Hitsujibungaku

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

Singer Moeka Shiotsuka grew up in a very strict family, and was a serious and studious student. She became interested in music at school, through friends and by joining the music club. She participated in several small projects, such as a duet with another girl and a Scandal cover band.

HitsujiBungaku was created in 2011, Moeka was then 15 years old and starting high school. In this early version, the band evolved according to the school calendar and the first recordings were made during vacations. Shiotsuka later attended Tokyo's Keio University.[1] Hesitating between her interest in fashion and her passion for alternative music, the activity and the members of the group has fluctuated over the years.

Drummer Hiroa Fukuda, meanwhile, was more of a do-nothing type in school. Nevertheless, he entered college, but only to "rest" and play music in college clubs. For a while, he was a backup drummer for Regal Lily [ja], and joined Hitsujibungaku in 2015, as the band totally matched his interest in shoegaze and alternative music. Moeka is a year older than him, so at first he called her "Shiotsuka-san", which is a very polite way to address an older person, before Moeka told him that there was no point in being so formal with her.

Bassist Yurika Kasai was also a member of her school's music club, but she was a guitarist. She participated in a small music festival organized by her school, in which HitsujiBungaku also participated. Impressed by the group, she decided to follow them on Twitter. In 2017, the group posted an advertisement looking for a new bassist. At that time, Yurika switched to bass guitar and responded to the advertisement. Moeka chose her because she was the only person who responded to the ad. Hiroa adds that from the first rehearsal, they quickly appreciated the melodic contribution of the new bassist.[2]

In 2018, the group released their first album, To the youth (若者たちへ, Wakamono-tachi e). The video for "Step" was directed by Shunji Iwai.

In 2020, the band released their second album, Powers.

In 2021, Hitsujibungaku composed and performed the opening song of the anime The Heike Story, "Hikaru Toki" (When the light shines).[3]

In April 2022, the group released their third album, Our hope. Our hope won the blue Grand Prix award at the 2023 CD Shop Awards.[4]

In September 2023, the group released the single "More than words", the ending song for the Shibuya Incident Arc of the second season of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series.

In December 2023, the band releases their fourth album, 12 Hugs (Like Butterflies).

In May 2024, Fukuda announced that he would take a temporary rest from performing duties. The band would use support members for their live performances going forward.[5]

On June 6, 2024 (Sheep Day in Japan), the band released a cover of "Life's a Treat", the theme song to Shaun the Sheep.[6] The next month, on July 3, 2024, the band released "Burning", the ending theme for the second season of anime series Oshi no Ko.[7]

On December 14th 2024, the band will perform for the first time in the United States (Honolulu).[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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