Masterpieces and popular songs by Dragon Ash

garden（Sugar Soul feat.Kenji）SUGAR SOUL

Garden (feat. Kenji)

Although not under the Dragon Ash name, this song was born from a collaboration between the R&B unit Sugar Soul and Kj.

Kenji Furuya was involved as lyricist, composer, and arranger.

Back in 1999, when the Komuro Family and visual-kei bands were at their peak, I remember the first time this track came on the radio—its sheer coolness and the comfort of its organic beat completely captured my ears.

These days, covers by artists like May J.

are well known, but I really hope you’ll start with the original! The track is a replayed version of Mary J.

Blige’s “Real Love.” Once you listen, you’ll definitely think, “I get it!”

ROCK BANDDragon Ash feat. SATOSHI, KO-JI ZERO THREE

Dragon Ash｢ROCK BAND feat. SATOSHI, KO-JI ZERO THREE｣

Dragon Ash has genre-defying connections with a wide range of artists across rock, hip-hop, and R&B.

Among those, this song distills Kj’s passion for rock bands into a single track.

The lyrics name real live houses where Dragon Ash once stood—SHELTER, Que, ASIA, and Yaneura.

Meanwhile, the featured guests are SATOSHI from Yama-Arashi and KO-JI ZERO THREE from GNz-WORD.

Even though it’s billed as a “rock band” track, it invites MCs from other bands as guest performers—am I the only one who feels Kj’s love for music itself, unbound by genre?

Blame of the Winter RoadNEW!Dragon Ash

Blame of the Winter Road

Dragon Ash continues to lead Japan’s mixture rock scene.

Among their early works, if there’s one track whose lyrical worldview stands out as especially striking, it has to be this one.

Included on the mini-album “Public Garden,” released in April 1997, the song features the late Ikuzo Baba’s melodious bass lines and a delicate band sound.

The fact that Straightener covered it on the tribute album celebrating Dragon Ash’s 25th anniversary shows the song’s enduring strength.

Its simple words convey the loneliness of walking along a bleak winter road and the biting chill in the air, quietly seeping into the listener’s heart.

How about immersing yourself in its lyrics while gazing at a winter landscape?

Under Age’s SongDragon Ash

Dragon Ash｢Under Age’s Song｣

Their third single, released in July 1998.

The choral intro, followed by Kj’s voice layering in as if chasing it, is so beautiful that it grabs your heart from the very start.

The title means “Song of the Underage.” The way he sings—like speaking gently, with the tension lifted—feels incredibly tender.

The lyrics carry a positive message: “I’ll keep singing so that (listeners) won’t forget the heart of a boy,” and “So don’t be afraid—spread your wings and take flight.” I think one reason Dragon Ash is so popular is that they can create not only cool tracks, but also gentle songs that resonate with those who feel left behind.

Dark Cherries (DJ RYO THE FRAP Remix)Dragon Ash

Dragon Ash – Dark Cherries(remix) by DJ RYO THE FRAP

A hidden gem on the album Viva La Revolution, which includes “Viva la revolution” and “Grateful Days.” The lyrics, written by Kj, who loves snowboarding, will surely get snowboard fans pumped up.

The song is entirely in English, so if you’re curious, be sure to check out the lyrics! By the way, this is the remix version.

The vibe is a bit different from the original, and it’s lovely.

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LilyDragon Ash

Dragon Ash｢Lily｣

Released in November 2013, this is their 26th single.

It’s a song filled with kindness in both lyrics and melody, one that consoles listeners and gives them a gentle push forward.

Interestingly, it was originally planned to evoke the image of “golden sunflowers.” But when Kj asked a friend to create the CD jacket illustration, after much deliberation the friend sent a drawing of “golden lilies.” Because of that, the song was hastily renamed to include “lily.” During the chorus at live shows, the audience breaks into a massive sing-along.

If you memorize the lyrics, you’ll be able to sing along and enjoy the concert even more!

Deep ImpactDragon Ash

Dragon Ash｢Deep Impact feat. Rappagariya｣

Shifting away from their earlier hip-hop-leaning style, Dragon Ash launched their rock × rap crossover approach with this track.

The low-end in the intro pulls you in right away! The featured act is Rappagariya, a hip-hop group consisting of two MCs and one DJ.

With a style that wasn’t part of the mainstream scene at the time, they made a powerful impact on the public.

The lyrics are about breaking down barriers in the music scene.

They sing that this song will spark a revolution in the music world—and it feels like that strong conviction may have actually come true.