Bo Ningen: 'We're Japanese, but a London band'

CULTURE / Music

Bo Ningen: ‘We’re Japanese, but a London band’

London called: England-based Bo Ningen is made up of (front row, from left) Yuki Tsujii, Kohhei Matsuda, Taigen Kawabe and (in the back) Akihide “Mon-chan” Monna. The band is doing a string of joint shows this month with acts such as Mouse on the Keys, Tricot and D.A.N. | AFP-JIJI

By Ryotaro Aoki
Special To The Japan Times

Jul 10, 2016

Though seasoned music festival veterans overseas, the four members of British rock band Bo Ningen had never been to a Japanese event until Fuji Rock in 2013.

“It was really fun compared to festivals in other countries,” says singer and bassist Taigen Kawabe. “It’s clean, safe, the food is good and the sound was great. I’m really looking forward to playing there again.”

Kawabe and his band mates — guitarists Kohhei Matsuda and Yuki Tsujii, and drummer Akihide “Mon-chan” Monna — are all originally from various regions in Japan. However, they all met in London while Kawabe was there studying art. The band is part of this year’s Fuji Rock Festival and will perform on June 24, the festival’s third day, on the White Stage, which is the second-largest. The performance will be the group’s second appearance at the festival and, for the quartet, it feels a bit like homecoming.