Kemuri

Wiki Bio Official Biography

What's KEMURI? -Brief BIO
A re-imported ska/punk band which was born in Japan and brought up in America. The positiveness which is seen not only in their music but also in their lyrics and shows obtained the kids' mental sympathy and the band has become very popular among them. Their debut album "Little Playmate" was released world wide accordingly with their popularity and ability. Their cheering fun sound with their policy, PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) is distinctive. They have an oversea management and did a US tour of 40 places from late March to early May in 1998 which is unusually long for a Japanese band. After coming back to Japan, they played at "Fuji Rock Festival 1998", a big dreamlike rock festival where many overseas and domestic bands play together and did the "No Music, No Life" campaign at Tower Records. They did a nation wide live tour in Japan from February to March in 1999 and played to 1000-2000 people at each show. Then had a tour all around in Japan, and all tickets were sold out at once.

In 1999, they did a lot of gigs in Japan, and jumped into touring in France, the first Europe gig for them. Then they released a live recorded album "tabi" recorded at IMP Hall, Osaka, at 23rd Nov which was so well done.
Two years passed by. They finished recording 3rd album "senka-senrui". They had a lot of fateful encounter, parting ,and decision with changing situation. This album includes all of those feelings. They showed themselves as they were. The horn section changed two members from three. FUMIO says, "KEMURI move one step closer to their journey." During the two years after "77 DAYS", KEMURI repeated trial and error and considered real meaning of Positive Mental Attitude(P.M.A) philosophy. Then KEMURI came to the conclusion - The answer was 'continuation'. So, KEMURI did their best to make this album.

KEMURI had a live at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL this year 2000 again. That was so great. And they will have a tour all over Japan from 26th Sep.2000 to the beginning of 2001.
KEMURI keeps moving forward with their great attitude.

KEMURI BIO - Detailed bio
My memory doesn't recall what day it was, but I first experienced KEMURI playing live at a small club Loft in Shinjuku,Tokyo. There were about 6 bands and KEMURI was the third or the fourth set of that memorable night.
Recalling a rumor that the band is particular about playing each song in just 10 odd seconds, I saw with my eyes how the Japanese independent music scene was interesting.

However, the most impressive of all the 6 bands was KEMURI that brought shivers on my spine with their electrifying stage performance with no waste MC's and absolutely no frills. Since I was slightly tired to British pop sounds around that time, the stream of their storm-like energy was sufficient to knock me out. Their solid ensemble stood alone without being categorized in the same school of fish with any other band. That was about when Ska was the next big movement in the States. Positive songs, attitude and the power the band well demonstrated were what I was fascinated with.

Surprisingly enough, that experience further involved me into my first interview with the band during their US tour. What made the tour possible for the band dates back the period even before they found American management with Dave Lumian. Things had already started happening during Fumio's sole visit to the States when he was still handling out demos to various record labels, shops and musicians, or even potential audience at concerts. Among them there was Mike Park, Korean-American, from BRUCE LEE BAND.

"We've been good friends since my band contributed 2 songs for the compilation album called 'Misfits of Ska' out from his label. One day, he rang me up and asked me if we were interested in joining Ska Against Racism Tour," said Fumio. Such offer didn't sound quite new to him since, when he visited Mike before, he saw the label owner busying himself sending out messages about the tour to all sorts of media.

"I admit that there was some reaction at first. Why us for the tour against racism? But on the other hand, I thought it might be a good chance for us to go for it and on stage in front of American audience who knew nothing about Japan " Fumio talks about the situation the band was in. DIY spirits is the typical KEMURI style we have come to know.

According to the initial plans, there was going to be a warm-up tour set up for a couple of weeks before Ska Against Racism Tour, then if the recording session would go good, the band was to be allowed for Warped Tour. That required the band spending almost entire year in the US, and would eventually cause parting company with some original members. Fumio said about this, "There was not much choice left for us, anyway. Time had come, and we needed to move forward."

The band revealed totally new member line-up after the biggest turning point. Now there are only two original members, Fumio (vo) and Tsuda (b) left with the late new comer Shoji (ds) who said, "This is what I should do." tightening up the rhythm section. Minami replaced the original guitar player T (aka Yukihiro Tanaka), and their long-time friend Akihito "Muscle" Masui (currently working with another band called LA-PPISCH) from MUTE BEAT was responsible for the brass position formally occupied by the original member Yuji Shimoda. The last minute addition to the core line-up also saw two new members, Ryo (trumpet) and the saxophonist Kobaken just in time for the up-coming American tour.

