Surf Bungaku Kamakura
Studio album by
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
ReleasedNovember 5, 2008
Recorded2006–2008
GenreIndie rock, alternative rock, surf rock
Length31:27
LabelKioon Music
ProducerAsian Kung-Fu Generation
Asian Kung-Fu Generation chronology
Mada Minu Ashita ni
(2008) 		Surf Bungaku Kamakura
(2008) 		Magic Disk
(2010)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Japan Times(favorable)[2]

Surf Bungaku Kamakura (サーフ ブンガク カマクラ, Sāfu Bungaku Kamakura) is the fifth studio album released by the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation, released on November 5, 2008. The album peaked at the second position on both the Oricon charts and Billboard Japan.[3] Its lead single, "Fujisawa Loser" managed to peak at number five on the Japan Hot 100 and at the number six spot on Oricon.[4] The album's tracks are named after notable stops along the famous Enoshima Electric Railway in order starting from Fujisawa and ending with Kamakura. Additionally, it includes the three b-sides "Enoshima Escalator," "Yuigahama Kite," and "Kugenama Surf" released over the past two years within "Korogaru Iwa, Kimi ni Asa ga Furu," "After Dark," and "Aru Machi no Gunjō" respectively. In promotion of the conceptual album, on November 9, the band held an exclusive live concert within an undisclosed location in Kamakura.[5]

The band has since revealed a continuation of this album is in the works, covering the stations of the Railway line which did not originally have a song.[6] This began with Yanagikōji Parallel Universe, a B-side track to Demachiyanagi Parallel Universe.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Masafumi Gotoh.

No.TitleLength
1."Fujisawa Loser" (藤沢ルーザー Fujisawa Rūzā)2:45
2."Kugenuma Surf" (鵠沼サーフ Kugenuma Sāfu)2:28
3."Enoshima Escalator" (江ノ島エスカー Enoshima Esukā)2:39
4."Koshigoe Crybaby" (腰越クライベイビー Koshigoe Kuraibeibī)3:54
5."Shichirigahama Skywalk" (七里ヶ浜スカイウォーク Shichirigahama Sukaiwōku)2:50
6."Inamuragasaki Jane" (稲村ヶ崎ジェーン Inamuragasaki Jēn)3:09
7."Gokurakuji Heartbreak" (極楽寺ハートブレイク Gokurakuji Hātobureiku)2:21
8."Hase Suns" (長谷サンズ Hase Sanzu)2:56
9."Yuigahama Kite" (由比ヶ浜カイト Yuigahama Kaito)3:54
10."Kamakura Goodbye" (鎌倉グッドバイ Kamakura Guddobai)4:31
Total length:31:27

B-sides

Song Length B-side of
"Hello Hello" 2:45 "Fujisawa Loser"

Personnel

Surf Bungaku Kamakura Complete

Surf Bungaku Kamakura Complete
Studio album by
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
ReleasedJuly 5, 2023
GenreIndie rock, alternative rock, surf rock
LabelKioon Music
ProducerAsian Kung-Fu Generation
Asian Kung-Fu Generation chronology
Planet Folks
(2022) 		Surf Bungaku Kamakura Complete
(2023)

Asian Kung-Fu Generation's eleventh studio album, Surf Bungaku Kamakura Complete (サーフ ブンガク カマクラ（完全版）) was released on July 5, 2023.[7] The album contains re-recordings of the original songs and new five songs, also dubbed "complete version" as now it covers every Enoshima Electric Railway station. Two new tracks, "Yanagikouji Parallel Universe" and "Nissaka Down Hill" were already released as B-sides of "Demachiyanagi Parallel Universe" and "Shukuen", respectively.

Three weeks before the release of the full album, the band released an EP called Surf Bungaku Kamakura (half carton) (サーフ ブンガク カマクラ（半カートン）) that included five new songs and an instrumental cover of Caramelman's "Shonan Electro", exclusive on music streaming services.[8]

On the day of release, an Instagram live talk was held on Gotoh and Kiyoshi's Instagram accounts, broadcasting from New Enoshima Aquarium.[9] To promote the new album, the band took a different artist photo at each Enoden station, which were then displayed as posters at the respective stations for a two week period starting from the day prior to release.[10]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Masafumi Gotoh, except where noted.

