Number Girl Mukai Shutoku Tabuchi Hisako Nakao Kentarou Inazawa Ahito Guitar/Vocal Guitar Bass Drum Profile Number Girl is the Name Among Names in Japanese indie rock. The band stormed their way to the top of the scene in seven short years (only four of which were spent in Tokyo), then disappeared just as quickly as they arrived. While the contributions of the other members are not to be discredited, the man behind the band was clearly Mukai Shutoku, whose intensity drives the band with both his raspy, half screamed lyrics and his shredding guitar. He was backed up on the drums by Inazawa Ahito, perhaps one of the best drummers in modern rock, period. Inazawa's drumming is a furious whirl of sticks, noise, and hair, and was fittingly described by the name of Number Girl's 2000 tour, "Inazawa Chainsaw". Tabuchi Hisako on Guitar and Nakao Kentarou on bass are not to be overlooked, playing off each other perfectly, with much of the attraction coming in how well they clash, as opposed to how well they fit together. Number Girl was formed by Mukai in August of 1995 when he decided to create a band to play at a rock event in his hometown Fukuoka. Mukai, who was recording solo work as "Number Five" at the time, invited a guitarist and bassist from a band called "Cowgirl" to join. The names were merged, hence the name "Number Girl." Things didn't work out with the members of Cowgirl, so Mukai started looking for new members for his band. He called Nakao, an acquaintance from the live house "Vivre Hall" and asked him to play bass for the band. Nakao invited Tabuchi, who he had seen playing in the girl band "Cosmic Cherry" at a battle of the bands. Finally, Mukai invited Inazawa, a friend from the music scene, and the final form of Number Girl was born. Throughout the course of 1996 and 1997 they quickly rose to the top of Fukuoka indie scene, hosting their own monthly event called "Chelsea Q" in which they performed with bands such as Panic Smile. After self-releasing a few cassetes and appearing on a couple of compilations, their first album School Girl Bye Bye was released on Automatic Kiss Records. In February of 1998 they traveled to Tokyo to play their first show with the members of Rumtag at the Shimokitazawa Shelter. Inazawa had a high fever and performed the entire show while hooked up to an IV. Shows in Tokyo became more frequent throughout the year, and eventually in September they decided to move to Tokyo. From that point forth, they centered their activities in Shimokitazawa, playing such events such as Viva Young. March of 1999 was a big month for Number Girl, marking both the beginning of their first Tokyo based concert series and their first trip to America. The first event of their "Fan Club" concert series (which would go as far as Fan Club 9) was held at Shimokitazawa Club QUE. In addition, they flew over to America to play at SXSW 1999 and record their single Destruction Baby with Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann. In May of 1999, they released Toumei Shoujo, their first major label single on EMI, followed shortly by their first major label album School Girl Distortional Addict. The first recording session was held at a studio in Tokyo, but the sound was too clean and pretty for Mukai, who relocated the recording to hometown Fukuoka. The Fukuoka recording session was completed in four days, and became the final version of School Girl Distortional Addict. After the release of School Girl Distortional Addict, they performed their first headlining tour (the "Distortional Discharger" tour) in four locations throughout Japan. Their Fukuoka concert featured a furious performance by Inazawa, Tabuchi climbing on the PA, and Nakao diving into the audience, and is widely regarded by the fans as one of the best Number Girl concerts ever. The end of 1999 also featured a co-tour with bloodthirsty butchers and an appearance at eastern youth's "Kyokutou Saizensen 25" event (where they were heckled by eastern youth fans) and another headlining tour. It's safe to say that 2000 was the year that vaulted Number Girl into the spotlight. In early 2000, they once again made the trip to America to play at the SXSW 2000 festival, record their second major release SAPPUKEI with Dave Fridmann, and go on a 6 city American tour with Lolita No. 18 and Polysics. Sappukei was released in July, followed by a 18 date Japan tour to promote the album. In August they played Summer Sonic and the Rock in Japan Festival, their first two festival appearances. While Number Girl didn't release an album in 2001, it was marked by a number of side projects that would later lay the framework for the member's work after Number Girl. Mukai joined the members of 54-71 as "ZAZEN BOYS", (although the members of 54-71 are not part of the current ZAZEN BOYS). Tabuchi joined Hatsuiku Status (featuring Shiina Ringo and Yoshimura of DMBQ) for a 4 date tour. Finally, all the members of Number Girl besides Mukai joined Vola F.C. (with Inazawa on Vocals, Tabuchi on Guitar, and Nakao on Drums) for live performances and the release of a limited edition cassette. In 2002, Number Girl released their last album, NUM-HEAVYMETALLIC and performed in a 33 date tour, their largest yet, in support of the album. However, on September 20th, 2002, Number Girl shocked fans by announcing on their official site that Nakao was leaving the band and Number Girl would be no more. Number Girl's last live was played on November 30th at Sapporo's PENNY LANE 24. After the band broke up the members each went their seperate ways. Mukai and Inazawa founded ZAZEN BOYS, Tabuchi joined the bloodthirsty butchers and created her own band toddle, and Nakao joined Spiral Chord and started a new band Sloth Love Chunks. - Graham (published 2005.12.20, updated 2005.12.21) Links Artist homepage Toshiba EMI Samples Discography list Albums KOGA60 School Girl Bye Bye TOCT24157 School Girl Distortional Addict TOCT24283 Shibuya Rock Transformed Joutai TOCT24390 Sappukei TOCT24764 Num-Heavymetallic TOCT24920 Sapporo Omoide In My Head Joutai TOCT25647 Omoide In My Head 1 "Best&B-Sides" TOCT25704 Omoide In My Head 2: Kiroku Series 1 TOCT25708 Omoide In My Head: 2: Kiroku Series 2 TOCT25878 Omoide In My Head 4: Chin ng & Rare Tracks Singles ATMK-09211 Drunken Hearted TOCT22009 Toumei Shoujo TOCT22021 Destruction Baby Unknown Instant Radical Unknown Pixie Du TOCT22073 Urban Guitar Sayonara TOCT22125 Teppuu Surudoku Natte TOCT22203 Num-Ami-Dabutz CR0019 I Don't Know Demos Unknown Atari Shock Unknown Omoide In My Head Unknown Fukuoka Vivre Hall Compilations Unknown Young Person's Guide to the 3-D Tours Unknown Headache Sounds Sampler Volume 1 Unknown Supernova Volume 1 SAKASHO16 Kyokutou Saizensen TOCT24589 Kemonogare Orera no Saru to DVDs TOVF1368 Sawagiyakana Ensou TOBF5198 Number Girl TOBF5406 Omoide In My Head 3: Kiroku Eizou		Drunken Hearted (Single) Released: 1998.08.01 (ATMK-09211) Label: Automatic Kiss Records Tracklist 1. Drunken Hearted 2. Super Young 3. New Girl (mono dead) School Girl Bye Bye (Album) Released: 1997.11.01 (KOGA60) Label: Automatic Kiss/K.O.G.A. Tracklist 1. Omoide In My Head 2. Ooatari no Kisetsu 3. Sentimental Kajou 4. September Girlfriend 5. Iggy Pop Fan Club 6. Mizuiro Kakumei 7. Nagisa nite 8. Sumer of Californis '73 9. Mini Grammer 10. Ware Kiritsu Yuiga Hitori 11. 4 Track Professional Headache Sounds Sampler Volume 1 (Compilation) Released: 1997.04.01 Label: Headache Label Tracklist 2. Girl In My Blood 23. Girlfriend Girlfriend Girlfriend Young Person's Guide to the 3-D Tours (Compilation) Released: 1996.07.01 Label: Automatic Kiss Records Tracklist 1. Trumpoline Girl 2. Space Girl Omoide In My Head (Demo) Released: 1996.06.01 Label: Self-Release Tracklist 1. Sentimental Kajou 2. California 73 3. Omoide In My Head Atari Shock (Demo) Released: 1996.02.01 Label: Self-Release Tracklist 1. Trumpoline Girl 2. Young 3. Oo Candy 4. Space Girl ~Kasoku Souchi~ « 1 2 3 4 Organise Select type All Album Single EP Compilation Demo DVD Order by release date title type back to profiles
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