Jyocho

Jyocho
Jyocho
Background information
Genres	Progressive rock; math rock;
Years active	2016–present
Labels	Topshelf Records
Members	Daijiro Nakagawa (vocals, guitar); Netako Nekota (vocals, keyboards); Yuuki Hayashi (flute); Kojiro Yamazaki (drums);
Past members	Rionos (vocals); Sindee (bass); Hatch (drums);
Website	jyocho.com

Jyocho (Japanese: じょうちょ, Hepburn: Jōcho, stylized in all capitals) is a Japanese progressive and math rock band.

History

Following the disbandment of Daijiro Nakagawa's previous band Uchu Conbini, he initially began Jyocho as a solo project with support from other musicians. He eventually decided to work with them more closely and include them in a band.^[1] Nakagawa intended the group to have their debut performance in 2016 at the Canadian tour of Next Music from Tokyo, where he had previously appeared with Uchu Conbini. However, vocalist Rionos was unwilling to perform. The band eventually performed in October 2017 with the vocalist Nekota Netako.^[2]^[3]

In January 2023, the band's song "As the Gods Say" was featured as the opening theme of Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre and appeared on an extended play (EP) of the same title.^[2] The song "Guide and Devote", from the EP of the same title, featured as the closing theme of the second season of Banished from the Hero's Party in January 2024.^[4]^[5]

In September 2024, the band announced the departure of the bassist Sindee.^[6]

Reception

Akiho Minami, writing for Real Sound [ja], described a 2019 live performance by the band as "intense" and at times akin to "madness". However, she appreciated the high level of technical proficiency displayed by the players, ultimately concluding that the band had a promising career ahead of them.^[7] The band's 2022 album Let's Promise to Be Happy was acclaimed by Anime News Network reviewer Nicholas Dupree, who appreciated Nakagawa's skill for guitar riffs as well as the overall "atmosphere" provided by the other performers. He also highlighted the record's "contemplative and melancholy" themes, commending the band's execution of the tone, which he described as "subtle but precise".^[8]

Discography

A Prayer in Vain (祈りでは届かない距離, Inoride wa todokanai kyori, 2016)
Days in the Bluish House (碧い家で僕ら暮らす, Aoi ie de bokura kurasu, 2017)
A Parallel Universe (互いの宇宙, Tagai no uchuu, 2018)
The Beautiful Cycle of Terminal (美しい終末サイクル, Utsukushii shuumatsu saikuru, 2018)
A Perfect Triangle, Rising Sun Human (綺麗な三角、朝日にんげん, Kireina sankaku, asahi ningen, 2019)
Let's Promise to Be Happy (しあわせになるから、なろうよ, Shiawase ni naru kara, narouyo, 2022)
As the Gods Say (云う透り, Iu toururi, 2023)
Guide and Devote (導き、捧げて, Michibiki, sasagete, 2024)

References

^ Basbas, Franchesca Judine (February 24, 2022). "Asia spotlight: Jyocho on growing together and finding happiness in their latest album Let's Promise to Be Happy". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
^ ^a ^b St. Michel, Patrick (February 23, 2023). "Math rock act Jyocho provides a cheerfully chilling soundtrack to new Junji Ito series". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
^ "Jyocho". Next Music from Tokyo. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
^ Mateo, Alex (December 14, 2023). "Banished from the Hero's Party Season 2 anime's second promo video reveals more cast, theme songs". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
^ 2024年1月放送開始、アニメ『真の仲間』OP＆EDテーマ情報が解禁！主題歌を使用したPV第2弾が公開！. Lisani!. Sony Music Entertainment Japan. December 15, 2023. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
^ シンディ（Ba）脱退のお知らせ [Notice of departure of Sindee (Ba)] (in Japanese). Jyocho. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
^ Minami, Akiho (January 12, 2020). JYOCHOの音楽に感じる狂気にも似た凄味　スキルフルな演奏で魅せたツーマン公演レポ [Jyocho's music has a frightening taste that resembles madness. A report of a two-man performance with skillful performance.]. Real Sound. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
^ Dupree, Nicholas (February 15, 2022). "Jyocho's Let's Promise to Be Happy album – review". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.

External links

Official website

[Basbas_2022-1] Basbas, Franchesca Judine (February 24, 2022). "Asia spotlight: Jyocho on growing together and finding happiness in their latest album Let's Promise to Be Happy". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2023.

[St._Michel_2023-2] St. Michel, Patrick (February 23, 2023). "Math rock act Jyocho provides a cheerfully chilling soundtrack to new Junji Ito series". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.

[Next_Music_from_Tokyo-3] "Jyocho". Next Music from Tokyo. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.

[Mateo_2023-4] Mateo, Alex (December 14, 2023). "Banished from the Hero's Party Season 2 anime's second promo video reveals more cast, theme songs". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.

[Lisani!_2023-5] 2024年1月放送開始、アニメ『真の仲間』OP＆EDテーマ情報が解禁！主題歌を使用したPV第2弾が公開！. Lisani!. Sony Music Entertainment Japan. December 15, 2023. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.

[Jyocho_website_2024-6] シンディ（Ba）脱退のお知らせ [Notice of departure of Sindee (Ba)] (in Japanese). Jyocho. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.

[Minami_2019-7] Minami, Akiho (January 12, 2020). JYOCHOの音楽に感じる狂気にも似た凄味　スキルフルな演奏で魅せたツーマン公演レポ [Jyocho's music has a frightening taste that resembles madness. A report of a two-man performance with skillful performance.]. Real Sound. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2023.

[Dupree_2022-8] Dupree, Nicholas (February 15, 2022). "Jyocho's Let's Promise to Be Happy album – review". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.

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