Japanese band “J-Hind” makes debut at Indo-Japan Music and Dance Fusion event

NEW DELHI: Finally, the all-men Japanese band of amateur artists “J-Hind” has made its presence felt recently when it announced its launch with scintillating delivery of Indian and Japanese songs. Led by the vocalist Koji Sato, the band consisting of the guitarists Takashi Suzuki and Akihiko Oki, and drummer Taisei Toyomaru, sang five contemporary and old Indian numbers and one Japanese song at Indo-Japan Music and Dance Fusion event held at Sky City hotel in Gurugram on September 8.

The event was the part of Japan Month, the Embassy of Japan is celebrating during September-October in India.

Koji Sato, happens to be the director of Japan Foundation, New Delhi while the guitarist Takashi Suzuki, is JETRO New Delhi’s Chief Director General. The drummer Taisei Toyomaru is also from Japan Foundation.

The J-Hind band performed singing of five Hindi songs including Taqdeer Banayo Peer from Coke Studio India, Bole Chudiyan from Kabhi Khu shi Kabhi Gham Bollywod mobie, Abhi Mujh mein Kahin from Agnipath Bollywood movie, Chhoo Lo from The Local Train, and Ye Dosti Hum Nahin Chhodenge from another Bollywood blockbuster movie Sholey. The Japanese song it performed was  Ue o Muite Arukou, the Fusanoseke version.

Hotel Sky City hosted a mesmerizing Indo-Japan Music and Dance Fusion that transcends boundaries and unties cultures. The event let the harmony for traditions enchant the audience. The star attraction of the Indo-Japan Music and Dance Fusion was the debut of the “J-Hind” though other performances included from the artists Isha, the professional Bollywood dancer, IBEX (Indian & Japanese Rapper), and Hiroko Sarah, a Japanese singer and dancer.

While interacting with the audience at the Indo-Japan Music and Dance Fusion event, Koji Sato threw light on the history of popularity of Indian songs and movies in Japan.

“Currently, Japan is experience 3^rd boom of Indian cinema and music as movies like RRR and Bahubali have been quite popular in Japan. The first book struck Japan in 1998 when Tamil movie Muthu was introduced in Tokyo,” Koji Sato said.

Muthu was released on 23 October 1995, during the Diwali holiday period in India, and became a silver jubilee hit. A dubbed Japanese version titled Muthu Odoru Maharaja (transl. Muthu – The Dancing Maharaja) was released in 1998 and became the highest-grossing Indian film in Japan, a record it held for 24 years. The film sparked a short-lived boom of Indian films released in Japan and helping Rajinikanth gain a large fan following there. The film was remade in Kannada as Sahukara in 2004.

Sato said, “Then the second boom came in Japan in 2010 with some Hindi films such as Lunch Box and English-Winglish. And the third book struck Japan recently with the advent of movies like RRR, which not only influenced the commoners but also forced many for cinematizing RRR in Japanese language. Music such as Natu Natu comes with these movies.”

The J-Hind band before being formally announced as “J-Hind” band performed at many places and made their presence felt. The trio Koji Sato, Takashi Suzuki, and Taisei Toyomaru also performed at the inauguration of the new office building of Japan Foundation in Green Park. Also last year, the same band performed at Konnichiwa Japan Festival 2023 at DLF Avenue Saket in New Delhi.

Here what stole the show was a record-breaking performance by the amateur group band performance by this band. The trio-band delivered Koji Sato singing Hindi songs – ‘Chhoo Lo‘. Another it played was ‘Bole Chudiyaan Bole Kangana’ and Sato san sang duet of male and female all together in this song. This performance turned out to be the show stopper one. As usual Suzuki Takashi played guitar, and Toyomaru the drum.

After the performance, a score of audience became the fan of this band and queued up to shoot photos and selfies with the members of this band.