After graduating from college, following years of playing in several small venues and having collaborated with fellow Japanese rock musician Caramelman, AKFG released their first indie EP in 2000. The four then began providing performances at their university as well as throughout the local Yokohama area. Drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi joined them later on after parting with another college band he was in. Masafumi Gotoh became the lead vocalist and played rhythm guitar, Kensuke Kita played lead guitar and sang backup and Takahiro Yamada played bass. After realizing that they all shared similar musical tastes, the three decided to start their own band. History 1996–2002: Formation and indie releases Īsian Kung-Fu Generation was first formed in 1996 when Masafumi Gotoh, Kensuke Kita, and Takahiro Yamada met while attending a music club at Kanto Gakuin University, a private university in Yokohama, Japan. 1.7 2009–2012: Magic Disk and Best Hit AKG.1.5 2007–2008: Withdrawal and World World World.1.2 2002–2004: Hōkai Amplifier and Kimi Tsunagi Five M.1.1 1996–2002: Formation and indie releases.Asian Kung-Fu Generation has been cited as one of the best, most balanced modern rock bands to emerge from Japan in the 2000s. Despite the indie nature of their music, the band has enjoyed worldwide commercial success in addition to critical acclaim. 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. 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. In 2002, they released their major-label EP debut Hōkai Amplifier, from that point singing their lyrics in Japanese.
Starting out as a college band, Asian Kung-Fu Generation released a series of independent EPs featuring lyrics mostly sung in English. For its entire career, the band has consisted of vocalist Masafumi Gotoh, guitarist Kensuke Kita, bassist Takahiro Yamada, and drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.Asian Kung-Fu Generation (stylized as ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION) is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Yokohama, Japan, in 1996. * Sales figures based on certification alone.
The video primarily features the band playing in front of enormous speakers. The music video for "Rewrite" was directed by Kazuyoshi Oku. The song is listed on the appendix of Robert Dimery's book 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die (And 10001 You Must Download). It later went on to win Best Anime Theme Song at the 2007 American Anime Awards. Peaking at number four on the Oricon charts, the single sold nearly 150,000 units by the end of the year it was released, making it the 63rd single of the year. The song experienced immense domestic and international popularity after it was chosen as the fourth and final opening theme of the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist.