Asian Kung-Fu Generation (アジアン・カンフー・ジェネレーション Ajian Kanfū Jenerēshon, styliz… Read Full Bio ↴Asian Kung-Fu Generation (アジアン・カンフー・ジェネレーション Ajian Kanfū Jenerēshon, stylized as ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION) is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Yokohama, Japan, in 1996. For nearly its entire career, the band has consisted of vocalist Masafumi Gotō, guitarist Kensuke Kita, bassist Takahiro Yamada, and drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi. Starting out as a college band, Asian Kung-Fu Generation released a series of independent EPs featuring lyrics mostly sung in English. In 2002, they released their major-label EP debut Hōkai Amplifier, from that point singing their lyrics in Japanese. The band's musical style is influenced by seminal Western alternative rock acts as well as their own local Japanese indie-rock and punk scene. Their songs incorporate various aspects of the genres, most typically expressing fast tempos and prominent power chord guitar riffs in addition to rhythmic groove and emotional lyrics. Despite the indie nature of their music, the band has enjoyed worldwide commercial success in addition to critical acclaim. Asian Kung-Fu Generation has been cited as one of the best, most balanced modern rock bands to emerge from Japan in the 2000s.

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".

夜の向こう
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ああ、光る「今」が少し僕らの
ああ、黒い影を胸に映し出したんだ
眩しくて目を塞いだ
ほんの一寸、閉じる合間
日を溶かして赤い目蓋
世界が滲んだ

ああ、頬を撫でる弱い風でも

ああ、時に人の胸に突き刺さって
ああ!此処で強く声をあげでも
ああ!届く距離に君は足りなかったんだ

悔しくて目を塞いだ
ほんの一寸、閉じる合間
陽を溶かして赤い目蓋
世界が滲んだ

毎夜毎夜そう此処で
願うよ太陽みたいな未来を
毎夜毎夜そう君は　
夜の向こうへ想いを馳せる　
今を
日々を

時を
駆けるんだ

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song 夜の向こう by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION are reflective and contemplative, dealing with themes of longing, hope, and frustration. The song speaks of the power of the present moment, which is depicted as a shining light that reflects the darkness within. The singer is overwhelmed by this light, so much so that they have to shut their eyes to it. In the brief moments when their eyes are closed, they experience a kind of timelessness that allows them to see the world in a different way - the sun seems to melt away, leaving only red-tinged eyelids and a blurred world.

The second verse speaks of the way that even a gentle breeze can sometimes pierce the heart like a knife. The singer is frustrated that even when they try to raise their voice and make themselves heard, it seems that their words cannot reach the person they most want to hear them. They close their eyes once again, and the world dissolves into a haze of colors and emotions. The final stanza of the song speaks of the nightly ritual of longing for a future that is bright, much like the sun that the singer is struggling to see. The person the song is addressed to has already gone "to the other side of the night," leaving the singer behind to move forward through time and space alone.

Line by Line Meaning

ああ、光る「今」が少し僕らの
Oh, the shining present moment belongs a little to us

ああ、黒い影を胸に映し出したんだ
Oh, I projected a black shadow onto my chest

眩しくて目を塞いだ
It's so bright that I cover my eyes

ほんの一寸、閉じる合間
Just a moment, I close my eyes

日を溶かして赤い目蓋
The sun melts into my red eyelids

世界が滲んだ
The world becomes blurry

ああ、頬を撫でる弱い風でも
Oh, even the weak wind that brushes my cheek

ああ、時に人の胸に突き刺さって
Oh, sometimes stabs into people's hearts

ああ!此処で強く声をあげでも
Oh, even if I raise my voice loud here

ああ!届く距離に君は足りなかったんだ
Oh, but you were not within reach

悔しくて目を塞いだ
It's frustrating, so I cover my eyes