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".

To You. The Departing
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

此処からは何もかもが霞むようだな
夜になって降り出した雨
朝までに止め

叩くキーボード
意識だけが光の線を這う
見失って泣き出したって
遅いので憂え

塞ぎ込んで何を知った?
胸の奥に垂れ落ちた
黒い重油に塗れたような世界からも
光る道筋を上へ

世界中を悲しみが覆うようだな
神様だってそう望んでいて
ヤバイヤメヤメ

叩くキーボード
仮想世界の創造主になる
幻だって今気付いたって
遅いので憂え

塞ぎ込んで何になった?
胸の奥に垂れ落ちた
黒い重油に塗れたような世界からも
光る道筋を

東の空が光る闇は抱いたままだ
朝の訪れを恨んだ日もあったな
東の空が光る傷は開いたままだ
それでも僕は行こう
何が待ち誰と出会うだろう

ハロー

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "To You. The Departing" by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION depict a sense of detachment and longing for something beyond the current situation. The opening line suggests a sense of uncertainty and haziness that clouds everything from where the singer stands. The rain that starts falling at night with the hope that it will stop by morning represents the passing of time and the desire for a fresh start.

The lines about tapping keyboards and the conscious mind following the line of light convey a feeling of being lost in a virtual world. The singer realizes it's too late to worry about losing their way or starting to cry. The phrase "塞ぎ込んで何を知った?" (What did I learn by closing myself off?) suggests that the singer has withdrawn from the world and is questioning the significance of their actions.

The second verse expresses a similar sentiment but on a larger scale, as if the sadness and despair are spreading across the entire world. The mention of "神様だってそう望んでいて" (Even God wishes for it) suggests that even higher powers are longing for a change. The repetition of "ヤバイヤメヤメ" (Dangerous, stop it) could be seen as a cry for help or a plea to end the suffering.

The chorus continues with the theme of the keyboard being played and the singer becoming the creator of a virtual world. The realization that it's all an illusion and the feeling of being late to understand bring a sense of worry and regret. The line "塞ぎ込んで何になった?" (What have I become by closing myself off?) emphasizes the importance of staying connected and not losing oneself in a dark, oil-streaked world.

The last part of the song suggests a glimmer of hope, with the eastern sky shining and the wounds still open. Despite everything, the singer decides to move forward, wondering what awaits them and who they will meet. The final line, "ハロー" (Hello), can be seen as a greeting to the future and a determination to face whatever comes next.

Line by Line Meaning

此処からは何もかもが霞むようだな
From here, everything seems to blur

夜になって降り出した雨
The rain started falling at night

朝までに止め
Stop by morning

叩くキーボード
Tapping on the keyboard

意識だけが光の線を這う
Only consciousness follows the line of light

見失って泣き出したって
Even if I lose sight and start crying

遅いので憂え
It's too late to worry

塞ぎ込んで何を知った?
What did I learn by shutting myself in?

胸の奥に垂れ落ちた
Dripping down in the depths of my heart

黒い重油に塗れたような世界からも
Even from a world that is smeared with black heavy oil

光る道筋を上へ
Go up along the shining path