Official Hige Dandism: The Life Story Behind Japan's Pop Band

Official Hige Dandism are a Japanese pop band with a strange name, a warm sound, and a story that feels like a modern fairy tale. They started in Shimane, a small prefecture on the west coast of Japan, far from Tokyo, and they became one of the biggest bands in the country in just a few years. Their songs are played everywhere in Japan, in shops, on television, in films, and at weddings, and their singer’s voice is one of the most recognisable in Japanese music today. Their story is about four friends who made music for fun, and who found, almost by accident, that the whole country wanted to listen.

The band is made up of Satoshi Fujiwara, who sings and plays piano, Daisuke Ozasa on guitar, Makoto Narazaki on bass and saxophone, and Masaki Matsuura on drums. Fujiwara is the main songwriter, and his songs are known for their clever words, their strong melodies, and their emotional honesty. The other members bring a jazz and pop influence, with piano, saxophone and a rhythm section that can be both gentle and powerful. Together they make a sound that is pop, but with a depth that most pop does not have.

What makes Official Hige Dandism special is how quickly they rose, and how naturally they did it. They did not spend ten years in small clubs before they were noticed. They released a song, Pretender, in 2019, and it became one of the most streamed songs in Japanese history, and suddenly everyone knew their name. That kind of sudden fame can break a band, but it did not break them. They kept writing, kept touring, and kept growing, and they are now one of the most trusted bands in Japan.

Four Friends in Shimane in 2012

Official Hige Dandism formed in Shimane in 2012, when the members were young men in their early twenties. Satoshi Fujiwara, Daisuke Ozasa, Makoto Narazaki and Masaki Matsuura met through music in Shimane, a prefecture that is known for its nature, its history, and its quiet life, not for its music industry. They started playing together as a band, with Fujiwara on piano and vocals, and the others on guitar, bass and drums, and they played a mix of pop, rock and jazz, with a sound that was warm and melodic.

The name Official Hige Dandism is a joke, and it is one of the strangest band names in Japan. Hige means moustache in Japanese, and dandism suggests a dandy, a man who cares about style. The name was chosen because the members, who were in their early twenties, wanted to look like grown men with moustaches, even though they were still young. The name is playful, and it tells you something about the band: they do not take themselves too seriously, even when their music is serious. They have kept the name, and it has become a familiar part of Japanese pop culture, even if it is hard to explain to someone who has never heard it.

In the early years the band played in Shimane and in other parts of Japan, building a following slowly. They released independent records, and they toured in small venues, learning how to perform together and how to write songs that would connect with an audience. Fujiwara was the main songwriter, and his songs were already distinctive, with clever lyrics, strong choruses, and a piano-led sound that set the band apart from other pop acts. The band were not famous yet, but they were building a foundation, and that foundation would matter when fame came.

Shimane itself mattered to the story. It was far from Tokyo, and a band from Shimane had to work harder to be noticed than a band from the capital. The members had to travel, to perform in other cities, and to prove themselves in a way that Tokyo bands did not have to. That distance gave them a different perspective, and it gave their music a warmth and a sincerity that came from a smaller, quieter place. When they later moved to Tokyo, they brought that Shimane feeling with them, and it stayed in their music.

No Doubt, a Major Debut and a Slow Climb

Official Hige Dandism made their major debut in 2018, with the song No Doubt, which was used as the theme for a television drama. The song was a good introduction to the band, with Fujiwara’s clear voice, a strong piano melody, and a chorus that was easy to remember. It did well in Japan, and it gave the band a place in the mainstream music scene. They were no longer an independent band from Shimane. They were a major label act, with a song on television, and with an audience that was starting to grow.

The band also released their first major album, Escaparade, in 2018, which collected their early songs and showed a band with a clear sound. The album was well received, and it showed that Official Hige Dandism could make a full record, not just a single. The songs were pop, but they were also thoughtful, with lyrics about love, about growing up, and about the feeling of being young and not knowing what comes next. The band toured the album, and they played in larger venues, building their audience one show at a time.

In 2019 the band released the song Pretender, and everything changed. Pretender was used as the theme song for a film, and it became a huge hit, with a melody that was both sad and hopeful, and with lyrics about pretending to be happy when you are not, about a love that has ended, and about the pain of letting go. The song was streamed millions of times, it was played on radio and television, and it became one of the most popular songs in Japan that year. It was a turning point, and it made Official Hige Dandism a household name.

