Shinsei Kamattechan

Identifying themselves as an "Internet pop rock band," the Japanese ensemble Shinsei Kamattechan craft tuneful, piano-centered pop tracks laced with abrasive guitars and frenzied, erratic vocals. Noko, the frontperson, supplies stark, unflinching words that repeatedly confront themes of self-injury, suicide, psychological disorders, and gender identity. An audience first coalesced around the group because of their abundant live streams and self-made videos, and they have remained a constant on Japanese charts from the moment of their initial outing, the 2010 mini-album Tomodachi wo Koroshite Made; their major-label bow Tsumanne, along with work for anime titles such as Attack on Titan, later helped cultivate an overseas cult following. Although the earliest recordings remain the most abrasive and exploratory, later projects including 2012's Tanoshiine and 2014's Eiyū syndrome move toward greater polish and wider appeal. Recent releases such as 2019's Child's Medical Record combine the band's pop and experimental impulses, while 2025's Danchi Thesis introduces orchestral and acoustic textures.

Ryōsuke Ōshima, known as Noko, and Yukiya Kaidō, known as Mono, have maintained a friendship since childhood; Noko serves as lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter, while Mono handles keyboards. Born in New York and relocated to Chiba shortly afterward, Noko endured school bullying, left high school before graduating, and has received diagnoses of borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. The pair established Shinsei Kamattechan in 2007; after several early members cycled through before the debut, the lineup stabilized as a quartet with Misako Suzuki (Misako) on drums and Daisaku Sakuma (Chibagin) on bass. In those formative years the band streamed performances frequently and uploaded music videos online. Drawing on Noko's large stockpile of preexisting songs, the group proved extremely productive once recording began. Their first mini-album, Tomodachi wo Koroshite Made ("To Kill a Friend"), appeared on the independent label Perfect Music in March 2010. The intense non-album single "Yūgata no Piano" ("Evening Piano") followed in July, after which the band signed with Warner Music Japan. Tsumanne ("Boring") was issued in December, the same day Perfect Music released Minna Shine ("Everyone Die").

In 2011 Shinsei Kamattechan supplied the opening theme for the anime Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl, which included a cameo by voice actress Asuka Ōgame. The group also portrayed fictionalized versions of themselves in the drama rock'n'roll wa nariyamana and composed its soundtrack; the film screened at the 2011 New York Asian Film Festival under the English title Ringing in Their Ears. The album 8-gatsu 32-nichi e ("To August 32nd") arrived in August and became their first Top Ten-charting release. They collaborated with B.B.Queens on a cover of the J-pop act's 1992 single "Yume no END wa Itsumo Mezamashi!" ("An Alarm Clock Always Ends My Dream!"). Tanoshiine ("It's Fun"), which shifted the band toward greater accessibility, appeared in November. Noko issued a self-titled solo album in 2013 that presented fresh arrangements of Shinsei Kamattechan material. The following year the group released the DVD Live History 2009-2013, followed by three singles—including "Front Memory," which featured guest vocalist Makoto Kawamoto—before unveiling the studio album Eiyū syndrome ("Hero Syndrome"). Their first compilation, Best Kamattechan, surfaced in 2015.

The pop-punk-inflected mini-album Natsu.Install ("Summer.Installation") arrived in 2016. "Yuugure No Tori" ("Twilight Birds") served as the ending theme for the second season of Attack on Titan in 2017 and was later included on the band's eighth album, Osanasa wo Nyuin Sasete ("Hospitalize My Childishness"). Tsundere appeared in 2018, with Regal Lily's Honoka Takahashi guesting on "Akizora Cider" ("Autumn Sky Cider"). Jidō Karte ("Child's Medical Record") was released digitally in November 2019, with a physical edition following in early 2020. Chibagin completed his final tour with the group in January; Yūnosuke stepped in as a temporary bassist and eventually joined full-time. The band performed "Boku no Sensō" ("My War"), the opening theme for the fourth season of Attack on Titan, and the complete track emerged as a single in 2021. Their second compilation, Seinaru Kōsaten ("Holy Crossroads"), came out in 2023 and featured new songs with ACA-Ne (Zutomayo), Ano, and Jun Togawa. Returning to Perfect Music, the ensemble issued Danchi Thesis in 2025.