Tokyo Shoegazer

Members:

** Guitar & Vocals: 渡辺清美 (Kiyomi "antz" Watanabe; ex 殻, ex acid android, ex CQ, ex koldcake, Petit Brabancon; 2010-2013, 2019-present)

** Guitar: Yoshitaka Sugahara (ex Presence of soul, CQ)

** Drums: ササブチヒロシ (Hiroshi Sasabuchi; ex Plastic Treel, ex CQ; ex UROBOROS, ex Creature Creature)

** Support Bass: Taizo Nakamura

** Support Vocals & Guitar: Kyoko Sahara

Ex members:

** Vocals & Guitar: Yuki (Presence of soul; 2010-2011)

** Vocals & Guitar: 五味誠 (Makoto Gomi; Zeppet store; 2011-2013)

** Vocals: Ananda Jacobs (2013)

** Vocals & Guitar: Shoko Inoue (2019-2020)

** Vocals & Piano: Rie Fu (2021)

** Bass: The K (101A, MOTHER GOOSE; 2010-2013)

** Support (?) Bass: 増原克彦 (Katsuhiko Masuhara; ex 殻)

** Support Bass: Tomoyuki Homma

History:

In 2010, drummer Hiroshi Sasabuchi formed Tokyo Shoegazer. The night before the band’s first-ever live performance —his own birthday show— they recorded the 1st Demo, which was released on CD-R at the venue the following day. Proceeds from the demo helped fund the recording of the band’s debut album, crystallize, released in 2011.

The 1st Demo marked the beginning of Tokyo Shoegazer and became the first step toward everything that followed.

The band was formed in October 2010 for what was meant to be a single appearance at Hiroshi Sasabuchi’s birthday event at Shibuya O-WEST. Former Plastic Tree drummer and prolific freelancer Hiroshi Sasabuchi (ササブチヒロシ) gathered guitarist Kiyomi Watanabe (渡辺清美) (殻 → acid android), vocalist and guitarist Yuki (Presence of soul), guitarist Yoshitaka Sugahara (Presence of soul), and bassist the K (101A). The response to that first night kept the group alive. Their first release was a two-track demo EP recorded the night before the show, featuring “DEEP RAINBOW” and “DISTORTION LIGHTS”, which quickly sold out after a handful of early performances.

In October 2011 they played in Taiwan to mark the ten-year anniversary of Sasabuchi’s major debut and his birthday. Around the same time they recorded their debut album “Crystallize”, issued by 299 Japan Records. On January 23rd 2013 the tribute album “Yellow Loveless” was released, including the band’s versions of “Only Shallow” and “I Only Said”. That same day they released the split EP Japan Shoegazer with Lemon's Chair, adding two new tracks, “Silent Roar” and “Awake”.

On May 15th 2013 they released their second album “Turnaround”. By then Makoto Gomi (五味 誠) (Zeppet Store) had taken over vocals and guitar from Yuki, and on May 23rd vocalist Ananda Jacobs joined. After receiving a resignation notice from the K, the band played a final show on October 18th 2013 and disbanded. Sasabuchi, Watanabe, and Sugahara went on to form CQ.

In late January 2019 the return of Tokyo Shoegazer was announced, with a solo show set for April 1st. It sold out, and the single "Revive" was released as a download card at the venue. After an encore show on July 5th, Graveface Records revealed a limited remastered vinyl edition of “Crystallize”, released in August. From late November to early December the band toured extensively through China. 2019 also brought a re-release of the album via the US label, with vinyl and cassette editions selling out during pre-order.

The album "Moondiver" was sold by the band at live shows during their 2019 tour of China.

In 2020 they performed in Hong Kong.

In 2021 they marked the tenth anniversary of "crystallize" with a remastered edition including seven rare tracks. The album was remastered by Alex Wharton (My Bloody Valentine,The Pixies,Mogwai).

In 2021 Kiyomi "antz" Watanabe also joined Petit Brabancon.

The following year they recorded their third album "Moonworld Playground" and released it on June 8th 2022. They appeared with A Place To Bury Strangers in Tokyo and performed that November at MAHO RASOP FESTIVAL in Bangkok. It featured Vocal, Piano: Rie fu and Bass: Taizo Nakamura. The album was created by destroying and reconstructing everything due to the pandemic. The sound image assembled like a puzzle with the unique analog sound is the band's strongest point. Dave Cooley(M83,DIIV,Tame Impala,Wolf Alice) was in charge of mastering engineering from this album. With his addition, the contrast of the album became clearer.

At the end of 2022 they released the EP "Gyoninzaka In The Four Seasons" which is a cover EP of COALTAR OF THE DEEPERS.

In November 2023 they returned to China for another tour, then in December released a newly recorded version of “Turnaround” for its tenth anniversary, celebrated with a solo release show.

This version featured Drums,Percussion: Hiroshi Sasabuchi, Guitar,Vocal: Kiyomi Watanabe and Guitar: Yoshitaka Sugahara.

Additional musicians were Guitar: Masahiro Tobita (M1 ex-envy), Bass : Kazuhiro Nakamata (M1~6 from downy), Vocals: Ichimaki (M-2 from Qubinoix,ex-coaltar of the deepers), Sahara (M3,5), Shuji Ishii (M4 from cali≠gari / GOATBED), Violin: Heather Paauwe (M6), Electronics: T.Mikawa (M4 from Incapacitants / Hijokaidan), Alto Saxophone, Scream: Akira Sakata (M4) and contained lyrics by Ao Sakurai (M2 from cali≠gari) and Suguru Fukuda (M5 from POLTA).

In February 2024 they toured Taiwan again, held a one-man show at The Wall in Taipei and played at EMERGE FESTIVAL in Taichung. March brought their first tour in Korea with a show in Seoul, October their first appearance in Singapore at BAYABEATS 2024, and December a show in Tokyo with Geek Sleep Sheep.

In February 2025 their first album crystallize was re-released by the Hong Kong label Infree Records. The first pressing sold out immediately and more copies are being prepared. Since February the band has also been working on new material.

The 1st Demo marked the beginning of Tokyo Shoegazer and became the first step toward everything that followed. Sixteen years later, in 2026, they have created a new 2nd Demo for another of Hiroshi Sasabuchi’s birthday shows. The format has also changed with the times — from CD-R to cassette tape. From the band’s origins to where we are today.

This release captures a new step forward for Tokyo Shoegazer.

Discography:

2010.10.12 - 1st Demo 2022 (Digtally released as a remastered Demo)

2011.11.23 - crystallize

2013.01.23 - Japan Shoegazer As Only One (Split with Lemon's Chair)

2013.01.23 - Yellow Loveless (my bloody valentine Cover album; various artists)

2013.05.15 - Turnaround

2019.09.05 - crystallize (Remastered)

2019.12.02 - Moondiver

2019.12.20 - Gyouninnzaka for Four Seasons (Single)

2021.12.15 - crystallize (10th Anniversary Edition)

2022.06.08 - 月世界遊泳 (Moonworld Playground/Gessekai yuuei)

2022.12.25 - Live at Koenji HIGH (Nov.17 2022) (Live Download)

2023.12.15 - turnaround (10th Anniversary Re-Recording)

2026.04.22 - Remains

2026.10.09 - 2nd Demo (Tape; limited to 200; available from October 9 at Tokyo Shoegazer’s one-man show, “Hiroshi Sasabuchi 50th Birthday Bash,” at Zirco Tokyo)

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