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Bump of Chicken
Background information
Origin	Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Genres	Alternative rock indie rock electronic rock
Years active	1994–present
Labels	High Line Toy's Factory
Members	Motoo Fujiwara (Vocals, Guitar) Hiroaki Masukawa (Guitar) Yoshifumi Naoi (Bass) Hideo Masu (Drums)
Website	http://www.bumpofchicken.com/

Bump of Chicken (バンプ・オブ・チキン, Banpu Obu Chikin) is a Japanese alternative rock group from Sakura, Chiba. The band members are Motoo Fujiwara (vocals, rhythm), Hiroaki Masukawa (guitar), Yoshifumi Naoi (bass) and Hideo Masu (drums). Since their conception in 1994, they have released 28 singles and 10 albums. They are a popular group in Japan; every release since their third single, "Tentai Kansoku", has charted in the top ten on the Oricon Weekly Charts. Their music has been used in various video games and as theme songs for movies, television shows and anime in Japan.

History

The members first met in kindergarten and were classmates throughout their primary and secondary education. Bump of Chicken's first performance was in 1994, during their ninth grade cultural festival, playing a cover of The Beatles' version of "Twist and Shout". In 1996, their song "Danny" won an award on 96TFM. The band's name translates literally from Japanese as "counterattack from the weak man."

In 1999, Bump of Chicken released their first album, Flame Vein, on High Line Records. Later that year, they released their first single, "Lamp". In 2000, they released The Living Dead, their final release on High Line. They also held their first live tour, "Tsuaa Pokiiru (ツアーポキール)", during March and April.

Later in 2000, the group switched to Toy's Factory, releasing their first single on the label, "Diamond", in September. Bump of Chicken's first big success occurred when their single, "Tentai Kansoku", appeared on the Oricon Weekly Charts in 2001. They held two live tours, "Star Porking Tours (スターポーキングツアーズ, Sutaa Pookingu Tsuaazu) 2001" beginning in March and "Surf Porkin'" beginning in July. In October, they released "Harujion". They released their first album on Toy's Factory, Jupiter, in February 2002 and it was their first number one on the Oricon Weekly Charts. In the summer of 2002, their music was featured on the Japanese TV drama Tentai Kansoku, giving them more exposure.

At the end of 2002, the group released the single "Snow Smile". 2003 saw the release of their first double A-side single "Lost Man/Sailing day". "Sailing Day" was used as the ending theme to the animated movie One Piece: Dead End Adventure. The beginning of 2004 saw a slew of re-releases. "Arue", from their album Flame Vein, was released as a single in March. They re-released their first two albums in April. Flame Vein received an extra song and was re-released as Flame Vein +1. The Living Dead received no modifications. In July, the group released "Only Lonely Glory", which became their first single to chart at number one on the Oricon Weekly Charts. A month later, they released their fourth album, Yggdrasil, which was their second album to reach number one on the Oricon Weekly Charts. Shortly after, they released "Sharin no Uta", from Yggdrasil, as a single.

In 2005, Bump of Chicken released two singles, "Planetarium" and second double A-side single "Supernova/Karma". Karma was used as the theme song for Namco's "Tales of the Abyss". The band's next single, "Namida no Furusato" was used in a commercial for Lotte Airs. It became the group's second number one single. In 2007, they released the singles "Hana no Na" and "Mayday" on the same day. The two singles reached number one and two respectively on the Oricon Weekly Charts. Bump of Chicken released their fifth studio album, Orbital Period, on December 19, 2007. They released their first compilation album present from you on June 18, 2008. This album contains b-sides from singles and other non-album tracks.

On November 25, 2009, Bump of Chicken released its third double A-side single "R.I.P./Merry Christmas", their first single in two years. On April 14, 2010, they released "Happy" and then in the following week, another single, "Mahō no Ryōri (Kimi kara Kimi e)". These two singles also reached number one consecutively for two weeks on the Oricon Weekly Charts, the first time a band achieved this since Orange Range's "Love Parade" and "Onegai! Señorita" in 2005. They released a fourth double A-side single "Uchūhikōshi e no Tegami/Motorcycle" on October 13, 2010, and they released a music video for the song on Toy's Factory's YouTube channel on September 14, 2010, which surpassed 200,000 views in two days. On December 15, 2010, they released their sixth studio album, Cosmonaut, but it did not feature the song "Merry Christmas".

In 2011, Bump of Chicken announced that they wrote the song "Tomodachi no Uta" as the theme song for the animated 3D movie Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops: ~Angel Wings~, and "Tomodachi no Uta" was released as the single on February 23, 2011. They also released two singles, "Smile" on May 11, 2011, and "Zero" on October 19, 2011. "Zero" was used as the theme song for video game by Square Enix, Final Fantasy Type-0. Also in 2012, they released two more singles "Good Luck" and "Firefly", in January and September 2012, respectively. "Good Luck" was featured as the end theme to the Japanese film Always Sanchōme no Yūhi '64.

