Kishidan
Encyclopedia
, which means "The Knights", are a J-pop
band. They have a retro
image, wearing Japanese school uniforms in the style of bōsōzoku
. The lead singer, Show Ayanocozey, was DJ OZMA
, until the persona was "retired" in December 2008. Kishidan announced a "comeback", after a three year break, on January 27, 2009. The band had never officially split up, but had been taking a break while Show and Hikaru were working on the DJ OZMA side project. Their song, Omae Dattanda released on November 10, 2009, was used for the 11th ending theme song for Naruto Shippuden.
pilots)—everything is done with a touch of humor and a nostalgic fondness for the gangs and values of days not-long gone by. Since the band started touring again in 2009, they have started wearing different styles of gakuran, as well as outfits from Tokyo-based fashion group, Saturday Nite.
The group's lyrics are predominantly about motorcycles, being with your gang, conflicts with school, and adolescent love. Though Kishidan has something of a comic approach to their presentation and performances, their songs are often sincere and about issues that are generally important to young people.
Kishidan's hit songs "One Night Carnival" and "Zoku" were featured in Nintendo
's Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
, and Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2
, respectively, which are games about ouendan (cheer squads). The song "One Night Carnival" (a cover version) is even used for a level that was inspired by one of Kishidan's live performances. Coincidentally, the characters wear long gakuran coats and dance like Kishidan. The dancing style is based on actual ouendan cheering routines, and long gakuran coats are often worn by ouendan cheer teams. It is possible that Kishidan's lively and powerful dance routines were inspired by the tradition of ouendan cheering, a subject that is unique to Japanese culture.
's Mega Vector program was heavily criticized by the Simon Wiesenthal Center
after the band appeared in costumes resembling Nazi SS uniforms. The band's agency, Sony Music Artists
, issued a statement of apology, noting that the band members "deeply regretted" their attire and that the clothing "was not meant to carry any ideological meaning whatsoever." Avex Group, the band's current record label, also sent an apology through their homepage.
", and Nakashima Mika's "Glamorous Sky
" from the film adaptation of Nana
.
(Kishidan Genshou ~ Gaiden ~ DVD "Koibito")
(Kishidan Genshou Kanzenban - 2000-2002 -)
(Kishidan Banpaku 2003 Kisarazu Global Communication!! ~Born in the toki no K-city~)
(Kishidan Genshou Daizen -Samurai Spirit Suicide-)
(Kishidan Genshou Saishuushou "The Last Song" in Tokyo Dome)
(Kishidan Genshou Bangaihen Never Ending Summer)
(Kishidan Banpaku 2006 Kyokutou Never Land)
(Kishidan Genshou 2009 Again and Again)
(Kishidan Genshou (1) ~Sayonara no Kajitsutachi~)
(Kishidan Genshou (2) ~Hadairo Dake no Angel~)
(Kishidan Genshou (3) ~Asahi no Naka no Requiem~)
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
band. They have a retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
image, wearing Japanese school uniforms in the style of bōsōzoku
Bosozoku
is a Japanese subculture associated with motorcycle clubs and gangs.-Traits and history:The word bōsōzoku is also applied to motorcycle gangs, who share an interest in modifications for motorcycles, such as removing the mufflers so that more noise is produced...
. The lead singer, Show Ayanocozey, was DJ OZMA
DJ Ozma
DJ OZMA, born as on April 26 in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, and legally known as , is a Japanese pop singer and musical artist. He first came to prominence in early 2006 and is notorious for his performance at the 57th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, during which his female dancers stripped themselves of...
, until the persona was "retired" in December 2008. Kishidan announced a "comeback", after a three year break, on January 27, 2009. The band had never officially split up, but had been taking a break while Show and Hikaru were working on the DJ OZMA side project. Their song, Omae Dattanda released on November 10, 2009, was used for the 11th ending theme song for Naruto Shippuden.
