is the lead single of Japanese rock band

Asian Kung-Fu Generation (stylized as ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION) is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Yokohama in 1996. For its entire career, the band has consisted of vocalist Masafumi Gotoh, guitarist Kensuke Kita, bassist Takahiro Yamada, and drummer Kiyosh ...

's fifth studio album, ''

Surf Bungaku Kamakura is the fifth studio album released by the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation, released on November 5, 2008. The album peaked at the second position on both the Oricon charts and ''Billboard Japan'' as well as at number eighteen on the Wo ...

'', released on October 15, 2008. The single's

b-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

is a cover song from American rock band

The Rentals The Rentals are an American rock band fronted by vocalist Matt Sharp. Sharp has been the only consistent member since the group's inception. The band's best selling single is "Friends of P" (1995). The Rentals released two albums, ''Return of t ...

Music video

The music video for "Fujisawa Loser" was directed by Naoto Nakanishi. It received a nomination for best Conceptual Video at the 2009

SPACE SHOWER Music Video Awards Space Shower Music Awards (old name: SPACE SHOWER Music Video Awards, abbr. to SPACE SHOWER MVA) are an annual set of music awards sponsored by Japanese Space Shower TV. The prizes have been awarded since 1996. Winners in main categories Best ...

. The highly conceptual PV explores the thoughts of a young musician who has just received a letter of employment once his

job application An application for employment is a standard business document that is prepared with questions deemed relevant by employers. It is used to determine the best candidate to fill a specific role within the company. Most companies provide such forms to ...

is approved of. He now has to decide the path of his future and choose between two life choices: being a

salaryman In Japan, a is a salaried worker. In Japanese popular culture, this is embodied by a white-collar worker who shows overriding loyalty and commitment to the corporation where he works. Salarymen are expected to work long hours, to put in addit ...

or being in a rock band. The decision is metaphorically portrayed as race in which the man is split into two personas–a salaryman and a guitar player–and races against himself to the goal at the end of the finish line. The race is broken down into four stages, each of which contains unique obstacles for both contenders: *First stage: The salaryman is forced to wade through an overly crowded train while the musician must play in a heavy rainstorm for an audience of merely two people. *Second stage: The salaryman deals with excessive and exhaustive desk work that never seems to end while the musician and his band must hold a long tour, performing at numerous clubs each and every night to a small audience that fails to grow. *Third stage: The salaryman must choose to start his own company, become company president, or become a CEO. When he runs through the second door he lands facefirst in a box of sand next to a dead salaryman who chose freelance. The musician has to compete with other artists for his major debut at increasingly famous stadiums with the

Tokyo Dome is an indoor stadium in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. It was designed as a baseball stadium following its predecessor, Korakuen Stadium. Construction on the stadium began on May 16, 1985, and it opened on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of th ...

at the top of a steep slope. *Fourth stage: The salaryman has the opportunity to become CEO, but fails to grab his mantle when it comes to life and runs away. He is then chased off by a

grim reaper Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim's death by coming to collect that person's soul. Other b ...

with "fired" on its back. The musician is close to achieving a gold disc award but it floats away just beyond his reach before shattering to pieces. He is then chased around by a giant spiked orb with the word "stress" written on it. *Conclusion: As the two near the finish line and their goal–a house and beautiful

Caucasian Caucasian may refer to: Anthropology *Anything from the Caucasus region ** ** ** ''Caucasian Exarchate'' (1917–1920), an ecclesiastical exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Caucasus region * * * Languages * Northwest Caucasian l ...

wife–multiple men wearing black bodysuits with the word "anxiety" written on them tackle the two and try to prevent them from reaching the end. Finally, the two make it to the finish, only for the house to come to life and run off with the woman to a speedboat where her husband waits with a bouquet of roses. The two kiss and sail away, waving goodbye to the two bewildered men. The video concludes with the man staring blankly at his acceptance letter.

Track listing

Personnel

Masafumi Gotō (December 2, 1976) is the lead vocalist, main songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin Univ ...

– lead vocals, rhythm guitar *

Kensuke Kita (January 24, 1977) is the lead guitarist and backing singer of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Kensuke met fellow band members Masafumi Gotō and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three ...

– lead guitar, background vocals * Takahiro Yamada – bass, background vocals *

Kiyoshi Ijichi (born September 25, 1977) is the drummer of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Ijichi credits the origin of his drumming ability to playing in marching bands in junior high. He met fellow band members Masafumi Gotō, Kensuke Kita, ...

– drums *

– producer *Yusuke Nakamura – single cover art

Charts

References

{{authority control Asian Kung-Fu Generation songs 2008 singles Ki/oon Music singles 2008 songs Songs written by Masafumi Gotoh