On March 6, 2013, Bump of Chicken released their first live video and album Bump of Chicken Gold Glider Tour 2012, recorded live at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan, on July 3, 2012.

On September 29, 2020, Bump of Chicken released the single "Acacia", which was featured in a music video named "GOTCHA!" uploaded on the Pokémon YouTube channel to celebrate the release of the Crown Tundra DLC in Pokémon Sword and Shield for the Nintendo Switch.

Band members

Motoo Fujiwara

Motoo Fujiwara (藤原基央) is the composer, lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and main vocalist of the group. He has written most of the music, and has also drawn the artwork for their albums The Living Dead and Yggdrasil. In March 2006, he released a solo album entitled Song for Tales of the Abyss, which included "Karma" and instrumental versions of songs from the game Tales of the Abyss. He uses a Gibson 1960 Les Paul Special Single Cutaway, Sonic fender, Gibson J-45. In August 2020, Fujiwara got married.

• Birth date: (1979-04-12) April 12, 1979 (age 45)
• Birthplace: Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
• Position: composer/lyricist/vocalist/rhythm guitarist

Hiroaki Masukawa

Hiroaki Masukawa (増川弘明) is the guitarist of the group, and also writes most of the hidden joke tracks for albums. His nicknames within the band are "Hiro", "Hose", (meaning "very thin"), and "Nikke". He uses a Gibson Les Paul Standard, Fender Stratocaster.

• Birth date: (1979-12-20) December 20, 1979 (age 45)
• Birthplace: Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
• Position: lead guitarist

Yoshifumi Naoi

Yoshifumi Naoi (直井由文) is the bassist of the group, and is referred to as the "crowd pleaser". He has released an artbook containing his works, and helped with some album artwork. His nickname within the band is "Chama", a play on the Japanese phrase "Obotchama" referring to a rich family's son. He uses a Sonic Bass, Fender Jazz Bass 65.

On September 18, 2020, an article was published detailing an affair he had in 2016 and 2017 while hiding the fact that he was married and a father. Later the same day, he published an apology for his behavior, and announced that he would be taking a break from music. On June 6, 2021, he published yet another, longer apology for the same incident, at the same time announcing his return to the band.

• Birth date: (1979-10-09) October 9, 1979 (age 45)
• Birthplace: Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
• Position: bassist

Hideo Masu

Hideo Masu (升秀夫) is the drummer for the band. He uses a Canopus Maple Shell.

• Birth date: (1979-08-10) August 10, 1979 (age 45)
• Birthplace: Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
• Position: drummer

Songs in popular culture

Their single "Arue" is a song dedicated to the fictional character Rei Ayanami, from the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. The song is listed as R.A., the initials of the aforementioned character.

Their song "Sailing Day" is used at the end credits of the animated film One Piece The Movie: Dead End no Bōken. The same song is also featured in the Guitar Freaks and Drummania series of arcade games.

The songs "Tentai Kansoku", "K", "Sailing Day", "Karma" and "Mayday" were later used in the musical arcade game by Bemani in GuitarFreaks, DrumMania, Jubeat, Reflec Beat Limelight and Pop'n Music. "Tentai Kansoku" was also featured in Metcha! Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Nanatsu no Shima no Daibouken. "Tentai Kansoku" and "Karma" were also featured as covers by the band Afterglow in the mobile game for BanG Dream!.

The song "Karma" from their "Supernova / Karma" single is the main theme for Namco's Tales of the Abyss video game. It also is used on the anime adaptation of the game as the opening theme.

The movie Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Winged Angels released on March 5, 2011, uses BUMP OF CHICKEN's song "Tomodachi no Uta" as its ending song. All 4 members have loved Doraemon for its unique and loving characters and story and have said that it is an honor to be chosen to sing for the new Doraemon movie.

The song "Hello, World!" from their "Hello World! / Colony" single is used as the opening song of the TV anime adaptation of the manga Blood Blockade Battlefront. The song is also available as a playable song in the rhythm game Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!, where it is performed by Leo/need, a fictional band featured in the game.

Their song "Zero" was also featured as the opening song for Final Fantasy Type-0.

Their songs are used as the opening and closing themes for episodes 1-11 of the anime, March Comes in like a Lion (３月のライオン). The opening is "Answer", while the closing is "Fighter". Around 2014, before the manga was adapted into an anime, they and the manga's author, Chika Umino, collaborated to make a CGI music video set to their single, "Fighter". The video was made into a stand-alone story promoting the original manga, called March Comes in Like a Lion Meets Bump of Chicken. In early April 2017 they posted a long form music video for Answer to YouTube.

Their song "GO" was featured as the opening song for the 2017 anime adaptation of the Japanese mobile game, Granblue Fantasy.

Their songs "Sirius" and "Spica" are the opening and closing theme songs respectively for Satelight's (Shoji Kawamori) anime Juushinki Pandora, released in 2018.

Their song "Gekkou" was used as the opening song for the 2018 TV anime adaptation of the manga Karakuri Circus.

