Jinta Asakusa

Experimental performance artists/preservation band Asakusa Jinta takes their name and their and inspiration from the Tokyo historic district where jintas (roving Japanese street bands) once guttled the streets. The band's mixture of punk, ska, swing and march music (performed by the seven piece outfit including accordion, stand up bass, horns and rhythm section) began driving audiences wild in 1999. Asakusa Jinta's dynamic display earned a reputation throughout their hometown of Tokyo for vibrant (bordering on frantic) live performances, featuring outlandish swing-era-gone-mad costumes and typically standing room only halls. With a horn section prone to marching through the packed audiences and a front man/bass player whose vocals conjur images of a carnival barker, Asakusa Jinta brings the spirit of chindonya (traditional Japanese street performance) to life. Their debut record Asakusa Rock was released on the Indie label in 2005. The record was well received by critics, though it did not fit easily into traditional marketing categories. Their follow up effort Rakugo Geijutsu Kyokai Album was met with a similar reception as the band's national fan base continued to swell. Jinta Asakusa broke new ground in at the 2007 South by South West Music Festival in Austin, as part of their Japan Nite touring group. The U.S. exposure served to expand the group's base of influence, exposing an entirely new market to the band's unique and highly niche performance experience. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide