THIS IS JAPAN

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Formed: 2011, Tokyo, Japan

Introduction:
THIS IS JAPAN is a Japanese four-piece rock band who formed at Sophia University in 2011. They originally started as a band who would make covers of songs from both the Western, and Japanese music scene. As a result of this, they have covered more than 120 different bands, with the number of songs being even higher. Later down the line, after all these covers, they would start writing and producing their own music, as well as appearing at live performances at the Shinjuku Motion.

Biography:
In July 2012, the band appeared at the viBirth x CINRA "exPoP !!!!! vol. 64". Later in September of the same year, the band released their first mini album titled "Japonika Gakushuu Souchi", a year later in October 2013, the band released their second mini album, titled "URUSEI BOKURA". After this release, their junior members Koyama and Mizumoto graduated the Sophia University. This is usually the point where people would quit their band to find employment, and proceed to generate income, career and a future, however, the band decided to keep going full-time and have been officially active as of this time.

On August 24, 2014, they released their first full-length album titled "THIS IS JAPAN TIMES", which distributed nationwide. Skipping two years forward, on August 3, 2016, they released their second album titled "DISTORTION", which was also released nationwide. Additionally, the band has performed between 40-50 concerts a year, while also performing at many festivals such as "CONNECT KABIKICHOU MUSIC FESTIVAL", "Shimokitazawa Sound Cruising", "Panafest !!" and "Tokyo Calling".

On Dcember 2017, the band performed their second one-man live show at the Shimokitazawa Shelter and shook the packed venue with a destructive live performance. Earlier in November of the same year, the band planned and produced an alternative compilation CD titled "NOT FORMAL-NEW ALTERNATIVE", which included 18 guest performing artists who had the potential to change the mainstream to something brand new. During the release of the compilation, a slighly rare occurrence happened, which entailed that the manufacturing inventory ran out of stock on the first day of release, which even further raised the interest in the compilation.

On May 2, 2018, they released another mini album titled "FROM ALTERNATIVE", which was the awakening piece meant to show the band's take on the genre Alternative Attitude, was completed. After this, while performing a one-man show and planning live, they would release a song on October 12 of the same year, which was also chosen as the theme song to the movie "LOUDER! Can't Hear What You're Singin', Wimp!". Their performance and arrangement on the song, titled "I'm burning", additionally won a competition.

In 2019, they announced that they'd further refine their live performances, and since then they have become a staple group consistently performing at venues such as "BAYCAMP 2018 TGIF Eve Festival" and "Sound Cruising". This year, they have also appeared at the "FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL" on July 27, 2020, and at "BAYCAMP 2019" on September 15, 2020.

Members:

• Jack Sugimori (杉森ジャック) – vocalist, guitarist and composer
• Yuuki Koyama (小山祐樹) – vocalist, guitarist and composer
• Tarou Mizumoto (水元太郎) – bassist
• Kawamura (かわむら) – drummer, chords, composer and in-charge of lyrics

(Source: THIS IS JAPAN's Official Website, edited)