A wonderful Japanese music band

A classic song by The Cro-Magnons. Recommended track.

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

The Cro-Magnons is a rock band formed around Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima, also known from THE BLUE HEARTS and THE HIGH-LOWS.

Carrying on the same straightforward rock ’n’ roll sound from the THE BLUE HEARTS era, their music is passionate and catchy.

In 2019, they drew attention by performing the theme song for the hit drama “Mr.

Hiiragi’s Homeroom (3-nen A-gumi: Ima kara Minasan wa, Hitojichi desu).” In this article, we’ll carefully select and introduce some of their most popular tracks.

Be sure to give them a listen!

The Cro-Magnons’ masterpieces. Recommended songs (21–30)

Speed and KnifeZa Kuromaniyonzu

The Cro-Magnons “Speed and Knife”

Speed and KnifeZa Kuromaniyonzu

The 5th single, “Speed and Knife,” released in the summer of 2008.

From the title alone, many probably imagined razor-sharp, hard-hitting punk.

But the track itself is an irresistibly upbeat number with a bouncy, British rock feel! The rousing sing-along that erupts at festivals is practically this song’s calling card, and even with its slower tempo, it gets the crowd fired up live.

Ferocious eight-beat punk is fantastic, of course, but I bet plenty of fans love songs like this even more!

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Murakami Shinpei

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full swingZa Kuromaniyonzu

Rakuraku Cloud: “Our Journey So Far and the Road Ahead” (30 seconds)

This commercial highlights how the power of AI is being added to RAKURAKU Cloud, which has long stood by the struggles of people working in companies, and conveys our desire to further enhance their comfort.

By showing a digest of previously aired commercials featuring Kenichi Takito, Natsuko Yokozawa, and Mone Kamishiraishi, it looks back on how various challenges were solved and, with a touch of humor, expresses the intention to leverage those lessons for an even better future.

The song that further accentuates the strong stride toward the future depicted in the visuals is “Full Swing” by The Cro-Magnons.

With a band sound that is both powerful and refreshing, it clearly conveys the spirit of tackling everything with full force.

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Giri-giri Gagan-ganZa Kuromaniyonzu

The Cro-Magnons 'Giri Giri Ga Gan Gan'

Giri-giri Gagan-ganZa Kuromaniyonzu

Following 1st “Tally-Ho” and 2nd “Paper Airplane,” The Cro-Magnons have released three singles in about a year.

Just like its title “Giri Giri Ga Gan Gan,” this is a fiercely energetic, rough-and-ready punk number.

You might not fully get what’s going on, but forget the complicated stuff—this track simply makes you feel great, with a sense of invincibility.

It’s a punk song that can turn an already great day into something even better! Definitely one to blast loud on a sunny day!

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Murakami Shinpei

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flameZa Kuromaniyonzu

The Cro-Magnons 'Flame'

flameZa Kuromaniyonzu

Rather than flaring up fiercely, it’s a song where you can feel the tingling heat of the flames.

It seems to depict the relationship between Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima, who have weathered the times together—or perhaps it’s like a love song.

Interpretations may vary, but in any case, it’s a track that portrays a passionate human drama.

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left openZa Kuromaniyonzu

The Cro-Magnons - Hirakippanashi - Drum Cover

left openZa Kuromaniyonzu

This song, Hirakippanashi, which was used in a commercial for Kao’s Attack Neo, is included as the seventh track on their fifth album Oi! Um bobo, released in November 2010.

It’s a short piece of about two and a half minutes, but it’s packed with lyric phrasings characteristic of Masatoshi Mashima and the aggressive, hard-hitting stance typical of The Cro-Magnons.

Since it was used in a commercial, many people have likely heard it, making it quite a popular track.

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Murakami Shinpei

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