http://www.bumpofchicken.com/

Motoo Fujiwara (Vocal & Guitar)
Hiroaki Masukawa (Guitar)
Yoshifumi Naoi (Bass)
Hideo Masu (Drums)

Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. Members of BUMP OF CHICKEN have been together since kinder garden. They have gone to the same elementary school where Shigeo Nagashima has graduated and have met up again in middle school. They have started playing together as a band for performing at the school festival when they were in 9th grade. Thus, their friendship has been lasting over 20 years, and this long special relationship among members has become the base for producing their "pure, sincere and beautiful" tunes. BUMP OF CHICKEN has developed their fan base by giving shows and releasing CD's since the very beginning of their career in indie field. After their debut from TOY'S FACTORY, their volition and method have been attained and have made a smash hit of their single "TENTAIKANSOKU", which made them a national charisma of the young generation. Their 1st major album "jupiter" (2002) ranked 1st place on the Oricon album chart, among all powerful artists, which made BUMP OF CHICKEN possess a solid reputation. In the summer of 2002, their music was featured in the TV drama "TENTAIKANSOKU" (Fuji, Kansai District TV), which had been produced from the worldview and message of their songs. By having this drama on air, the band has become well-known to TV drama fans in living rooms. In March 2003, their single "sailing day" was released and was promoted as the theme song for the animated film "one piece" which was based from the same titled comic. This perfect match, as members have loved its original comic, made the film achieve a box-office success and this speedy tune get a long hit of over 400,000 copies of sales so far. In August 2004 they released the second major full-length album "Yggdrasill". It got the pole position on Oricon weekly chart as well as its lead single, and the album has been a big hit achieving over 800,000 copies so far. In July 2005 their tenth single "PLANETARIUM" was released. At the same time they did a collaborated show at a planetarium, which was produced by Takayuki Ohira, a renowned planetarium producer, at Sasashima satellite in EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN. This show gained a great attention. In December of the same year they released the both A-side single "supernova / KARMA". As "KARMA" was the theme song of Namco's popular roll playing game "TALES OF THE ABYSS", they won vast popularity among gamers, and it became a big hit selling 600,000 copies so far. In December 2006, they released the latest single "Namida No Furusato", which was their first tie-in with a commercial film for Lotte chocolate "airs". Since Takashi Yamazaki, who has been well known as a director of the motion picture "Always san-chome no yuhi", directed this CF and was eager for coupling with the band's tune. This opportunity made a promotional video for the tune directed by him come true. In addition to that, this PV itself is connected with the CF, Maki Horikita being featured in both films. This miracle collaborative works gained an attention due to their good quality. Being helped by the encounter with such interesting director, "Namida No Furusato" was top-ranked on the Oricon weekly single chart above all other great artists like EXILE&Kumi; Koda, Hikaru Utada, etc. It has become a big hit single selling over 400,000 copies so far.
After seven years from its debut, BUMP OF CHICKEN has been still spreading its market of listeners, and being trusted and backed up firmly by young generation. The band has been always sending messages, which will definitely reach so many young people deeply affecting them.
Their performances are also fascinating. Tickets for their shows usually sold out within seconds!! Nowadays, their tickets have become one of the most "hard to get", at a premium. In the beginning of 2006 they toured through nine Arenas, giving 16 shows and drawing 150,000 audiences totally. In Tokyo they did each two gigs both at Exhibition Hall, Makuhari Messe and at the 1st Gymnasium of National Yoyogi Stadium successfully drawing about 70,000 people totally.
The influence this band will give in the future on Japanese music industry and also the whole culture is beyond the measure. This artist is just "the wonder our era needed". That is BUMP OF CHICKEN.


Discography

loaded February 2007