Their song "Acacia" was used in a music video collaboration with the Pokémon franchise.

Their song "Chronostasis" was used for Detective Conan: The Bride of Halloween (Meitantei Conan: Halloween no Hanayome), the 25th anime film in the Detective Conan franchise.

Rie Takahashi performed a cover of the group's song "Tentai Kansoku" as the second ending theme music for Teasing Master Takagi-san: The Movie (2022) during its second week of release.

Their song "Souvenir" was featured as the opening song for the 2022 anime adaptation of the manga Spy × Family. Specifically, it was the opening song for the 2nd cour of the series' first season.

Their song "Sleep Walking Orchestra" was featured as the opening song for the 2024 anime adaptation of the manga Delicious in Dungeon.

Their single "Mayday" was used in the Transformers 40th Anniversary Special Movie by Studio Trigger in 2024.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Other albums

Singles

Digital singles

Videos

Awards and nominations

Space Shower Music Video Awards

MTV Video Music Awards Japan

References

1. ^ "Bump of Chicken". Toy's Factory. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
2. "Bump of Chicken Member Factsheet – Fujiwara Motoo". Chromatique. Archived from the original on 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
3. "Bump of Chicken – Profile & Biography". JaME USA. 2006-06-30. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
4. Mair, Victor (November 23, 2017). "Bump of Chicken". Language Log. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
5. ^ "Discography". Bump of Chicken official web site. Archived from the original on 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
6. ^ "Tour History". Bump of Chicken official website. Archived from the original on 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
7. ^ "Oricon". wiki.theppn. Archived from the original on 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
8. "singlesales". -Rem- Bump of Chicken unofficial website. Archived from the original on 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
9. ^ "【Official】Pokémon Special Music Video 「GOTCHA！」 | BUMP OF CHICKEN - Acacia". YouTube. Sep 29, 2020.
10. "Bump of Chicken Vocalist Motoo Fujiwara Announces His Marriage".
11. "「彼女はいないと言ってたけど…」BUMP OF CHICKENベーシストが結婚隠してコスプレ三昧不倫". Bunshun Online. 2020-09-18. Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
12. "CHAMA on Twitter: "この度報道されました私の記事に関しまして、皆様にご心配、ご迷惑をお掛けしてしまい、誠に申し訳ございませんでした。/ Twitter". Yoshifumi Naoi (直井由文). 2020-09-18. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
13. "CHAMA on Twitter: "リスナーの皆様と関係各所の皆様へ。改めましてこの度は誠に申し訳ございませんでした。このあと日付変わって6/7(月) 03:00～PONTSUKA!!に出演させて頂きます。/ Twitter". Yoshifumi Naoi (直井由文). 2020-06-06. Archived from the original on 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
14. "BUMP OF CHICKEN to sing for Doraemon movie 2011". Tokyofever via livedoor. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
15. "YouTube [Show More] text section of "March Comes in like a Lion meets BUMP OF CHICKEN"". YouTube. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
16. "YouTube post to official site". YouTube. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
17. 劇場版『からかい上手の高木さん』2週目のエンディングはBUMP OF CHICKENの「天体観測」を高木さん(CV:高橋李依)がカバー！ [Takagi (CV: Rie Takahashi) covers BUMP OF CHICKEN's "Tentai Kansoku" for the ending of the second week of Teasing Master Takagi-san: The Movie!]. Animate Times (in Japanese). June 17, 2022. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
18. "Studio TRIGGER Pays Tribute to Transformers in 40th Anniversary Video". Crunchyroll. 2024-09-13. Archived from the original on 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
19. "BUMP OF CHICKENの作品" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
20. 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2019年07月22日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on July 22, 2019]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved July 17, 2019.
21. オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2024年09月02日～2024年09月08日 [Weekly Oricon Album Ranking September 2, 2024 – September 8, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
22. ^ Billboard. BUMP OF CHICKEN - Chart History Archived 2017-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
    • "Chronostasis". April 25, 2022.
    • "Souvenir". April 12, 2023.
    • "Sleep Walking Orchestra". December 20, 2023.
    • "Kaikō". April 24, 2024.
    • "Strawberry". August 7, 2024.
23. オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2021年12月20日～2021年12月26日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking December 20, 2021 – December 26, 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
24. オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2023年04月03日～2023年04月09日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking April 3, 2023 – April 9, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
25. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Bump of Chicken – Nanairo" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 27, 2022. Select 2022年11月 on the drop-down menu
26. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Bump of Chicken – Chronostasis" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 5, 2023. Select 2023年1月 on the drop-down menu
27. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Bump of Chicken – Souvenir" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 5, 2023. Select 2023年1月 on the drop-down menu
28. "SS MVA 2020".

External links

• Bump of Chicken Official Website

• Japanese alternative rock groups
• Japanese musical quartets
• Musical groups established in 1994
• Musical groups from Chiba Prefecture
• Toy's Factory artists