Asian Kung-Fu Generation

A weekend trip from Phoenix, AZ to Japan’s Narita International Airport runs a stiff $1,051 in airfare alone. Throw in room and board and you’re talking about dropping some serious yen for a weekend away. My mind can rationalize the financially prohibitive nature of this excursion. Yet, I find my index finger hovering over the mouse button that will ensure my passage to Japan while leaving my coffers bare.

What could possibly be worth facing bankruptcy to get my butt half way across the globe? This weekend, Asian Kung-Fu Generation presents Nano-Mugen FES 2011; a two-day music festival at Yokohama Arena held on July 16 and 17.

A little back story: Asian Kung-Fu Generation is a Japanese Indie Rock band formed in the mid ’90s. They word “indie” is used only to describe their music stylings here because Asian Kung-Fu Generation is about as commercially successful as they come. The band’s debut studio album, Kimi Tsunagi Five M achieved platinum status with the Recording Industry Association of Japan. The follow up album, 2004’s Sol-fa went double platinum and topped the Oricon weekly charts. Asian Kung-Fu Generation songs have been frequently as opening theme songs for immensely popular anime series such as Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Bleach.

But before the anime opening theme songs or even their first album, there was Nano-Mugen FES; originally held with a handful of bands in Shinjuku. The festival grew just as the band did; attracting bands from the West (Stereophonics, Third Eye Blind, Ra Ra Riot, Ben Folds, Nada Surf ) as well as a string of notable Japanese acts (Chatmonchy, Ellegarden, Ogre You Asshole. Mosome Tonebender, Beat Crusaders).
Read More »