mahi shita
hi wo fusaide
boku wa kimi wo omoi egaite
souzou no sekai de
kimi mo zenbu nakushite
wakatta yo
NattoKami
This is one of the hardest songs they made but it’s still so underrated 😭
Yaku Lin
@samo Where can I read more about this issue?
Kevin Muhlbach
@samo Was there ever a release of that show of them playing it?
samo
Gabrielle Molinaro to my knowledge, he didn't necessarily hate the song, but he hated writing it because the label made the band write something more "commercial" for the album which was already completed. they played the song again in 2020 for the "the song of apple" tour so i'd imagine they still like the song
AimanAshraff215
Even Gotch cried when recording this song. He hated it
FrostyNeedlez
Fr
KingBass79
that's such a clean sounding bass. It pierces but doesn't overwhelm the song
Calogera W.
KingBass79 same! ❤
KingBass79
Calogera van der Woude that's probably why I like their music alot, even though I don't understand what they're saying lol
Calogera W.
KingBass79 The bass sounds like this in a lot of their songs!