Author Archives: Henkka

MONO NO AWARE “Gyouretsu no Dekiru Hakobune” Interview (2021)

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This is an interview with MONO NO AWARE about their fourth album, Gyouretsu no Dekiru Hakobune, or Ark With a Line.

As far as this album goes, “Zokkon“ might be the highlight for me—as always, this band just absolutely nails the simple stuff. Calling it “simple” might be misleading, though, because when it’s simple, there’s nothing to hide behind. But MONO NO AWARE make it sound so effortless.

Interview & text: Nagahata Hiroaki (Japanese text)
Photography: Masuda Renzo, Taniura Ryuichi (some photos taken from here)
English translation: Henkka
MONO NO AWARE: Website, Instagram, Twitter

Note: You can buy Gyouretsu no Dekiru Hakobune on CDJapan.


MONO NO AWARE
(L-R) Kato Seijun, Tamaoki Shukei, Takeda Ayako, Yanagisawa Yutaka

MONO NO AWARE—armed with a peerless command of language and a warm band sound, they continue to update their music while never being tied down by genres.

On 9 June, they released their fourth full-length album, Gyouretsu no Dekiru Hakobune. The album features ten songs, including “Zokkon,” the theme song to theatrical anime film The Stranger by the Beach released last September, and “Soko ni Atta Kara,” their first digital single of 2021.

In this interview, we sat down with the four members of the band to talk about the creation of this album, about conflicts within the group, and about what they think in regards to this current “mood” that hangs in the air of society today.

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MONO NO AWARE “Kakegae no Nai Mono” Interview (2019)

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This is an interview with MONO NO AWARE about their third album Kakegae no Nai Mono, which translates to “Something Irreplaceable.” I hope you find it useful.

On a side note, the second track “Enpitsu“ is one of my favorite tunes from this band. It’s got just the right amount of that lighthearted, nostalgic-sounding J-pop melancholy.

Interview & text: Ishizumi Yuka (Japanese text)
Photography: Oohashi Yuuki
English translation: Henkka
MONO NO AWARE: Website, Instagram, Twitter

Note: You can buy Kakegae no nai Mono on CDJapan.


MONO NO AWARE
(L-R) Yanagisawa Yutaka, Tamaoki Shukei, Kato Seijun, Takeda Ayako

On their first album, Jinsei, Yamaori Taniori, they expressed a kind of tricky, humorous funkiness which only indie bands can pull off. Their second album, last year’s AHA, was—as symbolized in the lead track Tokyo—something that resounded with the image of a mid-twenties youth living in Tokyo, transcending any particular music scene.

MONO NO AWARE are a rare thing. They are a rich, organic entity, in which band music comes together with themes, melodies, ensembles, and words, all at the group’s own pace.

The theme of their third album, Kakegae no nai Mono, is based on the personal vision of frontman and songwriter Tamaoki Shukei. Both the radiance as well as one’s apprehension towards “the future” as seen through the eyes of a child; a child’s affection for material things; that slight feeling of hesitation when one is standing at the brink of adulthood… Of course, it’s precisely because he is no longer a child that these themes he depicts resonate so deeply, and I believe that it’s this very thing that is the heart of this album.

With tracks like the theme song for film Chinbotsu Kazoku and the 2019 October/November song for TV program Minna no Uta, it was with hopes of introducing listeners not yet familiar with the worldview of this profound band that I spoke with its members.

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Lamp “Someya Taiyo’s Musical Roots” (2025)

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This is a fantastic, extensive column about—as you already gathered from the title—the roots of Someya Taiyo, as written by the man himself.

Learn here how he first came to love music, what his early influences were, how Lamp were formed, and how he feels about making music today. And if you happen to be hiring, there’s even his Curriculum Vitae for your consideration. I’d say he has at least “passed the audition.”

Text: Shibasaki Yuji (Japanese text)
English translation: Henkka
Lamp: Linktree

By uncovering the musical journeys of various artists, this project aims to highlight the joys of pursuing music and to reveal fascinating new sides of these artists.

This time, we dove into the musical history of Someya Taiyo, the guitarist of Lamp, a band who have continuously—since their formation in 2000—released new music, and who are currently attracting attention both within and outside Japan.

In addition, at the end of the article, we have published a playlist of songs that form his musical roots, along with track-by-track commentary from Someya himself.

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Minuano “Butterfly Dream” Reissue With Translated English Lyrics

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I am pleased to announce that this summer, Minuano are reissuing their 2019 full-length album Butterfly Dream (蝶になる夢を見た) on both CD and vinyl.

The album is scheduled to be re-released in August 2025. Pre-orders for both the LP and the CD+LP Bundle are now available on Shopify and Bandcamp. Do note that these pre-orders are only open until April 29. The Bundle comes with a bonus postcard, and the CD includes a 24bit/96k audio download code. (A CD-only pre-order link will become available in late July.)

Following Love Logic, Fruits Mechanical, and Spring Lovers, this is the fourth collaboration between me and Minuano. Yes, you guessed it: once again, both editions of this re-release will feature English translations of all lyrics on the album.

On a purely personal note, I am very glad we managed to give this treatment to Butterfly Dream as well, simply because for me this album in particular is Minuano’s greatest masterpiece yet. Hopefully my translation of the words can help you discover yet another side to appreciate about this collection of songs. As always, my intention was to take the absolutely beautiful Japanese lyrics and render them into English with the utmost respect, and happily Ogata Takero was there to guide me every step of the way to help us achieve just that. And now it is done.

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Henkka’s New Music Discoveries #3

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One of these days, there could come a day when finally, at long last, I get bored of listening to music. “All right,” I’ll say. “That’s enough music for me.” Having decided I’ve heard all I want to hear, I’ll hang up my music hat. One day, who knows? I might graduate from listening to music.

But that day is not today. And in all likelihood, it’s not tomorrow either.

Here’s some of the better music I’ve found since last time.

Urakami Souki
“Dreaming of Dream Harbour”
2024 | POP

The freshest of these findings. I only just discovered this artist last month.

In a word, I love how beautifully melodious his music is. Just listen to the song—it’s crazy the directions his melody lines go. It’s too early to say for sure, but I think I’m about to become a fan. Can you imagine how cool this song would sound live?

Fun fact: this song features on bass guitar the great Shin Rizumu. He is a fantastic solo artist in his own right.

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