The five original members had been friends since middle school. Vocalist Yojiro Noda first became interested in music after hearing Oasis in middle school, when he would try to remember the guitar chords and sing to Oasis songs. He was asked to become the vocalist by a friend, and originally band activities were balanced with basketball. The band's name was formed from two English language slang terms, rad and wimp. According to the band, the coined word had several meanings, including "excellent weakling" and "superlative coward."
The band's activities began centred around Yokohama, with the band performing their first live at live house BB Street in Yokohama's Kannai district on February 5, 2002. At this point, guitarist Akira Kuwahara dropped out of high school in order to focus on the band. In September and August 2002, the band partook in the Yokohama High School Music Festival, and eventually won the grand prize for the competition with the song "Moshi mo." "Moshi mo" was released as the band's debut single in May 2003, with 10,000 copies pressed and sold for 100 yen each. Following this single, the band toured the Yokohama area, including a performance as the sole act at Yokohama's Club 24West. The band released their debut album Radwimps in July through independent label Newtraxx, featuring songs written by the band in middle school. The following August, after a guest appearance at the Yokohama High School Music Festival, the band went on hiatus for Noda and other members to focus on their school exams.
Radwimps returned from hiatus in March 2004, however members Kei Asō, Yūsuke Saiki and Akio Shibafumi did not decide to resume band activities. An audition was not held for new members, instead, acquaintances to the band members, drummer Satoshi Yamaguchi and bassist Yusuke Takeda, were added to the group without the members even having their skills trialled. Takeda met the band members in August 2003 as a member of a different band performing in the Yokohama High School Music Festival. The band immediately began recording songs, and by July released a second single, "Kiseki," and performed a three month Japan-wide tour. Immediately after the end of the tour, the band started work on their second album, Radwimps 2: Hatten Tojō, which was finalized by the end of the year and released in March.
Directly after the release, the band departed on a five month tour, Radwimps Haruna Tour (はるなっTOUR?), and also performed at high profile summer music festivals, such as Setstock, Rock in Japan and Summer Sonic. During this time, the band released a third single, "Hexun / Kanashi," which was the band's first charting release.
In November, the band made their major debut single under Toshiba EMI with the single "Nijūgoko-me no Senshokutai," followed by "EDP (Tonde Hi ni Iru Natsu no Kimi)" in January, both top 50 singles. In shifting to a major label, Noda explained that the band took the same stance as they had as an independent band, and that "If we thought we were bigger on a major label, that would have been a big mistake." The band's third and first major label album, Radwimps 3: Mujintō ni Motte Ikiwasureta Ichimai in March 2006, was a landmark in establishing their popularity, debuting at number 13 on Oricon's album charts. Radwimps 3 saw a change in the band's musical style, allowing the band to be more experimental in their sound.
By the end of 2006 the band's popularity had exponentially grown: the band's album Radwimps 4: Okazu no Gohan, lead with the top 20 singles "Futarigoto" and "Yūshinron" and top five "Setsuna Rensa," debuted at number five and had an initial shipment of more than 100,000 copies. In this time, the band's older releases, such as Radwimps, Radwimps 2 and "Kiseki" began charting for the first time and continued to for extended periods, Radwimps even eventually being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. In the next three years, both Radwimps and Radwimps 2 charted for approximately 100 weeks, and as of early 2011, Radwimps 3 and Radwimps 4 still continue to chart.
In 2008, the band received their first number one single, with "Order Made", on the Oricon charts. Their 2009 album Altocolony no Teiri sold around 213,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 2 on the Oricon charts. The band received their second Oricon number one single "Dada" in 2011.
The band gained renewed notoriety in 2016 when they provided the soundtrack for the Makoto Shinkai film "Kimi no Na wa. (Your Name.)", which went on to become the highest-grossing anime film in history. One of the four vocal tracks, "Zenzenzense", was a #1 hit in Japan. The partnership continued when Radwimps provided the soundtrack for Shinkai's 2019 film "Weathering With You".
