ONE OK ROCK gears up for its first arena tour in the Tri-State area on May 30, telling amNewYork that they are using their platform to speak out against discrimination.
Beloved in Japan, ONE OK ROCK has captivated audiences across the globe for over 20 years and has catapulted into their most ambitious North American tour, hitting 15 cities. Fueled By Ramen’s ONE OK ROCK are known for their fusion of rock, emo, and hardcore, high-intensity performances with members Takahiro Moriuchi, guitarist Toru Yamashita, bassist Ryota Kohama, and drummer Tomoya Kanki.
amNewYork caught up with ONE OK ROCK as they began their voyage in the United States, where lead vocalist Takahiro Moriuchi discussed music’s power to transcend language barriers and, in doing so, allow different cultures to connect with one another. Moriuchi shared that he believes there are many politicians whose goals are self-serving rather than thinking of everyday citizens. He believes that as a musician, as a person who has the microphone, it’s important to amplify the voice of the people.
“I think as a musician, I want to say something stronger than before about the state of the world and the situation going on politically,” Moriuchi said. “It’s time to say something political as a musician, as a Japanese person…that’s why I made [this album and tour] more political, [concentrating] on government and [issues] of control over people. I just think a person who has a position to say something should speak out their thoughts and share it with others.”
Drawing influence from bands like Green Day, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down, and U2, ONE OK ROCK has kept an eye on the political landscape in the three-year development of their album DETOX, specifically the ripple effect of decisions made in the United States reaching Japan. They decided that it was time to talk about these issues not as partisans but as everyday individuals.
“Tropical Therapy” has been heralded as a fan favorite in their newly released album DETOX, discussing the everyday battles we endure and the need to get away from stress.
“I’m not just a musician, I’m a human, so I sometimes feel tired from busy days or just exhausted from too much thinking, or when facing struggles, and life can be hard for a lot of people, and you just need an escape. [‘Tropical Therapy’ focuses on] finding a place where you can rest, where you can go somewhere and feel better,” Moriuchi said. “You don’t have to be 100% perfect. We are humans and sometimes you just need rest.”
ONE OK ROCK’s perseverance solidified their two-decade-long career. With 11 albums out, the band is driven by empowering its listeners. In a world of chaos, ONE OK ROCK says they have crossed borders to share their emotions of anger, sadness, and joy through music and push for unity.
Moriuchi also touched on the issues of discrimination and how many Asians still face this xenophobia, charging that this mindset is outdated and that all humans should live together as equals.
“Hate and discrimination do not come from culture, they come from individuals,” Moriuchi said during ONE OK ROCK’s Los Angeles concert.
“It’s time to try to understand each other, different generations, different cultures,” Moriuchi told amNewYork. “As an Asain, as a Japanese rock band, we need to go to the next chapter and learn from each other.”
“People learn from history. People can learn from things now. We are making history now. Looking back 10 years ago, people didn’t look at Asian bands as cool, not even anime. But now, 10 years later, the generations changed it, everything changed,” Moriuchi added.
ONE OK ROCK looks to represent their culture and spread the word on unity for their upcoming performance at the Prudential Center on May 30.