Pretender was important for another reason. It showed that a song could be both popular and serious, both catchy and emotional, and that an audience would respond to honesty. Fujiwara’s lyrics were not simple, and they were not always happy, but they were true, and the audience could feel that truth. The song’s success gave the band confidence, and it gave them a platform to release more music, to tour in larger venues, and to become one of the biggest bands in Japan.

Pretender, I Love and the Songs Everyone Knows

After Pretender, Official Hige Dandism released a series of hit songs that became part of everyday life in Japan. I Love, released in 2020, was a song about love, about the feeling of being in love, and about the hope that love will last. It was used in a film, and it became popular with couples, with fans, and with anyone who had ever been in love. The song showed a different side of the band, a side that was warm, romantic and hopeful, and it proved that they could write a love song as well as a sad song.

The band also released Universe, which was used as the theme for a popular animated film, and which became a hit with young audiences. The song was bright, hopeful and full of energy, and it showed Fujiwara’s range as a songwriter. He could write a song for a film, for a television drama, for a wedding, and for a concert, and each song would feel like it belonged to that moment, while still sounding like Official Hige Dandism. That versatility is one of their strengths, and it is why their music is heard in so many different places.

In 2021 the band released Cry Baby, which was used as the theme for the anime Tokyo Revengers, and which became a hit with anime fans and with rock fans. The song was louder and more energetic than their earlier work, with a strong guitar and drum sound, and it showed that the band could be a rock act as well as a pop act. Cry Baby proved that Official Hige Dandism were not limited to one style, and that they could change their sound when the song needed it.

The band also released Mixed Nuts, used for the anime Spy x Family, and Subtitle, used for a television drama, both of which became major hits. Mixed Nuts was playful and fun, with a fast, jazzy feeling, while Subtitle was quiet, emotional and beautifully written, about the words we cannot say, and the feelings we hide. The two songs showed the range of the band, from fun to sad, from loud to quiet, and they confirmed that Official Hige Dandism were one of the most versatile bands in Japan.

A Piano, a Voice and a Band That Listens

The sound of Official Hige Dandism is built on Fujiwara’s piano and voice. His piano playing is melodic and rhythmic, and it gives the songs a warm, human feeling that is different from the guitar-led sound of many rock bands. His voice is clear, strong and emotional, and it can move from a quiet verse to a powerful chorus without losing control. When he sings, the audience believes him, because the voice sounds like it has lived through the words.

The other members are also important. Ozasa’s guitar adds colour and energy, Narazaki’s bass and saxophone add a jazz feeling, and Matsuura’s drums give the songs their rhythm and drive. Together they make a sound that is both pop and jazz, both rock and ballad, and it is a sound that is hard to place in one genre. That is part of their appeal. They do not fit into a box, and they do not try to. They make the music that feels right for the song, and they let the genre follow.

The band’s live shows are also a key part of their identity. They play with energy, with warmth, and with a sense of fun, and the audience sing along to every song. Fujiwara talks to the audience between songs, and he thanks them for coming, in a way that feels personal even in a large venue. The band do not use a lot of special effects. They rely on the music, the playing, and the connection with the crowd, and that simplicity is part of their strength.

In recent years Official Hige Dandism have continued to release music, to tour in large venues in Japan, including stadiums and domes, and to work on songs for films, television and anime. They have become one of the biggest bands in Japan, and they have done it in a short time, but they have done it by writing good songs, by playing them well, and by staying true to the sound they built in Shimane. Their story is still being written, and it is one of the most exciting stories in Japanese music today.

From Shimane to the Whole of Japan

Official Hige Dandism matter because they showed that a band from a small place could become a big band, and that a band with a strange name and a piano-led sound could become a household name. They did not follow the usual path, and they did not change their sound to fit a trend. They made the music they wanted to make, and the audience came to them. That is a hopeful story for anyone who feels far from the centre, and it is why their story is loved in Japan.

Today the band are one of the most popular acts in the country, with songs that are streamed millions of times, with concerts that sell out, and with a reputation for honesty, warmth and quality. They have built their career quickly, but they have built it well, and they have shown that sudden fame does not have to be short-lived, if the work is good and the band is willing to keep working. Their rainbow, like the one in their name, is still growing, and it is still bringing colour to Japanese pop.

