ONIGAWARA: crossing the fine line between idol group and band
Anyone who’s known me over the years should at least be familiar with the fact that I really enjoy pop music (it probably being one of the interests I’m the most earnest about). This has, in turn, made me a huge fan of Japanese idols. Both these developments have lead to the discovery of a lot of really unique groups and artists, who usually work behind the scenes with many of the idol acts I follow. The latest of these discoveries, however, has clicked with me because of the way it seems to resonate with the aforementioned interests.
Formed by ex-Takeuchi Denki members Shinya Saito and Satifour Takeuchi, who describe the project as a super J-pop unit, ONIGAWARA could also be described as a group whose main charm point is how much of their sound, visuals, and performances are dedicated to showcasing their understanding — both cultural and musical — of what they do as musicians and performers. Being that this is pop music, and given the fact that there doesn’t seem to be an ounce of irony behind their work, this understanding also results in every aspect of ONIGAWARA being incredibly lighthearted, refreshing, and entertaining.
Going back to their first self-published demos (which are still available on their Youtube channel, and most of which were distributed as free downloads before appearing in limited — now out of print — releases) it’s evident both of the unit’s members (who are also in charge of writing and composing pretty much all of their music) have been experimenting with a vast array of sounds and performance styles — which have seen both Saito and Sati on main vocals at least once — in order to reach their current sound. Despite their background as band members taking a bit away from a possible “rookie musician” narrative, there’s still undeniable progress between their initial, self-produced efforts and their latest releases. This progress is reflected not only in an increase in musical quality, but in the way the group seems to be capable of incorporating influences from genres like funk, rock, and even show tunes in ways that feel completely natural.
Besides their music, which perfectly holds on its own merits, ONIGAWARA puts a lot into their visuals and their (admittedly simple most of the time) choreography. Just as it happens with their songs, there’s an endearing factor to the (noticeable) quality increase of their visuals. While this isn’t necessarily exclusive to idol groups, it’s easy to build a narrative about the unit becoming more and more polished with each release, which only contributes to making the line between idol group and band — a line ONIGAWARA seems to have a lot of fun crossing — blurrier.
While the previously mentioned aspects could make for a pretty solid recount on what makes ONIGAWARA a standout project, their work with other acts (be it that they’re sharing the stage in live shows, producing songs for other groups, or having legends like Hideki Kaji play the bass for one of their songs) adds yet another layer to the group’s charm. Seeing them share the spotlight with other people just makes it evident they’re in their element. In addition to all of this, there’s the fact that, as many idols do, both of the unit’s members seem capable — and willing! — to play up characters to make both their MCs and songs funnier. This blurry status has been referred to the members not only in interviews, but also in some of the bonus goods the group has bundled with their releases (which include photobooks, official penlights, and even instant cameras). Even if ONIGAWARA is not an idol group (nor a band!) it’s pretty obvious crossing the line between these two concepts has allowed them to expand their horizons, which has, in turn, added a pretty unique aspect to the project.
All in all, it would be really hard (and disingenuous) to close this entry with a pitch that describes ONIGAWARA as some complex project that’s set out to challenge the current status quo of Japanese music (even if one could consider the way they operate in ways that feel closer to those of female idols than to those of their male counterparts a bit of a defiant statement), but it’s also completely unnecessary to do so. Their main appeal doesn’t come from an attempt to do things no one has done before, but from the way they combine everything they have (in terms of music, visuals, live performance, and general energy) in order to create an experience that, in the simplest of terms, can be described as equally straightforward and fun.
As a little bonus, here’s a Spotify playlist with some of my favorite ONIGAWARA songs. In case this entry (and the videos included on it) made anyone curious about their music.