Members
— Vocals, Dragon Voice and emcee; born 26 April — Dance and scream; born 24 January — Guitar; born 23 October — Guitar; born 1 March — Bass guitar; born 17 March — Drums & drunk; born 24 MayStage personas
Their various uniforms, modeled after the short and long-coat bōsōzoku-preferred versions of old Japanese gakuran (boys' school uniforms), their matching bōsōzoku uniforms (the kind modeled on those worn by kamikazeKamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
pilots)—everything is done with a touch of humor and a nostalgic fondness for the gangs and values of days not-long gone by. Since the band started touring again in 2009, they have started wearing different styles of gakuran, as well as outfits from Tokyo-based fashion group, Saturday Nite.
The group's lyrics are predominantly about motorcycles, being with your gang, conflicts with school, and adolescent love. Though Kishidan has something of a comic approach to their presentation and performances, their songs are often sincere and about issues that are generally important to young people.
Kishidan's hit songs "One Night Carnival" and "Zoku" were featured in Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
, sometimes referred to as simply Ouendan, is a rhythm video game developed by iNiS and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in 2005, for release only in Japan...
, and Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2
Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2
is a rhythm video game developed by iNiS and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It is the third game to use its gameplay, and is the sequel to Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan while incorporating many of the improvements in gameplay made in Elite Beat Agents...
, respectively, which are games about ouendan (cheer squads). The song "One Night Carnival" (a cover version) is even used for a level that was inspired by one of Kishidan's live performances. Coincidentally, the characters wear long gakuran coats and dance like Kishidan. The dancing style is based on actual ouendan cheering routines, and long gakuran coats are often worn by ouendan cheer teams. It is possible that Kishidan's lively and powerful dance routines were inspired by the tradition of ouendan cheering, a subject that is unique to Japanese culture.
Controversies
A February 2011 appearance on MTV JapanMTV Japan
MTV Japan is the Japanese version of the cable television network based in Japan. It is a subsidiary of MTV Networks, and was launched on December 24, 1992. It can be viewed on cable television, SKY PerfecTV!, SKY PerfecTV! e2 and IPTV.-History:MTV originally was a music block on JORX-TV from 1989...
's Mega Vector program was heavily criticized by the Simon Wiesenthal Center
Simon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesenthal Center , with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, was established in 1977 and named for Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter. According to its mission statement, it is "an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time...
after the band appeared in costumes resembling Nazi SS uniforms. The band's agency, Sony Music Artists
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
, issued a statement of apology, noting that the band members "deeply regretted" their attire and that the clothing "was not meant to carry any ideological meaning whatsoever." Avex Group, the band's current record label, also sent an apology through their homepage.
Live show
Kishidan embraces the theatrics of rock music in their live performance, and make extensive use of pop dancing and theatrics. Members of the band will sometimes pretend to perish mid-concert in battle with rival school gangs. Kishidan is also known to parody current popular Japanese songs, such as Matsudaira Ken's "Matsuken Samba IIMatsuken Samba II
Matsuken Samba II is one of a song series named Matsuken Samba performed by a Japanese taiga drama actor and singer Ken Matsudaira who is popular in Japan.- Overview :The song was made in 1994 and is performed in theaters since then...
", and Nakashima Mika's "Glamorous Sky
Glamorous Sky
"Glamorous Sky" is Mika Nakashima's 16th single overall, her 1st under the name Nana starring Mika Nakashima, and the second most successful single in her career after "Stars". It is her first rock song and it was used as one of the image songs for the film Nana . Hyde of L'Arc-en-Ciel composed...
" from the film adaptation of Nana
Nana (manga)
is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, serialized in Cookie published by Shueisha. The manga derives its title from the name of the two main characters, both of whom are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small town girl who goes to Tokyo to follow her boyfriend and...
.
Albums
- 房総与太郎路薫狼琉 (Bousou Yotarou Rock'n'Roll) (2000-10-06)
- One Night Carnival (2001-06-22)
- 1/6 Lonely Night (2002-04-11)
- Boys' Color (2003-03-26)
- Too Fast to Live Too Young to Die (2004-03-17)
- 死無愚流 呼麗苦衝音+3 (Singles Collection +3)(2004-11-25)
- 愛 羅 武 勇 (Ai Ra Bu Yuu / "I Love You")(2005-10-26)
- Six Senses (2007-03-28)
- Kishidan Grateful EMI Years 2001-2008 房総魂: Song for Route 127 (2008-6-11)
- 木更津グラフィティ (Kisarazu Graffiti) (2010-09-15)
Singles
- One Night Carnival (2002-05-29)
- 恋人／Love Balladは歌えない (Koibito/Love Ballad wa Utaenai) (2002-09-04)
- スウィンギン・ニッポン (Swingin' Nippon) (2003-06-11)
- Secret Love Story (2003-10-29)
- キラ キラ！ (Kira Kira!) (2004-02-18)
- 結婚闘魂行進曲「マブダチ」 (Kekkon Toukon Koushinkyoku "Mabudachi") (2004-06-16)
- 族 (Zoku) (2004-09-01)
- 夢見る頃を過ぎても (Yumemiru koro o Sugitemo) (2005-03-02)
- 俺達には土曜日しかない (Oretachi ni wa Doyoubi Shikanai) (2005-06-15)
- You & Me Song (2005-09-07)
- The アイシテル (The Aishiteru) (2006-08-09)
- さよなら世界/おまえだったんだ (Sayonara Sekai/Omae Dattan da) (2009-11-11)
- 愛してナイト! (Aishite Night!) (2010-09-01)
DVD
- 氣志團現象－外伝－DVD「恋人」 (2002-09-26)
(Kishidan Genshou ~ Gaiden ~ DVD "Koibito")
- 氣志團現象完全版－2000－2002－ (2003-03-05)
(Kishidan Genshou Kanzenban - 2000-2002 -)
- 氣志團万博2003木更津グローバル・コミュニケーション！！～Born in the toki no K-city～ (2003-11-27)
(Kishidan Banpaku 2003 Kisarazu Global Communication!! ~Born in the toki no K-city~)
- 氣志團現象大全: Samurai Spirit Suicide (2004-07-26)
(Kishidan Genshou Daizen -Samurai Spirit Suicide-)
- 氣志團現象最終章"The Last Song"in 東京ドーム (2005-02-23)
(Kishidan Genshou Saishuushou "The Last Song" in Tokyo Dome)
- 氣志團現象番外編 Never Ending Summer (2005-12-07)
(Kishidan Genshou Bangaihen Never Ending Summer)
- 氣志團万博2006 極東 Never Land (2006-12-20)
(Kishidan Banpaku 2006 Kyokutou Never Land)
- 氣志團列島-Japanolomania- NHKスーパーライブRe-edit (2008-6-11)
- 氣志團現象2009 Again and Again (2009-7-4)
(Kishidan Genshou 2009 Again and Again)
Other
- 氣志團現象（１）～さよならの果実たち～ (VHS 2001-12-06)
(Kishidan Genshou (1) ~Sayonara no Kajitsutachi~)
- 氣志團現象（２）～肌色だけのエンジェル～ (VHS 2002-01-23)
(Kishidan Genshou (2) ~Hadairo Dake no Angel~)
- 氣志團現象（３）～朝日の中のレクイエム～ (VHS 2002-02-27)
(Kishidan Genshou (3) ~Asahi no Naka no Requiem~)
- 族 (Zoku) (2004-09-01)
- 夢見る頃を過ぎても (Yumemiru koro wo Sugitemo) (2005-03-02)
- 俺達には土曜日しかない (Oretachi ni wa Doyoubi Shikanai) (2005-06-15)
- You & Me Song (2005-09-07)
- The アイシテル (The AISHITERU) (2006-08-09)
External links
- Kishidan Official Homepage "Takobeya" (in JapaneseJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
) - Kishidan Official Homepage at Toshiba-emi (in JapaneseJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
) - Current official Kishidan Member Blog (in JapaneseJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
) - Kishidan-chan blog archives (to July 2006) (in JapaneseJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
) - Kishidan Fan Exchange - Unofficial§ Kishidan fansite (in EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) - One Life Carnival - Unofficial Kishidan fansite (in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) - Kishidan fan community @ Livejournal (in EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
)