Tokyo Incidents

Overview

Tokyo Incidents (Tokyo Jihen, 東京事変) is a Japanese five-piece rock band formed in 2003 around singer-songwriter Ringo Sheena. Its label is Universal Music and its management office is Kuroneko-do. The band ended activities with a concert at Nippon Budokan on February 29, 2012, and reunited on January 1, 2020, under the banner of "rebirth" with its final lineup.

Career history

Formation and debut (2003–2004)

The band began in 2003 as Sheena's backing band for her "Sugoroku Ecstasy" tour, with Sheena, drummer Toshiki Hata, bassist Seiji Kameda, pianist H Zett M and guitarist Mikio Hirama. On May 30, 2004, Sheena declared she would work as a band. They first appeared at the 0724 Yamabikari live and headlined Fuji Rock Festival, drawing crowds large enough to require entry restrictions. They made their major debut on September 8, 2004 with the single "Gunjō Biyori" on Toshiba EMI, followed by the first album Kyōiku on November 25.

Lineup change (2005)

The first tour, "dynamite!", began in January 2005 and covered 10 cities and 14 shows. On July 1, H Zett M and Hirama's departures were announced, though they had been decided before the tour. H Zett M returned to PE'Z and Hirama to solo work. Keyboardist Ichiyō Izawa joined, followed by guitarist Ukigumo, who accepted just before recording of Adult. The Phase 2 lineup was announced in September, and the band's symbol changed from a paper crane to a peacock. The single "Shurabā" came out on November 2.

Phase 2 (2006–2007)

The second album Adult, released on January 25, 2006, reached number one on the Oricon chart, a first for the band. They held "DOMESTIC! Virgin LINE" at Nippon Budokan and Osaka-jo Hall in February, then toured nationwide with "DOMESTIC! Just can't help it." and hosted "SOCIETY OF THE CITIZENS vol.1" in July. Sheena also produced the score for the film Sakuran. In 2007 the band released "O.S.C.A.", "Killer-tune" and the album Variety on September 26, the first release without Sheena's compositions, and toured with "Spa & Treatment".

Activities apart (2008–2011)

The "Killer-tune" video won Best Technical Works Video at Space Shower Music Video Awards 08 on March 15, 2008. Sheena resumed her solo career for her 10th anniversary, so band activity was limited, though they played Rising Sun Rock Festival and held "SOCIETY OF THE CITIZENS vol.II". In 2009 Kameda worked as producer, Hata supported Fujifabric, and Izawa joined The Hiatus as a tour member. On December 2, 2009, "Nōdōteki Sanpunkan" became their first single to top the Oricon singles chart. The fourth album Sports followed on February 24, 2010 and topped the chart, along with the "Ultra C" tour. The fifth album Daihakken was released on June 29, 2011. The 2012 Domestique Bon Voyage tour drew 660,000 applicants but was held on a smaller scale, and the band ended on February 29, 2012.

Reunion (2020–)

On January 1, 2020, the band reunited with a new single, "Erabarezaru Kokumin". Releases followed: "Eien no Fuzai Shōmei" (February 29, 2020), "News" (April 8), "Aka no Dōmei" (August 12), "Ao no ID" (November 6) and "Inochi no Chō" (November 13). In 2021 came "Yami naru Shiro", "Ryokushu", the album Ongaku (June 9), "Primal", "Hotoke dake Toho" and the album Sōgō (December 21). In 2022 they released "Futsū to wa" (February 3) and "Shiseikatsu (New Translation)" (April 30).

Musical style

Tokyo Incidents plays J-rock and J-pop. The band began as a kind of curriculum for Sheena, which she described as moving from a school to a vocational school and laboratory, and finally a factory where each member could work independently. Songs grow from detailed demos by Sheena, Izawa, Ukigumo and Kameda, and most recordings are live one-take performances by the whole band. Sheena wrote all lyrics through the second album, later joined by Ukigumo and Izawa, and on the final mini-album color bars every member wrote lyrics and music. Recording engineer Amani Inoue produces.