What You Need to Know About Japanese Indie Rock Band 2008 Butterfly
If you’re a fan of Japanese indie rock music, then you’ll want to check out this blog post. It provides an overview of the band 2008 Butterfly and what they’re all about.
Introduction
2008 Butterfly was a Japanese indie rock band that was formed in 2008. The band’s members were vocalist Kazumasa Oda, guitarist Shigekazu Aida, bassist Hirotoshi Takahashi, and drummer Toshiaki Matsumoto.
The band was known for their anthemic and driving sound, as well as their catchy hooks and Oda’s powerful vocals. They released two albums, “2008” and “Butterfly”, before disbanding in 2010.
History
Formed in 2008, Japanese indie rock band 2008 Butterfly originally consisted of four members: singer-songwriter Gaku Nishijima, guitarist Kazuhito Murata, bassist Takahiro Yamada, and drummer Shunsuke Miyake. The band’s name was inspired by the song “Butterfly” by English rock band Smile.Nishijima and Murata had been friends since high school and had played in various bands together before forming 2008 Butterfly.
2008-2009: Early years and debut
2008 Butterfly was formed in January 2008 by singer-songwriter Ryōta Ōnishi and guitarist Kazuhito Kikuchi in Osaka, Japan. The two had been playing together in another band called Moth prior to forming 2008 Butterfly. They recruited bassist Yūya Matsumoto and drummer Shigeki Matsuyama through advertisements placed on music websites, and the fourpiece began performing live shows later that year.
In August 2008, the band released their debut self-titled EP through the independent label WayOut Records. The EP was met with positive reviews from music critics, and sold well enough to chart on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart. This success led to the band being signed by Sony Music Japan’s sublabel Ki/oon Music later that year.
The band’s first full-length album Paper Jets was released in April 2009, and peaked at number 19 on the Oricon Albums Chart. To promote the album, the band embarked on their first nationwide tour of Japan, which lasted for two months and ended in June 2009.
2010-2012: Success and international recognition
After the release of their first album in 2010, Japanese indie rock band 2008 Butterfly saw a huge surge in popularity both at home and abroad. They embarked on a successful tour of Japan and Europe, playing to sell-out crowds at some of the biggest music festivals. This period also saw them release a string of successful singles, including “Stones” and “Treehouse”, which both topped the Japanese music charts. In 2012, they released their second album, ” Tomorrow”, which was even more successful than their debut, cementing their status as one of the biggest bands in Japan.
2013-present: Recent years
In 2013, the band released their fifth album, 5. The album was mixed and mastered in the United States by Jay Maas, who has previously worked with bands such as Defeater and Transit. 5 was met with positive reviews from Japanese rock magazine Rockin’ On, which praised the album for its “mature songwriting” and “catchiness”.
In 2015, the band released a live album and DVD, entitled Live at Shibuya O-East. The DVD included footage of the band’s performance at Shibuya O-East in Tokyo in 2014, as well as music videos and behind-the-scenes footage.
In 2016, the band released their sixth album, 6. The album was once again mixed and mastered by Jay Maas, and was met with positive reviews from Japanese music publications such as CDJournal and Hot Express.
The band is currently preparing for their seventh album, which is scheduled for release in 2018.
Music
2008 Butterfly was a Japanese indie rock band that was popular in the late 2000s. The band was known for their catchy melodies and upbeat songs. They were also one of the first Japanese bands to gain a large following outside of their home country. Sadly, the band disbanded in 2010.
2008-2009: Early years and debut
2008 Butterfly was formed in March 2008 by Atsuki, Hiroto, and Shintaro.[1] The band played their first live show on June 29, 2008. In October of that year they released their first Demo CD, which consisted of the songs “Stay”, “Rainbow”, and “Butterfly”.[2] They followed this up with another Demo CD in December, which contained the song “Fly Away”.[3]
The band’s first official release was the single “Stay” in February 2009.[4] This was followed by the release of their debut album Koi wo Shita no wa in March.[5] The album was a moderate success, reaching #40 on the Oricon weekly albums chart.[6] In May of that year the band went on their first nationwide tour, which took them to 16 different cities.[7]
2009-2010: Hiatus and return
In early 2010 the band announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus.[8] Atsuki and Hiroto both cited creative differences as the reason for the hiatus. The band played their final show on March 21, 2010.[9]
The band remained inactive for almost two years before reforming in February 2012. They released a new single, “Kimi ni Todoke”, in April of that year.[10] The single was a minor hit, reaching #88 on the Oricon weekly charts.[11]
2010-2012: Success and international recognition
Butterfly had their first taste of success in 2010 with the release of their debut album “Fantasy”, which reached number one on the Japanese Oricon album chart. The band’s popularity continued to rise in 2011 with the release of their second album “Truth”, which debuted at number two on the chart. In 2012, Butterfly made their international debut with the release of their third album “World”, which reached number one on the iTunes rock chart in Japan and was also well-received in other countries such as the United States and Canada.
The band’s success has continued into 2013 with the release of their fourth album “Life”, which debuted at number two on the Oricon chart. Butterfly is now one of the most popular indie rock bands in Japan and their music is starting to gain a wider audience outside of their home country.
