The band was formed in 1987 by Sato (vocals, guitar, trumpet), Kin-Ichi Motegi (drums, vocals, sampler) and Kensuke Ojima (guitar and vocals). The addition of Yuzuru Kashiwabara (bass) and Hakase (keyboards) rounded up the original line-up. Their first recorded appearance is on the 1989 Captain Records' compilation Panic Paradise. Two years later, their first album Chappie, Don't Cry was released. The band’s easy-going sound (mainly influenced by reggae and dub, but also including elements of rock, pop, drum & bass, hip-hop, etc.), coupled with Sato’s androgynous vocals, gained them acceptance in Japan’s underground scene.
Fishmans released several albums on Pony Canyon records, slowly moving away from a strictly reggae sound, but always keeping a dub foundation, powered by Motegi and Kashiwabara’s rock-steady rhythm section. In 1995, they signed with Polydor Records. By then, both Kensuke Ojima and Hakase had left the band. Neither was replaced, and the resulting trio would work with a series of guest musicians on their next records, mainly Honzi (keyboards, violin, accordion and vocals) and Darts Sekiguchi (guitar). The addition of producer ZAK on sound mixing rounded out this second phase of the band, which further evolved its sound to incorporate space rock, ambient and shoegaze elements. Song length started to grow as well, as these new tendencies blended in with their dub foundation.
空中キャンプ (Kūchū Camp) was released in 1996, and included what is probably the band’s most famous song, Nightcruising. This was followed by LONG SEASON, a 35 minute song divided into 5 parts. Their final studio album, 宇宙 日本 世田谷 (Uchū Nippon Setagaya), was released in 1997.
Fishmans performed their final concert on December 28th, 1998, later released as the live album 98.12.28 男達の別れ (Otokotachi no Wakare). They played many of their best songs, and concluded with a full performance of Long Season. Sato left the stage immediately after a single "goodbye" with his eyes teary. This was to be Kashiwabara’s final performance with the band, though Sato and Motegi planned to continue working as Fishmans. However, Sato passed away March 15th, 1999 by unknown causes till this day.
After Sato’s death, Kin-Ichi Motegi began working as a stand-in drummer for Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra(東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ), whose own drummer passed away around the same time. He eventually became a full-fledged member of the band and plays drums and sings lead vocals with them to this day. Kashiwabara, who had planned to abandon the music industry, eventually joined forces with Ooya Yuusuke (ex. LaB LIFe) to form Polaris, whose spacey and dubby tracks bore some resemblance to Fishmans’ sound in the late 90’s.
The Fishmans story did not end there. Following Sato’s death, their popularity continued to grow. In 2004, a tribute album Sweet Dreams for Fishmans was released, and included covers by artists as diverse as OOIOO, Bonobos, and UA. This was followed by the albums Kuchu and Uchu in 2005, which included rare and unreleased tracks alongside their biggest hits.
On November 22, 2005 the remaining members of Fishmans paid tribute to their fans and Shinji Sato, by performing at the Rising Sun Rock Festival. The show lasted three and a half hours, and featured many guest singers, who performed the vocals. The following month, a tribute art exhibition The Long Season Rewind was held in Shibuya with contributions from various artists.
Most recently in 2006, The Long Season Revue was released on DVD. The live concert was originally only screened in theatres and it featured the original members of the band together with a cast of supporting musicians such as UA, Asa-Chang, ハナレグミ, Oki Yuichi (of 東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ) and 原田郁子 of Clammbon (クラムボン). Following these concerts, Honzi, long-time contributor with the band, also passed away.
Walkin'
Fishmans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
何にも食べないで ただそんだけだよ
誰かが言ってるよ 何それ
だけども 歩くよ
それだけよ
12時45分 駅前の店で
10年ぶりみたいな態度で笑って
足をくるくる回して
これからどこへ
Walkin'
Walkin'
Walkin'
Walkin'
ぼくらは歩く いいとこだけ
何にも考えない いいとこだけだよ
誰かが言ってるよ 何それ
だけども しょうがないよ
それだけよ
15時45分 ベンチにすわって
10円玉で買ったコークを飲み干して
街行く人に 文句をつけて
指さしながら
Walkin'
Walkin'
Walkin'
(Walkin')
Walkin'
(Walkin')
Walkin'
(Walkin')
Walkin'
(Walkin')
23時45分 石段の上は
20本目のビールがコロコロ転がる
二人背筋を伸ばして
いれたらいいね
あしたはどこへ
Walkin' yeah...
23時45分 石段の上で
20本目のビールでフラフラしちゃって
ちょっと 素敵な気分で
ずっと 素敵なままで
明日はどこへ
Walkin'
Walkin'
Walkin'
Walkin'
Walkin'...
These lyrics are from the chorus of Fishmans' song "Walkin'," which describes two people walking around town at various times of the day, from noon to midnight. The first two lines of the chorus express their simple goal: "We're just walking, that's all. Just walking without eating anything." They're not going anywhere in particular or trying to accomplish anything; they're just strolling around town. The other lines in the chorus comment on the things they hear from others: "Someone says something, but what? But we keep walking. That's all."
The first verse describes the two people at lunchtime, laughing together in front of a store like they haven't seen each other in ten years. They stand up straight and spin around, wondering where to go next. The second verse has them sitting on a bench drinking Coke they bought with a 10-yen coin, and shouting at the people who walk by while pointing at them. The final verse has them climbing some stairs at night, with beer bottles rolling down, and they talk about how great they're feeling while wondering where to go tomorrow.
The song is a tribute to the simple pleasure of walking around and experiencing the world, both good and bad, without a destination or purpose. It touches on the idea of individuality, of not following the crowd, and of just being present in the moment. The song is typically performed at the end of Fishmans' concerts, with the band walking off stage as they continue to sing the chorus a cappella.
Line by Line Meaning
ぼくらは歩く ただそんだけ
We're just walking, that's all we're doing
何にも食べないで ただそんだけだよ
We're not eating anything, we're just walking
誰かが言ってるよ 何それ
Someone is saying something, what is it?
だけども 歩くよ
But we're just walking
それだけよ
That's all
12時45分 駅前の店で
At 12:45, at a store in front of the station
10年ぶりみたいな態度で笑って
Smiling as if it's been 10 years
二人背筋を伸ばして
Both of us standing tall
足をくるくる回して
Spinning our feet around
これからどこへ Walkin' Walkin' Walkin' Walkin'
Where are we going from here? Walking, walking, walking, walking
ぼくらは歩く いいとこだけ
We're only walking to good places
何にも考えない いいとこだけだよ
We're not thinking about anything, only going to good places
誰かが言ってるよ 何それ
Someone is saying something, what is it?
だけども しょうがないよ
But there's nothing we can do about it
それだけよ
That's all
15時45分 ベンチにすわって
At 3:45, sitting on a bench
10円玉で買ったコークを飲み干して
Drinking Coke bought with a 10 yen coin
街行く人に 文句をつけて
Complaining to people passing by
指さしながら Walkin' Walkin' Walkin' (Walkin') Walkin' (Walkin') Walkin' (Walkin') Walkin' (Walkin')
Pointing while walking, walking, walking (walkin'), walking (walkin'), walking (walkin'), walking (walkin')
23時45分 石段の上は
At 11:45, on stony stairs
20本目のビールがコロコロ転がる
The 20th beer is rolling around
二人背筋を伸ばして
Both of us standing tall
いれたらいいね
Wouldn't it be nice to put them there?
あしたはどこへ Walkin' yeah...
Where are we going tomorrow? Walkin' yeah...
23時45分 石段の上で
At 11:45, on stony stairs
20本目のビールでフラフラしちゃって
Feeling tipsy from the 20th beer
ちょっと 素敵な気分で
Feeling a little wonderful
ずっと 素敵なままで
Staying wonderful forever
明日はどこへ Walkin' Walkin' Walkin' Walkin' Walkin'...
Where are we going tomorrow? Walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'...
Writer(s): 佐藤 伸治, 佐藤 伸治
Contributed by Jayden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.