Members
Vocal & Guitar： Noda Youjirou (野田洋次郎)
Guitar & Chorus： Kuwahara Akira (桑原 彰)
Bass & Chorus： Takeda Yuusuke (武田祐介)
Drums & Chorus：Yamaguchi Satoshi (山口智史)
Picnic
RADWIMPS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ナイフを首から ぶら下げた 青い魂
大きな瞳で世界を睨む どこまでも澄んだ碧
仲良しなどとはとても言えない この『毎日』に
あまりに突然にさよならを切り出された
好きでもないのにフラれた僕を 君は横で笑う
希望の類から一番 遠い場所で待ち合わせしたんだ
誰にも踏まれてないままの まっさらな雪の上みたいな
重ねた唇の 終わり方も知らず
僕らは奇跡にも 及ばない光
それでもいいと今夜は 君を眺め想う
人生初心者 丸出しの 小さな戦士
舞い上がるスカートを翼にかえて 生きる今日も
たまに上手に生きられた日には 隠れて笑ってみた
星を見上げて笑うことも
ありがとう ごめんねを使うことも
一度としてないままに僕ら
月にも内緒で 世界を抜け駆けた
飽きもせずに空は 今日も青いから
昨日も通り雨に 助けてもらったよ
「無様にもほどがある」誰かが遠くで言う
じゃあ誰に教わればいい? はじめて生まれたんだ
宇宙のまばたきの間の 刹那に恋をしたよ
銀色のプールに 青い鼓動がふたつ
重ねた唇に そっと思い出したよ
あなたは僕がたしかに 生まれ落ちたあの日
この手からこぼれ落ちた この僕の片割れ
はじめてしがみついた この世界の袖
振り払われようとて 握りかえしたよ
僕らは 奇跡にも 及ばない光
それならいっそ僕ら
それならいっそ僕ら
それならいっそ僕ら
それならいっそ僕ら
それならいっそ僕ら
The lyrics of RADWIMPS's song "Picnic" tell the story of two people standing at the entrance of the last summer, represented by a blue soul wearing a knife around their neck. The blue soul has clear eyes that glimmer like pure blue water, and the singer feels a deep connection with them despite not being able to call it friendship. Suddenly, the blue soul says goodbye, leaving the singer feeling rejected and confused. Despite not being in love, the singer feels the pain of a breakup and watches as the blue soul laughs beside them.
The song goes on to explore the experiences of a small warrior in this world, learning to live and laugh and finding moments of happiness through the ups and downs of life. The lyrics reflect on the simple joys of gazing at the stars, saying thank you and sorry, and hiding away to laugh. The blue soul appears again, this time in a silver pool with another blue soul beside them, their lips touching but their future uncertain. The song ends with the singer realizing that they are not the light of a miracle, but it is okay to be themselves and simply look at the person they love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Picnic" are a bittersweet reflection on the joys and struggles of life, love, and loss. It acknowledges that while we may not always have perfect moments or happy endings, we can find beauty and meaning in the experiences we have and the people we share them with.
Line by Line Meaning
最期の夏の 入り口に立っていたのは
At the beginning of the last summer, there was someone standing at its entrance
ナイフを首から ぶら下げた 青い魂
A blue soul with a knife hanging from its neck
大きな瞳で世界を睨む どこまでも澄んだ碧
It has big eyes on the world and they are clear blue.
仲良しなどとはとても言えない この『毎日』に
I can't say that we're friends on this 'everyday.'
あまりに突然にさよならを切り出された
Said goodbye so suddenly
好きでもないのにフラれた僕を 君は横で笑う
You laughed at me for being rejected, even though I didn't love you.
希望の類から一番 遠い場所で待ち合わせしたんだ
We met at the farthest place from hope
誰にも踏まれてないままの まっさらな雪の上みたいな
Like untouched, pure snow
銀色のプールに 青い孤独がふたつ
Two blue loneliness in a silver pool
重ねた唇の 終わり方も知らず
Without knowing how our lips would part
僕らは奇跡にも 及ばない光
We are light that cannot even be called a miracle
それでもいいと今夜は 君を眺め想う
But still tonight, I'll look at you and think it's okay.
人生初心者 丸出しの 小さな戦士
I am a small warrior who is a beginner in life.
舞い上がるスカートを翼にかえて 生きる今日も
Today I will live by turning my flying skirt into wings
たまに上手に生きられた日には 隠れて笑ってみた
On days when I lived well, I hid and laughed
星を見上げて笑うことも
Looking up at the stars and laughing
ありがとう ごめんねを使うことも
Saying thank you and sorry
一度としてないままに僕ら
We've never done it before
月にも内緒で 世界を抜け駆けた
We secretly ran through the world, even by escaping the moon.
飽きもせずに空は 今日も青いから
The sky is blue again today without getting bored
昨日も通り雨に 助けてもらったよ
Yesterday, I was helped by the passing rain
「無様にもほどがある」誰かが遠くで言う
"It's too uncool," someone far away said
じゃあ誰に教わればいい? はじめて生まれたんだ
Then who should I learn from? It's the first time I've been born.
宇宙のまばたきの間の 刹那に恋をしたよ
I fell in love in the moment between the universe's blinks.
銀色のプールに 青い鼓動がふたつ
Two blue heartbeats in a silver pool
重ねた唇に そっと思い出したよ
I gently remembered our overlapping lips
あなたは僕がたしかに 生まれ落ちたあの日
You were there on the day I was definitely born
この手からこぼれ落ちた この僕の片割れ
This half of me, which fell from my hand
はじめてしがみついた この世界の袖
I clung to the sleeves of this world for the first time.
振り払われようとて 握りかえしたよ
Even though I might be shaken off, I held on tight.
僕らは 奇跡にも 及ばない光
We are light that cannot even be called a miracle.
それならいっそ僕ら
Then, let's just be us
それならいっそ僕ら
Then, let's just be us
それならいっそ僕ら
Then, let's just be us
それならいっそ僕ら
Then, let's just be us
それならいっそ僕ら
Then, let's just be us
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing
Written by: Yojiro Noda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind