Japanese band Hitsujibungaku happy to reach foreign fans through anime songs
If you’re a fan of the hit anime series “Jujutsu Kaisen,” then you have probably already heard of Hitsujibungaku.
Composed of Moeka Shiotsuka (vocals, guitar), Yurika Kasai (bass) and Hiroa Fukuda (drums) the Japanese alternative rock band is behind “More than Words,” the wistful and anthemic ending song of the show’s “Shibuya Incident” arc last year.
The trio, known for its immersive midtempos that meld sensitivity and tenacity already had a considerable following, especially on the Japanese indie scene. But after the tie-up with “Jujutsu Kaisen,” the band saw its reach expanding beyond its native shores.
Moeka believes that doing anime collaborations can be a big accomplishment for Japanese artists because of the possible exposure that comes with it. “Jujutsu Kaisen,” for instance, was recently named by Guinness World Records as the world’s “most in-demand animated TV show.”
“There are more people listening to our music… The number of fans expanded for sure,” Moeka, speaking through an interpreter, told the Inquirer in a recent virtual interview arranged by Sony Music Philippines.
Since its release, the song has amassed more than 60 million streams in Japan alone, reaching No. 1 on digital platforms like Apple Music and iTunes. “Because of the song, there are more listeners, not only in Japan, but also overseas,” Yurika added.
New song
What are their favorite anime themes? Yurika loves songs from “Hunter x Hunter.” Off the top of her head, Moeka named Asa-Chang & Junray’s “Hana” from “Aku no Hana.” (Hiroa is on hiatus and was unable to join the interview.)
Last July 3, the band returned with a new song, “Burning,” which will serve as the ending theme song for the second season of the anime series “Oshi no Ko.”
“So far, we have been producing a lot of different kind of songs as a band. But this single is more rock-sounding. And since it’s the ending song for ‘Oshi no Ko,’ we tried to really study the emotions and the characters,” said Moeka, the band’s main songwriter.
In crafting anime songs, Moeka does as much research as she can on the title, so that the compositions can properly reflect the plot or theme.
“I really try to watch all the existing episodes, and if there’s an original manga or novel, I will also read them. If there’s a script available, I will go through it, too. And as I make the songs, I will go through the anime many, many times,” Moeka related. “I focus on the points of the story, the emotions of the characters.”
She also aims for relatability. “Since it will be heard by lots of people through the anime, I try to compose lyrics that are acceptable to [many],” explained Moeka who has also penned songs for such anime titles as “The Heike Story” and “The House of the Lost on the Cape.”
‘Purely happy’
Needlessly to say, the group’s growing number of international fans make the members “purely happy.” After all, they do listen to music from outside Japan, too.
“Recently, I have been listening a lot to Willow,” Moeka said.
“I love bands, mainly, like Pixies and The Stone Roses,” Yurika said.
Since the current lineup’s formation in 2017, the band has put out four albums, the latest being “12 Hugs (Like Butterflies).” When composing music for themselves, the members have more freedom to pursue personal topics.
“For inspiration, we listen to different kinds of songs. Our daily thoughts are also reflected by our sound, “Moeka said.
The three artists’ relationship has only grown and evolved since they first met. Still, creative differences are inevitable. “The person who doesn’t give up wins all the time,” Moeka and Yurika said, laughing. “But while we have different opinions, we try everyone’s idea and see which one is best.”
The group’s music has been described as a mix of shoegaze and indie and psychedelic rock. And while they are, indeed, influenced by such genres, they’re not closing their doors on other styles. “Lots of people describe us as an alt-rock band. But I also think that we have the essence of J-pop,” Moeka said.
Open to anything
“There’s no certain genre we want to try right now, but we will be open to anything in the future,” she added.
The group has also been making significant inroads in the live music scene, too, drawing a big audience at last year’s Fuji Rock Festival, and selling out its biggest single-bill show yet at the Yokohama Arena last April. According to a press release, tickets were gone three minutes after they were released.
The band also embarked on an Asian tour, which recently added four more dates, including Manila on July 6. While they have yet to visit the Philippines, Moeka has fond memories of her Filipina classmate back in primary school.
“I was invited to her house and had Filipino snacks similar to mochi,” she called. “I would like to try that again in the Philippines”
Asked what they think makes their music resonate with listeners all over the world, despite the language barrier, Moeka admitted that they really have no idea. “I guess they just like our sound,” she said, laughing.
