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".
E
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
溶け出して沈みそうな泥の船
握りしめてこぼれ落ちた冬の空
問いかけても返らないうわの空
できるだけ遠くまで連れて行くよ僕らを
浮かんでは沈んだり彷徨っては
そうさすべてが窄み行くとも
ここから君のスタート
その手伸ばせば目の前さ ほら
広がりゆく未来へ
できる限り可能な限り遠くまで
溶け出して沈みそうな泥の船
ここから僕のスタート
そうさすべてが窄み行くとも
ここから君のスタート
その手伸ばせば目の前さ ほら
広がりゆく未来へ
君の未来へ
The lyrics to ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's song E conveys the theme of moving forward into the future. The first two lines describe the painful turmoil and anguish experienced by the subject of the song. The "muddy ship" they're aboard is sinking, and the harsh winter sky serves as a backdrop to the question that lingers unanswered in the air. Despite this, the singer asserts that they will do everything in their power to take them far away. They will rise and fall while searching for a way out, but they'll never give up.
The second verse repeats the theme of starting anew - the singer sees this as their start, wherever they may be in life. The future is limitless if one is willing to reach for it. The pain and suffering they've endured will lead them to a wider and brighter future. The song ends on an optimistic note, with the singer encouraging the subject to reach out and take hold of the future that lies before them.
Overall, the song is an uplifting and motivational tune that encourages listeners to persevere and aim for a better tomorrow, despite the pain and hardships of today.
Line by Line Meaning
苦しくて苦しめた君の胸
Your chest, in which the pain you suffered resides.
溶け出して沈みそうな泥の船
A muddy ship that seems to be sinking as it melts away.
握りしめてこぼれ落ちた冬の空
The winter sky that slipped through your grasp and spilled out.
問いかけても返らないうわの空
An empty sky that doesn't answer even if you question it.
できるだけ遠くまで連れて行くよ僕らを
We'll take ourselves as far as we can, won't we?
浮かんでは沈んだり彷徨っては
Floating, sinking, and wandering around.
ここから僕のスタート
This is my starting point.
そうさすべてが窄み行くとも
Even though everything seems constricted.
ここから君のスタート
This is your starting point.
その手伸ばせば目の前さ ほら
Look, right in front of you, if you reach out.
広がりゆく未来へ
A future that continues to expand.
できる限り可能な限り遠くまで
As far as we can go, as long as it's possible.
君の未来へ
Towards your future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Masafumi Goto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind