New album "Nite Hi Naru Toki - The Time quite not the Same" released in Dec 2025 INFO * Upcoming - Monthly Concert 2026 @ SPC Kichijoji Tokyo SEP11 - OCT07 INFO + Crowdfunding Campaign for Hikashu Samarkand Concert (UNTIL LATE JULY)INFO
Since 2008, Hikashu has been holding a special concert in December at Unit, a live venue of Daikanyama, Tokyo. This year it marks its 10th anniversary, and the band prepares the special program for the event.
This year's theme is film music, and Hikashu will play a series of famous compositions with various guests, plus the selections of their latest album, Anguri. It's going to be a memorable evening.
Inoyama Land is an ambient music duo consisted of Yamashita Yasushi and Inoue Makoto, both are the founding members of Hikashu. Actually their partnership predates the band, started in 1977, and they have been together since then.
No Lie-Sense is a duo of Suzuki Keiichi and Kera, both are the iconic figures of Japanese new wave movement. The unit started in 2013 and released two albums to date. It was named because they happened to have no driver's license.
Marianne Shinonome is a vocalist and keyboard player, currently leads her own band called Kinoco Hotel. She collaborated with Hikashu at many occasions, most recently she joined a Tokyo concert of Godzilla Legend in last September.
Kaiso Shimai, "the Seaweed Sisters," is a group of three instrumentalists. Although quite young, all the members has been classically trained at conservatoire, and known for its technical proficiency at arrangement and performance.
It's just announced that a live album of Hikashu's christmas concert last year will be released through online distribution.
The sold-out gig had many guests including Hirasawa Susumu on vocals and guitar. He sung some Hikashu numbers and Makigami did the same with Hirasawa's songs. The audience went wild and there is a huge demand for the recording. Now it looks like the demand be fulfilled.
Currently the details for the release, like the date and the method (download or stream), are still unknown. What is certain is that it contains Hikashu/Hirasawa's collaboration and it was recorded in extreme high resolution, hence no physical release - simply it couldn't fit into disc.
In fact, the concert was documented with sixteen Korg MR-2000S recorders. So it's quite an audiophile recording.
And the album is tentatively called "Zekkei," which means "magnificent scenery." We'll let you know when the details go public.
Hikashu - Anguri in the Style of Unlanding 1. Anguri / Anguri
2. Doremo Ga Seikai / All are correct
3. Shikou no Moso / Suprematism
4. Narisumashite Soro / Solemn Pretender
5. Tsubuyaku Kai / Selfish Shellfish
6. Iine / I Like It
7. Tomei Sugiruyo / Too Transparent
8. Ryokai Desu / Roger That
9. Zenhoui Ayashige / Omni Suspicion
10. Mamonaku Tengoku / It will be heaven soon
11. Aisenaiyo, Sonnanja / You cannot be in love, I guess
12. Chakuriku Shinaikei / In the Style of Unlanding
13. Iishitumon Desune! / Good Question!
Words by Makigami
Music by Makigami (3), Mita (6, 11, 13), Sakaide (1, 8), Sato (7), Hikashu (2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12)
Hikashu:
Makigami Koichi - vocal, theremin, cornet, shakuhachi, mouth harp
Mita Freeman - guitar
Sakaide Masami - bass
Shimizu Kazuto - piano, synthesizer, bass-clarinet
Sato Masaharu - drums
additional musicians:
Mori Ikue - laptop on 3, 8, 13
Chris Pitsiokos - alto saxophone on 9, 10, 12
Fubuki Yukie - vocal on 6, 9
Afrirampo - vocal on 9
Inoue Makoto - synthesizer on 8, 9, 10, 12
Produced by Makigami Koichi
Recorded by Mark Urselli at Eastside Sound NYC on May 1-2, 2017
Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk NYC
Released on October 10, 2017
In May this year, Hikashu had been in New York City. The band came to the town in order to take part in a concert and studio recording of Godzilla Legend, the solo project of ex-member Inoue Makoto. The next day after the concert at Japan Society, both group went into Eastside Sound, Hikashu's favorite studio, and recorded two albums. One is "Godzilla Legend V" which was released in September, and the other is Anguri, the 23rd album of Hikashu.
Anguri is not "angry," mind you, but a Japanese word describing "mouth-opened by surprise." You can see all the members doing "anguri" on the back cover of the album. In Japanese it's simply called Anguri, but the full English title is "Anguri in the Style of Unlanding."