Regular edition
No.TitleLength
1."Fujisawa Loser" (藤沢ルーザー Fujisawa Rūzā)2:45
2."Ishigami Hills" (石上ヒルズ Ishigami Hiruzu)3:21
3."Yanagikōji Parallel Universe" (柳小路パラレルユニバース Yanagikōji Parareru Yunibāsu)2:51
4."Kugenuma Surf" (鵠沼サーフ Kugenuma Sāfu)2:26
5."Nishikata Coast Story" (西方コーストストーリー Nishikata Kōsuto Sutōrī)3:41
6."Enoshima Escalator" (江ノ島エスカー Enoshima Esukā)2:40
7."Koshigoe Crybaby" (腰越クライベイビー Koshigoe Kuraibeibī)3:53
8."Nissaka Down Hill" (日坂ダウンヒル Nissaka Daun Hiru)3:59
9."Shichirigahama Skywalk" (七里ヶ浜スカイウォーク Shichirigahama Sukaiwōku)2:52
10."Inamuragasaki Jane" (稲村ヶ崎ジェーン Inamuragasaki Jēn)3:08
11."Gokurakuji Heartbreak" (極楽寺ハートブレイク Gokurakuji Hātobureiku)2:21
12."Hase Suns" (長谷サンズ Hase Sanzu)2:55
13."Yuigahama Kite" (由比ヶ浜カイト Yuigahama Kaito)3:56
14."Wadazuka Wonders" (和田塚ワンダーズ Wadazuka Wandāzu)4:43
15."Kamakura Goodbye" (鎌倉グッドバイ Kamakura Guddobai)4:33
Total length:50:11
EP
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Ishigami Hills" (石上ヒルズ Ishigami Hiruzu) 3:21
2."Yanagikōji Parallel Universe" (柳小路パラレルユニバース Yanagikōji Parareru Yunibāsu) 2:51
3."Nishikata Coast Story" (西方コーストストーリー Nishikata Kōsuto Sutōrī) 3:41
4."Nissaka Down Hill" (日坂ダウンヒル Nissaka Daun Hiru) 3:59
5."Shonan Electro" (湘南エレクトロ Shōnan Erekutoro)Shuhei Kina, Toshihiro Kitazawa1:14
6."Wadazuka Wonders" (和田塚ワンダーズ Wadazuka Wandāzu) 4:43
Total length:19:52

Chart positions

Album

Chart performance for Surf Bungaku Kamakura
Chart (2008) Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon) 2
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[3] 2
Chart performance for Surf Bungaku Kamakura (Complete)
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[11] 5
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[12] 5
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[13] 3

Single

Song Chart (2008) Peak
positions
"Fujisawa Loser" Oricon 6
Japan Hot 100 5[4]
Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary 6[14]

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ The Japan Times review
  3. ^ a b "Billboard Japan – TOP Albums". Billboard. 2008-11-11. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-14. (in Japanese)
  4. ^ a b "Japan Hot 100 Singles – Fujisawa Loser". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2008-11-10.[dead link] (in English)
  5. ^ "ASIAN ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Holds a Secret Live Somewhere in Kamakura". natalie. Natasha. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  6. ^ "コラボ三部作に通ずる"生きている喜び──"ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATIONインタビュー｜『四畳半タイムマシンブルース』主題歌". Qetic (in Japanese). 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  7. ^ "アジカン「サーフ ブンガク カマクラ」完全版リリース、15年の時を経て江ノ電15駅コンプリート". Natalie (in Japanese). 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  8. ^ "アジカン「サーフ ブンガク カマクラ」完全版の"半カートン"を先行配信". Natalie (in Japanese). 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  9. ^ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION -「江ノ島エスカー」Music Videoアルバム発売日7月5日(水)21:00より公開！ 新江ノ島水族館でのインスタライブ、リスニングパーティーも開催！" ["Enoshima Escar" Music Video and album releases July 5th (Wednesday) at 21:00! Instagram Live and Listening Party will be held at Enoshima Aquarium!]. www.asiankung-fu.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  10. ^ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION - 江ノ電各駅にて撮影の"各駅アーティスト写真"を使用したポスターが、本日から江ノ電全15駅に掲載！" [Posters using "artist photos" taken at each Enoden station will be posted at all 15 Enoden stations from today!]. www.asiankung-fu.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  11. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-07-17" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-07-17" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of July 12, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Billboard Japan – Adult Contemporary Airplay Archived 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Retrieved on 2008-11-10. (in Japanese)
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