BUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN is a Japanese alternative rock band from Sakura, Chiba, formed in 1994 and active through Highline Records. Its four-member lineup—Motoo Fujiwara, Hiroaki Masukawa, Yoshifumi Naoi, and Hideo Masu—has remained unchanged since 1996, and all four members have known one another since childhood. The band made its indie debut with the album FLAME VEIN in March 1999, then made its major-label debut with the single "ダイヤモンド" on Toy's Factory in September 2000. Their music combines alternative rock, j-rock, and j-pop. The group has described the name "Bump of Chicken" as carrying the sense of an "Attack of Coward," a contrast that became part of its image. The 2001 single "天体観測" broadened the band's profile, and albums such as jupiter, Yggdrasil, RAY, and aurora arc later reached No. 1 on the Oricon weekly album chart. Motoo Fujiwara （藤原 基央; born April 12, 1979; blood type O; height 176 cm） is the band's composer, lyricist, guitarist, and main vocalist. He has written most of the music and drew the artwork for The Living Dead and Yggdrasil. Hiroaki Masukawa （増川 弘明; born December 20, 1979; blood type A; height 180 cm） is the guitarist. He writes most of the hidden joke tracks for the albums and has described himself as shy and pessimistic. Yoshifumi Naoi （直井 由文; born October 9, 1979; blood type A; height 168 cm）, also known as Chama, plays bass. He is referred to as the "crowd pleaser" and has jokingly called himself an anime and game otaku, a "rare genius," and someone who "falls ill exactly four times a year." Hideo Masu （升 秀夫; born August 10, 1979; blood type A; height 166 cm） is the drummer and the creator of the band. He has described himself as an introvert who has good eyesight, cannot write kanji well, likes to go outdoors, and often gets headaches. Fujiwara writes and composes almost all of the band's songs, while arrangement is chiefly handled by the four members together. His lyrics often begin with familiar emotions and experiences, then develop through fictional characters and stories. That approach is heard prominently on The Living Dead in songs such as "K", "グングニル", and "Ever lasting lie." In anime and related media, the band has performed "Karma (カルマ)" for "Tales of Zestiria", "Hello, world!" for "Kekkai Sensen", "GO" for "Granblue Fantasy", "SOUVENIR" for "Spy x Family", and "Sleep Walking Orchestra" for "Dungeon Meshi". "I" served as an ending theme for "Boku no Hero Academia". The band has also been attached to the ending theme for My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON and to the ending theme song music video for the anime film Cosmic Princess Kaguya!.