The album has 13 tracks, seven of which are compositions, and the rest are improvised. As the title suggests, it's full of surprise, of course positively. All the songs are newly written especially for the album.
"Suprematism" is inspired by Black Square, painting by Kazimir Malevich. The band witnessed the iconic work during a Russian tour. There is also a refenence to White on White, another piece by the same author, the different title used for the song though.
"I Like It" is a mid-tempo song with humorous lyrics. It sounds quite relaxed as it could be described even as pastoral. Besides handclapping and female backing vocals, provided by Fubuki Yukie, a stage actress and singer, it has some cowbells which it's used to be in the possession of Blue Oyster Cult, so the band was told. Maybe this is the same one used for "(Don't Fear) the Reaper."
There is a person who always give promptly affirmative answer to any incoming email, hardly bother whatever it says. That habit comes to fruit as "Roger That."
The album closes with magnificient "Good Question!" which is based on Makigami's day-to-day interaction with smartphone AI.
Regarding improvised tracks, Chris Pitsiokos, a bright young saxophonist from NY downtown scene, and Inoue Makoto are contributed as guests.
The cover illustration, with impressive piercing eyes, is done by Kondo Akino, a Japanese artist who currently resides in NYC. There is also another piece on the liner notes.
12/31 Sunday 8:30 pm
NEW YEARS EVE IMPROV BENEFIT
John Zorn, Chris Speed (saxes) Makigami Koichi (voice) Ikue Mori (electronics) Jim Black (drums) Chris Tordini (bass) and many special guests
It's just announced that Hikashu will tour Europe and Russia in November 2017. The dates are:
November 14 - kepler14, Köln, Germany
November 16 - DOM, Moscow, Russia
November 17 - Cafe Hærverk, Oslo, Norway
November 18 - Kjøt, Bergen, Norway
November 20 - 5e, Copenhagen, Denmark Don't miss this one if you're nearby.
HIKASHU LIVE 2017
14 Nov. Köln kepler14
16th Nov. Moscow DOM
17th Nov. Oslo Cafe Hærverk
18th Nov.Bergen Kjøtt
20th Nov. at 5e Copenhagen
Waiting anxiously Hikashu's new album "Anguri", while it's clear the most notable activity of the band in the foreseeable future is the new album release concert held at Star Pine's Cafe in Kichijoji on October 10 (described here), it's noted that there are other appearances for this month, as listed below:
October 6 - "Pre-Machi" @ Hearts+, Otsuka, Tokyo October 7 - "Yokohama Jazz Promenade" @ KAAT Yokohama Art Theatre, Yokohama October 10 - "Anguri" Release Concert @ Star Pine's Cafe, Kichijoji, Tokyo October 16 - LaMama, Shibuya, Tokyo
"Pre-Machi" is a sort of showcase gig for the event called "Aki No Yoimachi" which is held in November, and Hikashu has already been booked for the latter one as well.
Yokohama Jazz Promenade is a huge jazz festival with a distinguished history. Hikashu's appearance starts around noon, so do not forget to come early.
Unfortunately, pianist Shimizu Kazuto is not available at the LaMama's gig, and ex-member Yoshimori Makoto will join the band as substitute.
October 6, 2017 "Pre-Machi" @ Hearts+ Otsuka, Tokyo other acts: Owarikara, Kuchusen, Rahulas open 18:00 - start 18:30 adv 2,800 yen - at door 3,300 yen hearts-web.net/plus
Hearts+, Otsuka, Tokyo
October 7, 2017 "Yokohama Jazz Promenade" @ KAAT Yokohama Art Theatre Yokohama start 12:00 jazzpro.jp
KAAT Yokohama Art Theatre, Yokohama
October 16, 2017 @ LaMama Shibuya, Tokyo other acts: Kozure Miwazo, Oedo Sukeroku Daiko (Traditional taiko ensemble) open 18:30 - start 19:30 adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,300 yen lamama.net
Hi. I'm an avid follower of a Japanese rock band, Hikashu. They are formed in 1978 and still going strong. Simply put, they are the greatest band from Japan. Really. They play some pretty good compositions, and collective improvisation of mastery kind. If you like the Mothers of Invention, Henry Cow, John Zorn, Derek Bailey, or any kind of good music plus having a sense of humor, just try them. They are so unique that I cannot describe what the band exactly is, but I try my best. Also, I did all the translations of the lyrics, except where noted.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is NOT official and NOT affiliated with Hikashu in any way. The opinion expressed here is solely mine, an advocate of the band, and it doesn't reflect their intention. Take a note for that, and have fun.
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