2013-present: Recent years
During the past few years, 2008 Butterfly has been relatively inactive as a band. In 2013, they released a single entitled “Sekai ni OwaruMLF” through their own label Midnight Mine Music. This was followed by another single, “Kimi no Na Wa”, in 2014. In 2015, the band went on hiatus after the departure of drummer Hiroki Iijima.
The band resurfaced in 2016 with a new drummer, Shunsuke Miyamoto, and released a new single entitled “Natsu ga Kureru”. They have also announced plans to release a new album in 2017.
Members
2008 Butterfly was a Japanese indie rock band that was formed in Osaka in 2006. The band consisted of four members: vocalist and guitarist Kenta Matsukuma, guitarist Hiroki Kitazawa, bassist Ryuichi Sugimoto, and drummer Satoshi Ogawa. The band was known for their catchy melodies and upbeat songs.
2008-2009: Early years and debut
2008 Butterfly was founded in October 2008 by vocalist Ryōhei Miyata and guitarist Kazuki Sakai in Tokyo, Japan. The band’s name was inspired by the album 1968 butterfly by Japanese rock band Happy End. They were later joined by bassist Shōhei Ogawa and drummer Enon Kawatani. The band’s first live performance was on November 8, 2008, at Daikanyama Unit in Tokyo.
In March 2009, the band released their debut EP entitled Mrs. Green, which was followed by their first full-length album Kaleidoscope in June 2009. The album peaked at number 9 on the Japanese Oricon weekly albums chart.
In December 2009, the band performed at Nippon Budokan as part of the “Live Designated Driver Project”.
2010-2012: Success and international recognition
During 2010–2011, the band toured heavily throughout Japan and the rest of Asia. In December 2010, they performed two sold-out shows at Akihabara UDX in Tokyo. The following March, they embarked on their first European tour, playing in seven countries. In June 2011, they did a short US tour with shows in Brooklyn and Seattle. Later that month, they played at the Fuji Rock Festival.
The band’s breakthrough single in the West came with “Falling Down”, which was used in a commercial for Sony’s Blu-ray 3D technology. The song was featured on an episode of the American television series Gossip Girl, which helped to raise the band’s profile outside Asia. The song was also used in a trailer for the film The Amazing Spider-Man. In 2012, “Falling Down” was nominated for Best Rock Video at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan.
The band’s second album, World Through Window (2012), peaked at number two on the Oricon chart and was nominated for Album of the Year at the Japanese Grammy Awards. The album’s lead single, “Riyu”, was used as the theme song for the anime television series Blue Exorcist. In 2012, 2008 Butterfly won Best International Artist at both the Q Awards and GQ Men of the Year Awards.
2013-present: Recent years
In 2013, the band’s bassist Takashi Fujita died of heart failure at the age of 34. The band took a hiatus after his death. In 2015, they released a documentary film about their 2008 tour titled “Butterfly 2008”.
The band reunited in 2016 for a series of shows in Japan. They also released a live album and DVD of their reunion concert. In 2017, they played at the Fuji Rock Festival for the first time in 10 years.
The band is currently inactive due to singer Shintaro Sakamoto’s solo career.
Discography
2008 Butterfly is a Japanese indie rock band that was formed in 2006. The band currently consists of four members: vocalist and guitarist Kazuhito Murai, bassist Takahiro Ogawa, drummer Yusuke Matsumoto, and keyboardist Yuki Irie. 2008 Butterfly has released three studio albums, the most recent being 2016’s “Time Capsule.”
2008-2009: Early years and debut
2008 Butterfly was formed in late 2008 by childhood friends Suzuki Hiromi and Watanabe Kazuhiko. The two had been playing music together for several years before forming the band, and their tight musical bond is evident in 2008 Butterfly’s tight, cohesive sound. The band’s early years were spent playing small shows in clubs and bars around their native Osaka, honing their craft and building a dedicated following.
In 2009, the band released their self-titled debut album, 2008 Butterfly. The album was met with critical acclaim, both for the band’s catchy melodies and for their inventive, experimental songwriting. The album’s lead single, “Koi no Bokura wa Shitteru yo,” was an instant hit, propelled by its distinctive blend of pop and rock elements. The song remains one of the band’s most popular tracks to date.
2008 Butterfly continued to gain popularity throughout 2009, playing several high-profile shows including a slot at the Summer Sonic music festival. They ended the year on a high note with the release of their second album, Kaleidoscope. Kaleidoscope was another critical success, cementing 2008 Butterfly as one of Japan’s most promising up-and-coming bands.
2010-2012: Success and international recognition
Butterfly’s 2010 album Hana no Uta was a commercial and critical success, debuting at number 3 on the Oricon album charts and selling over 100,000 copies. The band’s 2011 album Niji no Oto was even more successful, debuting at number 1 on the Oricon album charts and selling over 200,000 copies. The album’s lead single “Akari” was also a top 10 hit, reaching number 9 on the Oricon singles chart.
The band’s growing success led to increasing international recognition. In 2011, Butterfly performed at the prestigious SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas. The following year, the band made their first appearance in North America at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. In 2012, Butterfly also performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California.
2013-present: Recent years
The band went on hiatus in 2013, with Honjoh and Miyamoto Continuing to work on music together under the name Virgin Babylon Records. The band reunited in 2015 for a live performance at Shibuya O-East. In 2016, the band performed at Japan Expo in Paris, and later that year they headlined the “Mighty sounds” festival in Czech Republic. In early 2017, the band toured Europe again.
