Kobe-based Rock Band “Watanabe Flower” to Sell Mini Album Containing Four Songs

　On December 24, Kobe-based rock band “Watanabe Flower” announced the release of a four-song mini-album “Mini-Shikyoku” to be released in January next year.

Jacket image of the four-song mini album “Mini Four Songs

　Watanabe Flower, which claims to be “Everyone’s Exciting Rock ‘n’ Roll Band,” is currently composed of five members: Tatsuro Kumagai (vocals), Ikuro (guitar), Musa (bass), Yacchin (drums), and Ichi (keyboards). This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the band’s founding, which aimed for “easy-to-understand, enjoyable music.

　The band has produced and written songs for commercial tie-ups and provided music to artists, and their song “Ladybird” was selected for NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 2012 and 2013. The band became the first band to form a public-private partnership with the city of Kobe, and was officially recognized by the city.

　On December 30, the band, whose dream is to participate in the Kohaku Uta Gassen, will hold a one-man live concert “Kohaku ga Kettei ni Mukete (If Kohaku is decided, the concert will be canceled)” (doors open at 16:30, concert begins at 17:30) at “Kobe VARIT. In the event that the performance is cancelled due to his participation in the Kohaku Uta Gassen, the tickets will not be refunded, saying, “We will pay him back in some other way, so we would like it to be a celebration once again. Tickets are ¥3,000 for adults, ¥1,500 for high school students and younger, and free for preschool children (only a few tickets left). A separate drink fee of 600 yen is required.

　Songs on the new mini-album include “Onaka ga Zero”, “This is IPPO”, “Ballad of Barabbara”, and “Love is Always First Grade”, priced at 1,300 yen (tax not included). Sales will begin on January 14 next year at live venues and at the official store on the band’s website. On the 30th of this month, a special advance sale will be held at live venues.

　Kumagai said, “There may be a big announcement at the one-man live concert. From there, I have sung and nurtured my new song “Crying No More”, which I have released for the first time in a long time, at festivals and events that have been revived in various places after the Corona disaster. I would like to show the culmination of such a year with a one-man live performance. I would also like to report one more thing to everyone for next year,” he said.