The tour started on March 26 and came to an end on May 10. Not only was it possibly the longest US tour that any Japanese band had ever done, but also physically most demanding KEMURI had experienced. Basically, all the members were packed, and slept in a tour van borrowed from DESCENDENTS. Rare off was spent for band's individual gigs or traveling 1,OOO miles a day... At the end of tour, the total mileage the band had traveled during this chaotic road summed up approximately I 3,700. They immensely played shows each night after moving from town to town just for small advance. "I knew it was gonna be a rough ride and convinced ourselves so before the tour kicked off" recalls Fumio. Tsuda says, " I know it's hard and it doesn't bring us any fortune... We are rather losing money(laugh). But, this is necessary for our band. Then, why not trying to enjoy ourselves as much doing this?"

It didn't take too long until the band found its way to full ovation by American audience in a given short-20-minute set, and it continued to remain kids' favorite until the end of the road. The highest point of all the shows definitely came when the band made their foreign fans shout "Aishitemasu" which means "I love you" in Japanese, the scene vividly captured on their live video released last July. There proves no-frill KEMURI extravaganza in its full swing.

"I tried to step forward and approach myself more than usual to the audience. That was a quite change," said Fumio when I had a 4-hour interview with him, Tsuda, Shoji and Ryo right after their US tour. "YOU have to sing in front of people who know nothing about KEMURI every night, so why don't you step forward without hesitation? While I was singing, the monitors were mostly behind me."

Such attitude and experience are condensed in this album, and you'll feel KEMURI members unite monolithically as a band from this album. As the title itself shows, the 7 members lived under the same roof together for 77 days sharing the joys, sorrows and pains. It strongly reflects their own experience-what they learned by meeting friends, fans and a new audience during this tour.

The recording session was done at a studio owned by ALL(DESCENDENTS) in Fort Collins, Colorado. The band arrived there the day after their final show in the US and started rehearsing. After spending three or four days in a sauna-like rehearsal room to complete their songs for the album, they entered into a recording process from the mid May produced by Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton, the guitarist and the drummer of ALL(DESCENDENTS).

The two out of the 14 songs are in Japanese and the rest in English this time. No matter what languages you use, the songs don't sound and mean unless they have something to appeal. However, in this case, I surely caught what KEMURI want to say on their work even if the songs were in English or in Japanese. "77 Days" starts with 'Heart Beat' which they sing doubt and rage against racism. I guess they wrote it based on what they experienced in Ska Against Racism Tour. And 'PMA', a song about KEMURI itself, follows. This album is full of the songs came out with their faith and attitude. To my regret, there is not enough space here to comment on each song, so I want you to read the lyric sheets in each line. As one of their enthusiastic fans, I'm grateful to all the members of KEMURI for completing such an album.

"European and American bands tour Japan, so why don't Japanese bands go abroad and play live? That's the only reason. Japan or overseas... I don't care. Succeed or fail... Nothing will start unless you stop saying that. It's just started," said Fumio. "Actually, you can do anything if you believe in yourself. So, I will never give up and will always live with a PMA."- Yes, that's right. What a nice message to close this writing.

After coming back to Japan, they played at "Fuji Rock Festival 1998", a big dreamlike rock festival where many overseas and domestic bands play together and did the "No Music, No Life" campaign at Tower Records. They are going to do a nation wide live tour in Japan from February to March in 1999 and play to 1000-2000 people at each show.
Then had a tour all around in Japan. and all tickets was sold out at once.
In 1999, they did a lot of gigs in Japan, and jumped into touring in France, the first Europe gig for them. Then they released a live recorded album "tabi" recorded at IMP Hall, Osaka, at 23rd Nov which was so well done.

Two years passed by.
They finished recording 3rd album "senka-senrui". They had a lot of fateful encounter, parting ,and decision with changing situation. This album includes all of those feelings.

They showed themselves as they were. And horn section changed two members from three.

FUMIO says, KEMURI move one step closer to their journey. During two years from "77 DAYS", KEMURI repeated trial and error and considered real meaning of Positive Mental Attitude(P.M.A) philosophy. Then KEMURI came to the conclusion. The answer was 'continuation'. So, KEMURI did their best to make this album "senka-senrui".

KEMURI had a live at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL this year 2000 again. That was so great. And they will have a tour all over Japan from 26th Sep.2000 to the beginning of 2001.

KEMURI keeps moving forward with their great attitude.

(*partly used the Liner notes by Koichi Hanahusa is extracted. 1998)-2000.08.16.-NOW