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Japanese indie band Hitsujibungaku rocks Manila

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<div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-indent:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);text-align:justify"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17206779519501720677949377.jpeg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Japanese indie rock band Hitsujibungaku. <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:center;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Photo by Paul Cheng</div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-indent:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);text-align:justify"> </div>Watching the crowd sing along to Japanese indie rock band Hitsujibungaku’s song “More Than Words” from the popular anime series Jujutsu Kaisen last Saturday, July 6, at the Eastside Events Center in Marikina, I was initially surprised, but midway through that thought, I corrected myself.Why should I be surprised? When mecha series Voltes V and later, Mazinger Z, Daimos, and others made their debut on Philippine television in 1978, everyone – myself included – learned to sing the songs even if they were in Nihongo.That is no different today when Filipino kids swarm K-pop concerts and sing along in perfect Korean as well.Hitsujibungaku is the latest Japanese band to hit our shores since alt-rock crew Radwimps, city popsters Pictured Resort, and ska-meisters Beat Banhoff to name but a few. And the reaction from fans was, “Oh my God, Hitsujibungaku are here!”Even from this Gen Xer who since he was in fifth grade has always made it a point to explore new music even if it is not of his generation.Hitsujibungaku’s music is like a mocktail flavored by indie rock and shoegaze that is popular among the young. When you add these butterfly hugs for songs that guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist Moeka Shiotsuka pens, then you will know why this trio draws a lot of fans from all over Asia.It helps that the music is personal and yet captivating and inspirational. Something this generation values given the dangerous times we live in. So why should I wonder when this is the perfect geeky fanaticism between indie rock who are also anime fans? Besides, it is not every day a band surging in popularity shows up on our shores.I first saw Hitsujibungaku during Drip Tokyo in 2020 and I was intrigued by their performance as Shiotsuka and bassist Yurika Kasai performed in matching floral dusters while drummer Hiroa Fukuda remained in his best Joey Ramone impression.I didn’t see them again until I came across their music video for the song “Ghost” last year after which I followed them in earnest.Tired and all, I still went to the show and paid 3,000 bucks for the entrance while picking up their new album, &quot;12 Hugs (Like Butterflies),&quot; on vinyl for a whopping P4,100!Fortunately, it was money well spent as I had a great time. Amidst a sea of fans (the male members of the audience were boisterous – why not when the band boasts of a pretty vocalist -- with the distaff side more chill), I nodded along to the music and was demonstrative in my applause. Shiotsuka’s bashfulness and willingness to speak the vernacular was endearing to the crowd. The “Red Horse” remark included.And Miku Onuki, who filled in for Fukuda who wasn’t available for the show, likewise exuded the warmth and lightness Yurika and Moeka exuded. I can see why Hitsujibungaku is popular among the young in their native Japan. For such a technologically advanced, polite, and organized society, the happiness level of Japan has been largely low due to long working hours, social pressure, an ageing and declining population, the constant natural disasters that have left the populace fatalistic, and competition in education.Here comes this band with a new album that features 12 songs of encouragement, and that means a lot. And over here in the Philippine Islands with all the internal and external strife, it is too, a welcome tonic.Heck, we need more of this sheep literature.

Hitsujibungaku is the latest Japanese band to hit our shores since alt-rock crew Radwimps, city popsters Pictured Resort, and ska-meisters Beat Banhoff to name but a few.

Hitsujibungaku is the latest Japanese band to hit our shores since alt-rock crew Radwimps, city popsters Pictured Resort, and ska-meisters Beat Banhoff to name but a few.

Review: Japanese indie band Hitsujibungaku rocks Manila

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Review: Japanese indie band Hitsujibungaku rocks Manila

Rick Olivares

Published Jul 11, 2024 02:08 PM PHT

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Hitsujibungaku

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