Mixed Nuts, Subtitle and the Anime Years

Mixed Nuts, released in 2022, was a song for the anime Spy x Family, a popular show about a spy, an assassin, and a young girl who form a fake family, and the song was playful, fast, and full of energy, with a jazzy feeling that matched the show’s humour and warmth. The song became a hit, not only with anime fans, but with pop fans, who loved its melody, its rhythm, and its clever lyrics. Mixed Nuts showed that Official Hige Dandism could write a fun song, a song that was not sad, not serious, but joyful, and that they could do it as well as they could write a sad song. That range, from sad to fun, is one of their strengths, and it is why their music is heard in so many different places.

Subtitle, released in 2022 as well, was a very different song, used as the theme for a television drama, and it was quiet, emotional, and beautifully written, about the words we cannot say, about the feelings we hide, and about the hope that someone will understand us, even without words. The song became a major hit, with millions of streams, and with fans who said that it spoke to their own lives, to the times when they wanted to say something and could not find the words. Subtitle showed Fujiwara at his best as a songwriter, writing about a feeling that is hard to express, and expressing it clearly, in a way that made the listener feel understood.

The anime years are important because they introduced Official Hige Dandism to a younger audience, to people who first heard them through Spy x Family, through Tokyo Revengers, and through other shows, and who then discovered their other songs, their albums, and their concerts. Anime is a major part of Japanese popular culture, and a song for an anime can reach millions of people, in Japan and around the world, who might not otherwise listen to Japanese pop. Official Hige Dandism used that opportunity well, writing songs that fit the shows, but that also worked as pop songs on their own, and that showed their versatility, their skill, and their ability to write for different stories, different characters, and different feelings.

Stadium Shows, Tours and a Band at the Top

Official Hige Dandism have become one of the biggest live acts in Japan, playing in stadiums, domes, and large arenas, with tens of thousands of fans singing along to every song. Their concerts are a major event, with fans who have waited for months to see them, who know every word, and who come to celebrate the band’s music, together. The shows are energetic, warm, and full of joy, with Fujiwara talking to the audience, thanking them, and making them feel welcome, even in a large venue. That warmth is part of their appeal, and it is why their fans are so loyal, because they feel that the band care about them, not only about the music.

The band’s tours have taken them across Japan, from Shimane to Tokyo, from Osaka to Fukuoka, and to other cities, and they have played in venues that are a mark of success, including the Tokyo Dome, where they have performed for a huge audience. Playing the Tokyo Dome is a dream for many Japanese bands, and Official Hige Dandism reached it in a short time, which is a sign of how quickly they rose, and how much their audience loves them. The Dome shows were a celebration, with the band playing their best-known songs, with the audience singing along, and with a feeling of shared joy that made the night memorable for everyone there.

In recent years the band have continued to tour, to release new music, and to work on songs for films, television and anime, and they have shown no sign of slowing down. They have become one of the most trusted bands in Japan, with a reputation for honesty, for quality, and for hard work, and they have done it in a short time, but they have done it well. Their story is still being written, and it is one of the most exciting stories in Japanese music today, because it shows that a band from a small place, with a strange name, and with a piano-led sound, can become a household name, and can stay there, by writing good songs, by playing them well, and by caring about their audience.

I Love, Universe and Songs for Films

I Love, released in 2020, was a song about love, about the feeling of being in love, and about the hope that love will last, and it was used in a film, where it became a favourite with couples, with fans, and with anyone who had ever been in love. The song is warm, romantic, and hopeful, with a melody that is both simple and beautiful, and with lyrics that are direct, honest, and emotional, about saying I love you, about meaning it, and about the fear that love might not last, even when you want it to. I Love showed a different side of Official Hige Dandism, a side that was not sad, not playful, but romantic, and it proved that they could write a love song as well as a sad song, and that they could do it with the same honesty, the same skill, and the same feeling, as their other songs.

Universe, released in 2021, was a song for an animated film, with a bright, hopeful, and energetic feeling, about the universe, about the stars, and about the feeling of being part of something larger than yourself, and it became a hit with young audiences, who loved its melody, its energy, and its message, that the universe is large, that we are small, and that love, hope, and kindness still matter, even in a large universe. The song showed Fujiwara’s range as a songwriter, his ability to write about big ideas, about the universe, about the stars, in a way that is both simple and deep, and that makes the listener feel both small and hopeful, at the same time, which is a rare feeling, and one that is hard to capture in a song.

These songs, I Love and Universe, together with Pretender, Cry Baby, Mixed Nuts, and Subtitle, form a collection of songs that are heard everywhere in Japan, in films, in television, in anime, in shops, and in everyday life, and they show that Official Hige Dandism are not only a pop band, but a band whose music is part of daily life, part of the soundtrack of Japan, and part of the lives of millions of people, who hear their songs, who sing along, and who find something in them, something that speaks to their own lives, their own loves, and their own hopes. That is a great achievement for a band that started in Shimane, with a strange name, and with a piano, and it is a sign that their music has touched people, in a deep and lasting way.

The band’s ability to write for films is also a key part of their success, because a film song has to fit a story, has to fit a character, and has to fit a moment, and Fujiwara has shown that he can do that, again and again, with songs that work both in the film, and on their own, as pop songs, that people listen to, long after they have seen the film, because the song itself is good, because the melody is strong, and because the lyrics are true. That skill, of writing for a story, and still being yourself, is a rare one, and it is why directors, producers, and filmmakers keep asking Official Hige Dandism to write for their films, their television shows, and their anime, because they know the band will deliver, with a song that is both fitting, and also unmistakably theirs.

My Take:

I think Official Hige Dandism are a band for people who have ever felt like they were pretending, and I mean that in a kind way. Pretender is a song about pretending to be happy when you are not, about smiling when you are sad, about saying you are fine when you are not fine, and I think almost everyone has done that at some point. I have, and I know how lonely it can feel. To hear a song that says that feeling out loud, in a clear and honest way, is a relief. It tells you that you are not alone, that other people feel the same way, and that it is okay to admit it. That is a powerful gift, and it is why Pretender became so popular.

What strikes me about this band is how fast they rose, and how well they handled it. They formed in Shimane in 2012, they made their major debut in 2018, and by 2019 they were one of the biggest bands in Japan. That is a very fast climb, and it could have broken them. Sudden fame can make people arrogant, or anxious, or lost, and many bands do not survive it. Official Hige Dandism survived it, and they did so by keeping their feet on the ground, by continuing to write, and by continuing to tour. I respect that, because it shows that they were ready for fame, even if they did not expect it to come so quickly. They had spent years in Shimane, learning their craft, and when the moment came, they were ready.

Fujiwara is the songwriter I think about most. His lyrics are clever, but they are not clever for their own sake. They are clever because life is complicated, and he wants to capture that complication in a song. He writes about love, about loss, about the words we cannot say, and about the feelings we hide, and he does it in a way that feels both personal and universal. When I hear Subtitle, about the words we cannot speak, I think about all the times I have wanted to say something and could not find the words. That is a common feeling, and Fujiwara gives it a voice. I think that is the best kind of songwriting, the kind that gives voice to feelings that are hard to express.

I also love the piano in their music. Most pop bands are built on guitar, but Official Hige Dandism are built on piano, and that gives their songs a different feeling, warmer, more human, more like a conversation. The piano is an instrument that can be both gentle and powerful, and Fujiwara plays it in a way that feels natural, as if he is talking through the keys. I like that, because it makes the band sound different from everyone else, and it makes their songs feel more intimate, even in a large venue. When the piano starts, you know it is them, and you lean in to listen.

There is a sadness in their story that I feel when I listen to Pretender and Subtitle, and it is the sadness of things unsaid, of love that ends, of words that come too late. Those are not easy themes, and the band do not make them easy. They write about them honestly, and they let the sadness sit in the song, without trying to fix it with a happy ending. I think that honesty is brave, because it is easier to write a happy song than to write a sad one that is true. Official Hige Dandism write sad songs that are true, and that is why people trust them.

I do not think they are a perfect band, and I think their very popularity can make them feel too everywhere at times. Their songs are played in shops, on television, in films, and it is possible to hear them so often that you stop listening. I understand that feeling, and I think it is a risk for any band that becomes as popular as they have. When a song is everywhere, it can lose its special feeling, and it can become background music. I hope Official Hige Dandism can keep their songs feeling special, even when they are popular, by continuing to write with honesty and by continuing to play live with energy. Popularity is not a fault, but it is a challenge, and they will need to meet it.

