Inokashira Chikuondan

Fuji Rock: making dreams come true!

There has been virtually nothing written in English about the 5 piece folk/blues/funk rockers Inokashira Chikuonda. I must admit, I didn’t know much going in. I chose to watch them because a) they were playing in the small forest stage, Mokudo-tei and b) they looked like a fine bunch of hippies with a couple of longhairs and one dude with a killer afro.

Musically, they were all fairly talented, but what stood out was an emotion and such a strong feeling of gratitude that really made this show memorable. They played mostly original, folkish tunes dealing with themes of countryside living, growing up, childhood, getting older etc. The few covers they played were very fitting in the Monkees’ “Daydream Believer” and John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”.

Like I mentioned, what really separated this band was the emotion in their playing and particularly singing, from front-man Youichiro. He chatted with the small crowd about how the band has been playing for eight years and has to work odd jobs previously. It had always been a dream of theirs to be professional musicians and to one day make it to Fuji Rock festival. He was evidently chocked up and could barely get the words out as he thanked the appreciative audience. Throughout, he joked, laughed, screamed and danced with everything he had.

Sitting on a small log in the forest as the cool breeze caressed my face, it was hard not to be taken back by emotion seeing these bunch of forty-somethings realize their dreams. Isn’t that what the live music experience is all about? Making a connection and feeling an emotion you never could with a recording. As deep as it is, this kind of emotion is commonplace here at Fuji Rock.