Asakusa Jinta

ASAKUSA JINTA is a hard marching band from Asakusa in Tokyo, Japan; they call themselves Asianican Hard Marching Band. Their music style is a mixture of Rockabilly, uptempo country, punk and Japanese Eenka and Kayokyoku from the 1930's. Their base is Asakusa, Tokyo's old downtown, an area reminiscent of traditional Japan. They love this town and people who live there love the band as they are known as a marching band playing on the shopping streets or for weeklong parades. Asakusa Jinta's music theme is joy and sorrow of life and "Giri and Ninjo", the spirit of traditional Japanese emotions such as sympathy, compassion, love and friendship.They are playing a style of music from the 1930s - actually it's more like a '30s brass band that plays in many different styles. Some songs are like uptempo country or rockabilly, but most of it is just frenetic klesmer. Just saxophones, trumpet and euphonium all playing lightning fast happy melodies while stand-up bass and drums and tubas throw down polka-style rhythms. The Hawaiian shirts and vaguely lounge-lizard outfits adds the finishing touch to this eccentric band.



ASAKUSA JINTA on "Playlist."



♦ Music Videos ♦



"UNMEI"

filmed, directed & edited by

Dominic Leung



UNMEI / 運命



"TEPPEN"

directed by

Dominic Leung



"Noru Soru (Ride & Bend)"



♦ Live Performances ♦



"Teppen" at Southpaw, Brooklyn 2009



"Tokyo-Sabaku De Jidanda" at Southpaw, Brooklyn 2009



"Star" at Southpaw, Brooklyn 2009



"Crow's Dance" at Southpaw, Brooklyn 2009



"Rock On the Rock" at Lowlands 2008



"June-poo ～ Crow's Dance" at Lowlands 2008



Stockholm Culture Festival 2007"



♦ Band's History ♦



1996

-DEATH MARCH KANTAI, a hard marching band was formed by Oshow & friends.



1997

-Aug./ Released 1st album "Tamashii No Shiwazaka"



1999

-Released the compilation album "ASIANICA"

-Held a one-man show at On Air West Shibuya.

-Played the legendary last show at Musashino Univ. of Art and broke up.

-Oshow, Shinya, MieKachint and Hiro formed a new band called "MACH MARCH JAPONICA"



2000

-Jul./ Changed the band name as "HYAKKE NO GYORETSU" based in Asakusa.

-Oct./ B-Ken joined the band.



2001

-Apr./ Released 1st album "Kyou Wa Kyou Desu Kyoufu Desu (Today is Kyo and Horror)"



2002

-Released 2nd album "Asakusa Kiken Yarou (Dangerous Guy in Asakusa)"

-Aug./ Joined Rakugo Art Assosiation's parade.



2003

-Mar./ Released 3rd album "Koko Wa Aasakusa, Koi No Bangaichi (This is Asakusa, Sweetheart Town)"

-Aug./ Contributed a song "Good Bye Namida No Hanwarai" for a popular comedian, Tekken's DVD.



2004

-Jan./ Became the 1st guest member of Rakugo Association as a Rock band.

-Japanese famous Rakugoka (Japanese traditional story telling comedian), master Sanyutei Koyuza gave them new name "ASAKUSA JINTA."

-Mar./ Had a joint concert with Sanyutei Koyuza at Tokyo Art Theater.

-Performed at the Asakusa Festival with Japanese leading Rakugoka.

-Started the monthly self-organized event "Rockin' Sin-Tenchi"



2005

-Jan./ Released 1st album "Asakusa Rock" as ASAKUSA JINTA supported by Rakugo Art Association. Lots of leading Rakugoka played instruments in this album and the world famous comedian and film director, TAKESHI KITANO wrote lyrics of the title song "Asakusa Rock."

-Feb./ DEATH MARCH KANTAI's DVD "Shiranu Ga Otoboke" was released.

-Aug./ Released CD single "Asakusa Ondo"

-Aug./ Organized the open air music festival "Sumidagawa Riverside Tengoku"

-Nov./ Joined "Tokyo Jidai Matsuri Parade vol.17"

-Dec./ Released the collaboration album with Rakugo Art Assosiation "Geikyo Otozukushi"

-Nominated as performing band at Japan Foundation Festival in Stockholm.



2006

-Feb./ Played three Club Quattro shows in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

-Apr./ Organized open air music festival "Sumidagawa Riverside Tengoku" in Asakusa.

-May./ Composed the theme song for the Japanese famous Horror anime writer, Kazuo Umezu's film "Nekome Kozou (Cat's-Eye Boy)"

The movie was released in June 2006, the song was released by CD and the DVD was released in October.

-Aug./ Organized summer music festival in Asakusa.

-Sep./ Original drummer, Hiriki left the band, then Gome joined.

-Oct./ Trumpet player Seasir joined



2007

-Jan./ Released 2nd full lenghth album "SKY ZERO"

-Feb./ Played the sold out show at Club Quattro Shibuya.

-Mar./ Toured U.S. and played 10 shows at 8 cities including SXSW 2007, toured west side Japan, and concluded the tour at Club Quattro Shibuya.

-Recorded a song "Natsu De Suka?" for a Pokemon's film released in summer.

-Aug./ Toured Europe including Stockholm Culture Festival, Helsinki Festival and Sugar Factory in Amsterdam.

-Nov./ Re-started the monthly self-organized event "Rockin' Shin-Tenchi"

-Contributed a Christmas song "Jingle Bells" to Vap Reccord's compilation album "Jingle All The Way"

-Dec./ Released 1,000 limited copies of CD single "Fes! Fes! Fes!"



2008

-Jan./ Hiro, accordion player left the band due to physical condition.

-Apr./ Released 200 limited copies of single CD Vol.1/5 "Teppen" and SOLD OUT immediately!

-May/ Released 200 limited copies of single CD Vol.2/5 "Gira Gira Dance" and SOLD OUT, again!!

-Jun./ Released 200 limited copies of single CD vol.3/5 "Grand Cabaret" and SOLD OUT.

-Jul./ Released 200 limited copies of single CD vol.4/5 "Tokyo Sabaku De Jidanda." SOLD OUT, of course.

-Aug./ Played and Rocked LOWLANDS Festival 2008 in Holland.

Released the last 200 limited copies of single CD vol.5/5 "Unmei" and SOLD OUT.

-Oct./ Contributed a song to the first Japanese Dioramation movie "Yukmemachi-Kannon" scheduled for release in 2009.

-Nov./ Contribute a theme song to "The 1st Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival."

New drummer, Kaname join the band due to Gome's retirement.



2009

-Mar./ Received an invitation to SXSW 2009 and toured America joining Japan Nite tour 2009.

-Released the 3rd full length album, "Setsuna" during the U.S. tour.

-Apr./ Toured around the country for two months, named it as "keep on the hard marching tour."

-Jun./ Finalized the "keep on the hard marching tour" at club asia, Shibuya with sellout crowd.

-Jul./ Played FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '09.

-Oct./ Toured UK and played 9 shows in 3 cities including Gaz' Rockin' Blues Club, In The City and Optimo.



2010

-Feb./ Release UK Tour DVD+BOOK "FISH & CHIPS."