【BRAND NEW INCIDENTS ▶2O2O】Learn about Tokyo Incidents NOW

Everyone!! What year is 2020?

That’s right.

This is the year of Reforming of Tokyo Incidents (“Tokyo Jihen”).

Hello, I’m Nishida of the Products group. The band, Tokyo Incidents, was suddenly revived on January 1st, 2O2O (a leap year), and they called it a "Rebirth". It was such shockingly good news that though I was quite drunk on the day I heard about it, I sobered up in an instant.
A nationwide tour also starts on February 29 leap year day, and I want to see it.

So this time, let me talk about some Tokyo Incidents songs.

■ Tokyo Incidents -東京事変-

They are a band that started in 2003. Their history can be roughly divided into the first term and the second term after some member changes. This reunion should be called the third phase.

This band was formed mainly by singer-songwriter Ringo Shiina, but features a distinctive atmosphere different from recent songs by Shiina. That is as it should be, considering not all of the compositions, lyrics, and arrangements were by Shiina. For example, the 1st single “Ideal Days for Ultramarine” was composed by the first keyboardist H zett M.

Tokyo Incidents – Ideal days for ultramarine [Education]

A song that features a fast, fresh rock tempo. However, other songs also have a more Swing-style to them, and give you a glimpse of what Shiina’s compositions are like in more recent years.

Tokyo Incidents – Killer-tune [Variety]

■ The first term

Ringo Shiina, who was thinking of retiring from the music world at the time, formed Tokyo Incidents in order to continue her activities. The original members were Ringo Shiina (Vocals, Gt), Seiji Kameda (Ba), Toshiki Hata (Drums), H zett M (Key), and Mikio Hirama (Gt). The first term with the original members was actually not so long, with H zett M and Mikio Hirama announcing their withdrawal from the band on July 1, 2005, moving the band into the second term.

Only one album, "Education" was released with the original members. Nevertheless, the achievements were very large, and it is a phenomenal album that climbed to #2 in the music charts in the first week of December 2004 after being released at the end of November 2004.

Tokyo Incidents – a distress [Education]

■ The second term

H zett M and Mikio Hirama left to concentrate on their own activities. In their place, Ichiyo Izawa (Key) and Ukigumo (Gt) joined the band, and so started the 2nd term of Tokyo Incidents. "The Rat's-nest" is a song that can be said to be the new starting point.

Tokyo Incidents – The Rat’s-nest [ADULT]

Also, my favorite song by the band, "Invisible Man", was also included on the "ADULT" album. It's a very cool song and the bass really stands out. I felt nostalgic when I heard it in a commercial for "NONIO", a Lion brand product, in 2018.

And just as an aside, please listen to carefully to the 03:53 point in this song. Does this remind you fo anything?

Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri – Ringo Shiina

「Sayounara Hajimemashite」

That's right! The melody and lyrics are exactly the same as in the Incidents’ song!

Tokyo Incidents – 3 min. 『Sports』

Shiina's songwriting, which contains the essence of the Tokyo Incidents, is wonderful. Not that many people say it outright, so maybe I’m just overthinking? ...lol

When speaking of Shiina, I am reminded of the song, "Marunouchi sadistic". Many of you may know this song even if you don't know Ringo Shiina all that well. You must have seen the music video in which Tokyo Incidents played "Makunouchi Sadistic" live.

Ringo Shiina – Marunouchi Sadistic (Tokyo Incidents – Includes "Rare Play Good Play")

Speaking of which, Shiina is particular about the microphones she uses, which is well known among fans. In the "Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri" music video I mentioned earlier, she used a BLUE Bottle, which has a stylish eye-catching design in blue.

BLUE / Bottle

In recording as well, you can her commitment to mics as she uses the C12VR, which is a revamped version of AKG's famous C12.

AKG / Vacuum tube condenser microphone

■ The third term

Although my story has been gradually diverging, the second phase of the Tokyo Incidents, which had just started, would go on to release songs one after another until they dissolved the band in their last performance in 2012 on February 29th,leap year day.

Now, eight years and two leap days after the dissolution of the band, they are being reborn on begins on the second leap year day in February, 2O2O. After the dissolution of the Tokyo Incidents, the members continued in their activities, but I hope that they are as excited about the third phase and future activities as I am!

Finally, I would like to conclude with their new song, " The lower classes ", released on January 1. I'm feeling happy already.

Tokyo Incidents – The lower classes