I wonder what it must be like to come from Shimane, a quiet prefecture far from Tokyo, and to become famous in Tokyo. It must feel strange, to go from a small place where everyone knows you, to a big city where millions of people know your songs but do not know you. I think the band have handled that by keeping their Shimane roots, by remembering where they came from, and by making music that still feels like it comes from a small, warm place, even when it is played in a stadium. That is a good way to stay grounded, and I hope they keep it.

If a young musician asked me what to learn from Official Hige Dandism, I would say this: write honestly, write about what you really feel, and do not be afraid to write about sadness. Learn an instrument well, whether it is piano or guitar, and use it to give your songs a sound that is yours. Be patient, even if fame comes quickly, and keep working, because one hit is not a career. A career is built on many songs, many shows, and many years of work. And remember where you came from, because that place, whether it is Shimane or somewhere else, is part of your music, and it will keep your music honest.

In the end, I think Official Hige Dandism have taught me that a song can be both popular and honest, both catchy and deep, both sad and hopeful, all at the same time. They did not choose one of those things. They chose all of them, and they made it work. That is why I will keep listening to them, and why I think Japan will keep listening to them for many years. They are a band that speaks to the heart, in a clear voice, and that is a rare and valuable thing.

I also think about their stadium shows, and about what it must be like to go from playing in small venues in Shimane, to playing in the Tokyo Dome, in just a few years. That is a very fast climb, and it must feel overwhelming, to stand on a stage in front of tens of thousands of people, and to hear them singing your songs, songs that you wrote in a small city, far from Tokyo. I think Fujiwara and the other members must feel a mix of joy, of gratitude, and of disbelief, and I hope they feel it, because they have earned it, by writing good songs, by working hard, and by staying true to themselves. A stadium show is a reward, but it is also a responsibility, because the audience have come to hear you, and you have to give them your best, night after night, and Official Hige Dandism do that, with warmth and with energy.

I think about Mixed Nuts and Subtitle, and about the way they show two different sides of the band, one playful, one sad, one fast, one slow, and both honest. That range is rare, and it is why I think they will last, because they are not limited to one mood, one style, or one kind of song. They can write a fun song for an anime, a sad song for a drama, a love song for a film, and a rock song for a concert, and each one will sound like them, because Fujiwara’s voice, his piano, and his words are at the centre of each one. That centre is strong, and it will hold, even as the band try new ideas, new sounds, and new collaborations.

I wonder what the next ten years will look like for them, and I hope they will keep writing, keep touring, and keep growing, because they are still young, still curious, and still at the start of a long career, even though they are already famous. There is a danger in sudden fame, that a band will become complacent, that they will stop trying, and that they will live off one hit, but I do not think Official Hige Dandism will do that, because they have already shown that they can write many hits, not only one, and that they care about their work, not only about fame. I hope they keep caring, and I hope they keep writing songs that are honest, clever, and emotional, because that is what made Pretender a hit, and that is what will keep them going.

I also think about the young musicians in Shimane, and in other small places in Japan, who might be watching Official Hige Dandism now, and who might be thinking, that could be me, that a band from a small place can become big, that a strange name can become famous, and that a piano can lead a pop band. That is a hopeful thought, and it is a powerful example, because it tells young people that they do not have to be from Tokyo to succeed, that they do not have to follow a trend, and that they can make music that is theirs, and the audience will come to them, if the music is good. I hope those young musicians are inspired, and I hope they work hard, because the world needs more bands like this one, bands that are honest, warm, and brave.

In the end, I come back to Pretender, and to the feeling of pretending to be happy when you are not, and to the relief of hearing a song that says that feeling out loud. That is the gift of Official Hige Dandism, to give voice to feelings that are hard to express, to do it with a melody that is beautiful, and to do it in a way that makes the listener feel less alone. That is a rare gift, and it is why I will keep listening to them, and why I think Japan will keep listening to them, for many years, through new songs, new tours, and new stories, all written by four friends from Shimane, who started with a strange name, a piano, and a dream.

I also think about I Love and Universe, and about the way they show two different kinds of love, one personal, one universal, one about a person, one about the stars, and both are honest, both are hopeful, and both are beautiful. I Love is a song I would play for someone I love, because it says, I love you, simply and directly, without hiding, without pretending, and with a feeling that is real. Universe is a song I would play when I want to feel hopeful, when I want to remember that the world is large, that we are small, and that love still matters, even in a large universe. That range, from personal to universal, is rare, and it is why I think Fujiwara is a great songwriter, because he can write about both, in the same band, in the same year, and make both feel true.

