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Hitsujibungaku

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hitsujibungaku
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresAlternative rock
Years active2011–present
LabelsSony Music Japan
Members
  • Moeka Shiotsuka
  • Yurika Kasai
  • Hiroa Fukuda
Websitewww.hitsujibungaku.info Edit this at Wikidata

Hitsujibungaku (羊文学) is a Japanese alternative rock band formed by Moeka Shiotsuka (vocals, guitar, songwriting), Yurika Kasai (bass) and Hiroa Fukuda (drums).

Career

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Moeka Shiotsuka in 2018

Moeka Shiotsuka grew up in a strict household, where she spent her childhood focused on her studies. Her passion for music first emerged during her school years through her school's music club, where she joined a Scandal cover band and collaborated on a duo project with a friend.

Shiotsuka formed Hitsujibungaku in 2011 at age 15, during her first year of high school. The band worked around their school schedules, recording primarily during breaks and vacations. She later attended Keio University in Tokyo.[1] During this period, she found herself torn between her interests in fashion and alternative music, which led to changes in both the band's lineup and activity level.

The band's drummer, Hiroa Fukuda, came from a different background. By his own admission, he was never particularly invested in academics and went to college mainly to play music in campus bands. Before joining Hitsujibungaku in 2015, he played as a backup drummer for Regal Lily [ja]. His love of shoegaze and alternative music made him a perfect fit for the band. Being a year younger than Shiotsuka, he initially addressed her formally as "Shiotsuka-san" until she insisted on dropping the formalities.

The band's bassist, Yurika Kasai, first encountered Hitsujibungaku when both performed at the same school music festival - she as a guitarist in another act. Impressed by their performance, she started following them on social media. When the band posted a bassist wanted ad in 2017, Kasai picked up the bass specifically to audition. Though she was the only applicant, the band knew they'd struck gold - Hiroa recalls how her melodic style enhanced their sound from the very first rehearsal.[2]

The band released their debut album To the youth (若者たちへ, Wakamono-tachi e) in 2018, featuring "Step" with a music video directed by Shunji Iwai. Their second album, Powers, followed in 2020. In 2021, they wrote and performed "Hikaru Toki" (When the Light Shines) as the opening theme for The Heike Story.[3]

In April 2022, they released their third album, Our hope, which went on to win the Blue Grand Prix at the 2023 CD Shop Awards.[4]

The band's profile continued to rise when they contributed "More Than Words" as the ending theme for the Shibuya Incident Arc of Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 in September 2023. They rounded out the year with their fourth album, 12 Hugs (Like Butterflies), released in December.

In May 2024, Fukuda announced he would be taking a break from performing, with the band continuing to use support members for live shows.[5]

The following month, on June 6 (Japan's Sheep Day), they released their version of the Shaun the Sheep theme song "Life's a Treat."[6] In July, they released "Burning" as the ending theme for season two of Oshi no Ko.[7] The band will make their U.S. debut with a performance in Honolulu on December 14th, 2024.[8]

Discography

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Albums

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  • To the Youth (若者たちへ, Wakamono-tachi e) (2018)
  • Powers (2020)
  • Our Hope (2022)
  • 12 Hugs (Like Butterflies) (2023)

EPs

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References

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  1. ^ "《CAMPUS IDOL》文学部美学美術史学専攻2年 塩塚萌夏さん" ['Campus Idol' Moeka Shiotsuka, 2nd year student majoring in aesthetics and art history, Faculty of Letters]. Keiō jukuseishinbun-kai 慶應塾生新聞会 [Keio Student Newspaper Association] (in Japanese). 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  2. ^ Vinyl magazine, January 2024.
  3. ^ Trejo Mosquera, Amílcar (2022-01-13). "Hitsujibungaku publica el video musical del opening de The Heike Story" [Hitsujibungaku releases the musical video opening of The Heike Story]. Crunchyroll (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  4. ^ "藤井風と羊文学が「CDショップ大賞2023」受賞" [Fujii Kaze and Hitsuji Bungaku win the 'CD Shop Awards 2023']. Ongaku natarī 音楽ナタリー [Music Natalie] (in Japanese). 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  5. ^ "羊文学のフクダヒロア、当面の休養を発表「まずは回復を最優先」 塩塚モエカ、河西ゆりかの２人でバンド活動は継続（デイリースポーツ）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  6. ^ Luster, Joseph (26 June 2024). "Hitsujibungaku Debuts Music Video for Shaun the Sheep Theme Song Cover". www.crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  7. ^ "羊文学の新曲「Burning」が「【推しの子】」第2期ED主題歌に、アニメ放送日に配信リリース". Natalie (in Japanese). June 30, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "羊文学、アメリカ進出！バンド初となるハワイでのワンマン公演が決定". Retrieved 2024-09-25.
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