members :
Yasu (currently in Acid Black Cherry) as vocalist
ｙｏｕ on guitar
松本和之/DAMIJAW (Kazuyuki Matsumoto / ka-yu) on bass
ｋｉｙｏ on keyboards
shuji on drums
Osaka 1989. At the age of 14, Yasu and Ka-yu, who went to school together, decide to form a band. The two recruit Kiyo and Chiba. The formation is Yasu on vocals, Ka-yu on bass, Chiba on drums and Kiyo on keyboard. For unknown reasons, Ka-yu then leaves the band and is replaced by Ino. In 1990, the band is given the name Okyan Teiisu.
In 1991, you joins the group as the new guitarist. The name Janne Da Arc is now adopted, inspired by a character from the manga Violence Jack, created by Go Nagai.
Chiba leaves the group for several months in 1992, and Shuji becomes the backup drummer for the band until Chiba returns. In that same year, Ka-yu returns, and the group begins their time as an indies band in the Japanese rock scene, recording their first demo tape in November. Two more demo tapes follow in 1993 and 1994. In 1995, Chiba leaves the band for good and Shuji becomes the permanent drummer.
In 1997, the 4 song demo tape Resist is recorded. Starting in 1998, we see the bands first CD releases: a trio of mini albums. The releases started with Dearly, followed by a re-recorded version of Resist (with 2 new songs), and finally CHAOS MODE in March of 1999.
After the release of CHAOS MODE, 1999 also brought about a turning point in the history of Janne Da Arc. The band was finally signed to a major label, Avex Trax, and their debut single as a major group, RED ZONE was released that May. The band then embarks upon their first tour as a major group, CHAOS ZONE. 2000 brings their first major album, D.N.A..
From then on, they were a major player in the rock scene as one of the best selling bands.
On January 26, 2007 the band announced that Janne Da Arc would be put on hiatus and the band members would be working on their solo projects.
Kamen
Janne Da Arc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ikari no kamen... yowai kokoro mamoru tame
Namida no kamen... yasashisa miseru tame
Egao no kamen... boku wa nazeka naiteiru
Koe wo koroshite mimi wo fusai de me wo tojite
Hito ni awasete kokoro tozashite sae ireba
Kowasa nado nai itami saenai kirawarenai
'daremo minna, tsuyoku nanka nai
Hito ni aisare, aisu you ni
Hitori de wa nanimo dekinai
Sore wa "yowasa" janaku "ikiteiru imi"'
Kamen no shita no... hontou no kao wa dore?
Kamen no shita no... boku no kao wa donna kao?
Kawaita suna ni sugata wo kaeta mune no naka
Yoru no kurayami hito ni naru to ame ga furu
Iki ga dekinai demo hasusenai ugokenai
Demo sonna toki yasashiku kimi ga kamen wo hazushite kureta...
'nanigenai kotoba de warai
Hito wo kizutsuke, kizutsuita
Machigai wa ayamachi janai
"itami" "yorokobi" sore ga "ikiteiru imi"'
The Janne Da Arc song "Kamen" questions what lies behind the masks we wear in our daily lives. The masks in the song represent various emotions that people use to hide their true feelings: the mask of courage to break free from loneliness, the mask of anger to protect a vulnerable heart, the mask of tears to show kindness, and the mask of a smile to hide a person's sadness. The lyrics suggest that people often wear these masks to avoid showing their vulnerability and to gain acceptance from others, but in doing so, they lose their true selves.
The song explores the idea of the importance of being oneself in a society that often values conformity over individuality. The singer implores listeners to stop suppressing their feelings and to be honest with themselves and others. The chorus emphasizes the need to love oneself before loving others, as the singer asserts that living without weakness is not the same as living with purpose.
Overall, "Kamen" is a poignant reminder of the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and self-acceptance amidst the pressure to conform and wear masks in our daily lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Kanki no kamen... kodoku wo sakeru tame
The mask of joy to ward off loneliness
Ikari no kamen... yowai kokoro mamoru tame
The mask of anger to protect a weak heart
Namida no kamen... yasashisa miseru tame
The mask of tears to show kindness
Egao no kamen... boku wa nazeka naiteiru
The mask of a smile...why am I crying?
Koe wo koroshite mimi wo fusai de me wo tojite
Killing the voice, covering the ears and closing the eyes
Hito ni awasete kokoro tozashite sae ireba
If I can blend in with others and close off my heart
Kowasa nado nai itami saenai kirawarenai
No fear, no pain, no hate
Demo sonna toki yasashiku kimi ga mune no tobira wo tataita...
But at that moment, you gently knocked on the door of my heart...
'daremo minna, tsuyoku nanka nai
"No one is strong, everyone is the same"
Hito ni aisare, aisu you ni
To be loved by others and to love them
Hitori de wa nanimo dekinai
Alone, I cannot do anything
Sore wa "yowasa" janaku "ikiteiru imi"'
That's not weakness, it's the meaning of living'
Kamen no shita no... hontou no kao wa dore?
Under the mask... what is the true face?
Kamen no shita no... boku no kao wa donna kao?
Under the mask... what kind of face do I have?
Kawaita suna ni sugata wo kaeta mune no naka
In my heart, which has changed into dry sand
Yoru no kurayami hito ni naru to ame ga furu
In the darkness of the night, rain falls when I'm alone
Iki ga dekinai demo hasusenai ugokenai
I can't breathe, I can't run, I can't move
Demo sonna toki yasashiku kimi ga kamen wo hazushite kureta...
But at that moment, you kindly removed my mask...
'nanigenai kotoba de warai
"Laughing with simple words"
Hito wo kizutsuke, kizutsuita
Hurt by others, hurting others
Machigai wa ayamachi janai
Mistakes are not accidents
"itami" "yorokobi" sore ga "ikiteiru imi"
"Pain" and "joy"... that's the meaning of living"
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.