I think about their film songs, and about what it means to write a song for a story, to fit a character, to fit a moment, and to still be yourself, and I find that impressive, because it requires a songwriter to listen, to understand a story that is not his own, and to write a song that serves that story, without losing his own voice. Fujiwara does that, again and again, with Pretender, with I Love, with Universe, with Cry Baby, with Mixed Nuts, and with Subtitle, each one fitting its film, its show, or its drama, and each one also working as a song on its own, that people listen to, long after they have seen the film. That is a skill, and it is one that few songwriters have, and it is why directors keep asking him to write, because they trust him to deliver, with a song that is both fitting, and also his own.

I wonder what it must be like to be a young fan, discovering Official Hige Dandism through an anime, through Spy x Family, or through Tokyo Revengers, and then going back, listening to Pretender, to I Love, to Subtitle, and realising that there is a whole history behind that one song, a history of a band from Shimane, with a strange name, with a piano, and with a dream, that became one of the biggest bands in Japan, in just a few years. That discovery must be exciting, and I hope those new fans feel welcomed, because the band’s music is welcoming, even when it is sad, even when it is about pretending, and even when it is about words we cannot say. Inside that music, there is warmth, there is hope, and there is a sense that it is okay to feel, to love, and to keep going, even when life is hard.

I also think about Fujiwara’s piano, and about how it has grown, from a young pianist in Shimane, to a pianist who can fill a stadium, with a sound that is both warm and powerful, and that carries the weight of the songs he plays, with a feeling that comes from having lived through them. That growth is a result of years of playing, of touring, of recording, and of learning how to use the piano, how to make it sing, and how to make it speak, and it is a sign of a professional, a musician who takes his craft seriously, and who wants to be better, year after year. I respect that, because a piano is a difficult instrument, and to play it well, for many years, through touring, through recording, and through the pressure of fame, is a remarkable achievement, and one that few musicians manage.

In the end, I come back to Shimane, to four friends, with a strange name, with a piano, and with a dream, who became one of the biggest bands in Japan, by writing honest songs, by playing them well, and by caring about their audience. That is a remarkable story, and it is one that I will remember, not only because the music is good, but because the story is hopeful, because it shows that a band from a small place can become big, that a strange name can become famous, and that a piano can lead a pop band, to the top of the charts, to the Tokyo Dome, and to the hearts of millions of people, in Japan and around the world. I will keep listening, to see where they go next, and to hear what they write next, because I believe their best songs are still to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Official Hige Dandism form in Shimane?

Official Hige Dandism formed in Shimane in 2012, when Satoshi Fujiwara, Daisuke Ozasa, Makoto Narazaki and Masaki Matsuura began playing together as young men. They built a following through small venues and independent releases before their major debut in 2018. Shimane, far from Tokyo, gave their music a warm, sincere feeling that stayed with them.

What does the name Official Hige Dandism mean?

Hige means moustache in Japanese, and dandism suggests a dandy, a man who cares about style, so the name is a playful joke about young men wanting to look like grown dandies with moustaches. The band have kept the name, and it has become a familiar part of Japanese pop culture. It reflects their playful side, even when their music is serious.

What song made Official Hige Dandism famous?

Pretender, released in 2019, was their breakthrough, becoming one of the most streamed songs in Japanese history. The song, about pretending to be happy after a love has ended, was used as a film theme and was heard across Japan. It made the band a household name and gave them a platform for further hits.

What are Official Hige Dandism’s other well-known songs?

Their other well-known songs include I Love, Universe, Cry Baby for the anime Tokyo Revengers, Mixed Nuts for Spy x Family, and Subtitle for a television drama. Each song shows a different side of the band, from romantic ballads to loud rock and playful pop. Their music is used in films, television and anime across Japan.

Who writes the songs for Official Hige Dandism?

The songs are mainly written by Satoshi Fujiwara, the singer and pianist, who is known for clever, emotional lyrics and strong melodies. His piano playing is central to the band’s sound, and his voice carries the songs. The other members add guitar, bass, saxophone and drums, giving the music its jazz and pop depth.

Are Official Hige Dandism still active today?

Yes, Official Hige Dandism are still active, touring in large venues in Japan, including stadiums and domes, and releasing new music for films, television and anime. They have become one of the biggest bands in the country in a short time, and they continue to write and perform. Their story is still being written.