Shonan No Kaze (湘南乃風)

Overview

Shōnan no Kaze (湘南乃風, "Shōnan Wind") is a four-member Japanese reggae group formed in 2001. They run their own label, 134 Recordings, and are managed by TV Asahi Music, with Universal J/134Recordings as their record label. Their official fan club is called "Kazeno Gundan" (風乃軍団). They are best known for their 2006 hit "Junrenka" (純恋歌, "Pure Love Song"), one of the top songs of that year, and have sold 2.5 million copies in Japan.

Career

Formation and major debut

Red Rice and Han-kun, who were already performing in Shōnan, later met Shock Eye and Wakadanna to form the group. Han-kun became interested in reggae after hearing Buju Banton's "Untold Stories" by chance on his way home from a dance, while Red Rice fell in love with reggae and hip-hop through attending festivals. The pair met Shock Eye, a former hip-hop DJ, while performing; Shock Eye had been friends with Wakadanna in high school and ran into him again in Shōnan, where Wakadanna was managing a reggae bar.

In 2001 they launched the indie label 134LABEL and produced the self-made mixtape "Shōnan no Kaze," which gave the group its name. They appeared on compilations and collaborated with other artists, officially formed in 2002, and made their major-label debut in 2003 with the album Shōnan no Kaze: Real Riders (initially under Toy's Factory). Their first single, "Ōenka/Kaze," followed in 2004, and the second album, Ragga Parade, reached No. 5 on the Oricon chart after two top-20 singles.

"Junrenka" and rise

The fifth single, "Junrenka" (2006), sold over 520,000–600,000 copies and ranked as the eighth biggest hit of 2006. The follow-up album, Riders High, hit No. 1, as did the fourth album, Joker (2009). Further hits include "Ōgon Soul," "Koi Shigure" and "Gachi-zakura." Han-kun released a solo album in 2008.

10th anniversary and tie-ins

In 2013, for their tenth anniversary, the group released the fifth album Shōnan no Kaze: 2023 and held a national tour. In August they played their first solo show at Yokohama Stadium, "Tenth Anniversary Yokohama Stadium Legend." Their first best-of album had come out on March 6 of that year. The group also supplied "Just Live More" to the TV series Kamen Rider Gaim under the name Gaim no Kaze (鎧武乃風).

They have a strong record with games and anime. In 2012 they provided "Born to be Wild" (from the album Entenka) for Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura hen, used in the final boss fight. In 2015 they delivered the opening "Bubble" and ending "Kurenai" for Yakuza 0; in 2016 the opening "Ike! Tiger Mask" and closing "KING OF THE WILD" for the anime Tiger Mask W; and in 2018 the opening theme for the anime Grand Blue.

Hiatus and return

After their 2018 tour the group took a temporary hiatus so each member could reassess their individual activities, pursuing solo music, TV and acting work. They returned in 2020 with "Ichibanka," a collaboration with Yasutaka Nakata created after an offer to write the theme for Yakuza: Like a Dragon (the ending song), released as their first single after moving to Universal Music. The album Shihou Senpuu followed on May 20, 2020. Its national tour was postponed due to COVID-19 and held in 2021.

20th anniversary and beyond

In 2022 the group teamed up with Koda Kumi on "Trust・Last" (released December 23), the opening theme of Kamen Rider Geats, and made their first appearance at the Momoiro Uta Gassen. In 2023, their 20th anniversary, they held their first solo concert at Nippon Budokan, "Shin Shun Kyōran," on January 19, released the best album 20th Anniversary BEST on July 5 and toured nationwide. On August 12 they returned to Yokohama Stadium after ten years for "Kazematsuri," performing with a band for the first time. They also performed "Desire" for the Geats summer movie.

Large-scale shows have continued: "Kazematsuri 2024" at Expo Commemoration Park and "Nesshō Kōshien" at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in 2025, when they also performed the opening theme for season two of Grand Blue. On March 18, 2026 they released the single "Ukuiuta," followed on September 3, 2026 by "Amanogawa," the theme for the next season of an ABEMA reality show.

Musical style

Rooted in reggae, the four-piece blends a former hip-hop DJ with members who came to reggae and hip-hop through live culture. They are known for frequent collaborations within the reggae scene and beyond, including Yasutaka Nakata and Koda Kumi, for a broad run of game, anime and tokusatsu theme songs, and, since 2023, for band-format live performances.