Fujisawa Loser
Encyclopedia
is the lead single of Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation
's fifth studio album, Surf Bungaku Kamakura
, released on October 15, 2008. The single's b-side features a collaboration with American rock band The Rentals
.
is approved of. He now has to decide the path of his future and choose between two life choices: being a salaryman or being in a rock band. The decision is metaphorically portrayed as race in which the man is split into two personas–a salaryman and a guitar player–and races against himself to the goal at the end of the finish line.
The race is broken down into four stages, each of which contains unique obstacles for both contenders:
Asian Kung-fu Generation
, typeset as ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, is a Japanese rock band formed in Yokohama, Japan in 1996. For nearly its entire career, the band has consisted of vocalist Masafumi Gotō, guitarist Kensuke Kita, bassist Takahiro Yamada, and drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi...
's fifth studio album, Surf Bungaku Kamakura
Surf Bungaku Kamakura
-B-sides:-Personnel:*Masafumi Gotō – lead vocals, guitar, lyrics*Kensuke Kita – lead guitar, background vocals*Takahiro Yamada – bass, background vocals*Kiyoshi Ijichi – drums*Asian Kung-Fu Generation – producer*Kenichi Nakamura – mixing, recording...
, released on October 15, 2008. The single's b-side features a collaboration with American rock band The Rentals
The Rentals
The Rentals are an American rock band fronted by vocalist Matt Sharp, best known as the former bass player for rock group Weezer. The band is best known for their mid-1990s hit single, "Friends of P.". The group has released two albums, Return of the Rentals and Seven More Minutes on Maverick...
.
Music video
The music video for "Fujisawa Loser" was directed by Naoto Nakanishi. It received a nomination for best Conceptual Video at the 2009 SPACE SHOWER Music Video Awards. The highly conceptual PV explores the thoughts of a young musician who has just received a letter of employment once his job applicationApplication for employment
An application for employment, job application, or application form is a form or collection of forms that an individual seeking employment, called an applicant, must fill out as part of the process of informing an employer of the applicant's availability and desire to be employed, and persuading...
is approved of. He now has to decide the path of his future and choose between two life choices: being a salaryman or being in a rock band. The decision is metaphorically portrayed as race in which the man is split into two personas–a salaryman and a guitar player–and races against himself to the goal at the end of the finish line.
The race is broken down into four stages, each of which contains unique obstacles for both contenders:
- First stage: The salaryman is forced to wade through an overly crowded train while the musician must play in a heavy rainstorm for an audience of merely two people.
- Second stage: The salaryman deals with excessive and exhaustive desk work that never seems to end while the musician and his band must hold a long tour, performing at numerous clubs each and every night to a small audience that fails to grow.
- Third stage: The salaryman must choose to start his own company, become company president, or become a CEO. When he runs through the second door he lands facefirst in a box of sand next to a dead salaryman who chose freelance. The musician has to compete with other artists for his major debut at increasingly famous stadiums with the Tokyo DomeTokyo DomeTokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
at the top of a steep slope.
- Fourth stage: The salaryman has the opportunity to become CEO buts fails to grab his mantle when it comes to life and runs away. He is then chased off by a grim reaper with "fired" on its back. The musician is close to achieving a gold disc award but it floats away just beyond his reach before shattering to pieces. He is then chased around by a giant spiked orb with the word "stress" written on it.
- Conclusion: As the two near the finish line and their goal–a house and beautiful CaucasianWhite peopleWhite people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
wife–multiple men wearing black bodysuits with the word "anxiety" written on them tackle the two and try to prevent them from reaching the end. Finally, the two make it to the finish, only for the house to come to life and run off with the woman to a speedboat where her husband waits with a bouquet of roses. The two kiss and sail away, waving goodbye to the two bewildered men. The video concludes with the man staring blankly at his acceptance letter.
Personnel
- Masafumi GotōMasafumi Gotois the lead vocalist, main songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer...
– lead vocals, rhythm guitar - Kensuke KitaKensuke Kitais the lead guitarist and backing singer of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Kensuke met fellow band members Masafumi Gotō and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi...
– lead guitar, background vocals - Takahiro YamadaTakahiro Yamada (musician)is the bass player and backing singer of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Yamada met fellow band members Masafumi Gotō and Kensuke Kita while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University...
– bass, background vocals - Kiyoshi IjichiKiyoshi Ijichiis the drummer of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Ijichi credits the origin of his drumming ability to playing in marching bands in junior high....
– drums - Asian Kung-Fu GenerationAsian Kung-fu Generation, typeset as ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, is a Japanese rock band formed in Yokohama, Japan in 1996. For nearly its entire career, the band has consisted of vocalist Masafumi Gotō, guitarist Kensuke Kita, bassist Takahiro Yamada, and drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi...
– producer - Yusuke Nakamura – single cover art
Charts
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
6 |
| Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
5 |
| Billoard Japan Adult Contemporary | 6 |