Supercar (スーパーカー, Sūpākā) was a Japanese rock band active from 1995 to 2005, who made their debut in 1997. Consisting of composer and vocalist Koji Nakamura, lyricist and guitarist Junji Ishiwatari, bassist Miki Futukawa, and drummer Kōdai Tazawa, Supercar is best known for combining alternative rock with electronic music and has been characterized as having an “almost foundational importance to 21st century Japanese indie rock”. Internationally, Supercar is also known for providing much of the soundtrack for the Japanese film Ping Pong, as well as being featured in the anime series Eureka Seven.
Hailing from Aomori Prefecture, Supercar was formed in 1995 when bassist Miki Furukawa placed an advertisement in a local magazine seeking fellow musicians. Junji Ishiwatari responded and convinced childhood friend Kōji Nakamura to join as well. Junji and Kōji soon recruited drummer Kōdai Tazawa, an acquaintance from middle school. While still in high school, they began writing songs starting with the singles DRIVE and (Am I) confusing you?
After writing songs and recording demo tapes, the group received a record contract in 1995. By 1997, they had released two singles (cream soda and Lucky) and were working on their first album. In 1998 they released their influential debut album, Three Out Change. Music critic Ian Martin has described it as an “epic indie rock/shoegaze album” and “one of the all-time great Japanese rock albums.” Later that year, they went on their first national tour.
Supercar’s second album, Jump Up, was released in 1999 shortly after the group members had moved to Tokyo from Aomori. This album was followed by OOkeah!! and OOYeah!!, both also released in 1999. With the 2000 album Futurama, electronic experimentation took a larger role that would characterize the band’s sound for the rest of their career. During the summer of 2001, the group performed at both the Fuji Rock Festival and Rock in Japan Festival. The 2002 release Highvision continued the electronic development, and the single Strobolights did not even contain a guitar.
Supercar released its last non-compilation album, Answer in 2004. Perhaps their most experimental album, Answer contained balance of both rock and electronica. In July of that year, they played at the Fuji Rock Festival for the third and final time. In February 2005, Supercar broke up following a final concert, released under DVD as Last Live. Later that year, their song “Storywriter” featured in the anime Eureka Seven. Following the breakup, Furukawa and Nakamura have pursued successful solo careers. Despite the break-up, Supercar released two remix albums named RE:SUPERCAR 1 and RE:SUPERCAR 2 in 2011. The albums are redesigned versions of some of their tracks throughout their career together with never before heard songs. The limited edition of these albums sported a different CD jacket and bonus CD containing some of their untitled tracks and demos.
