Hitsujibungaku live in San Francisco: Calm intensity and full hearts at August Hall

Japanese alternative rock trio Hitsujibungaku brought their mix of stormy riffs, dreamy melodies, and quiet emotional punches to the August Hall in San Francisco on April 15th. Fresh off their MTV Video Music Awards Japan win for “Best Rock Video” with ‘Burning’ they performed to a sold-out crowd on the third stop of their debut U.S. tour. Though technically a trio, the band toured with drummer Yuna (formerly of CHAI) filling in for Hiroa Fukuda. Together, they delivered a tight, focused set that moved between roaring anthems and intimate moments.

Without fanfare, the group launched straight into ‘Countdown’, locking into a run of songs that sustained the energy through the night’s opening stretch. They favoured momentum over chatter, letting the music do most of the talking early on. Their pacing reflected the band’s live presence: measured, confident, and fully in control. Songs like ‘Eien no Blue’ and ‘GO!!!’ packed a punch, while more delicate tracks like ‘Yokan’ and ‘Koe’ gave space for frontwoman Moeka Shiotsuka’s emotive vocals to carry the room.

There was a subtle choreography to the way the band played: lights cut to black during ‘Burning’, flaring back in bursts during the chorus. During ‘Addiction’ Moeka stepped forward during the guitar intro, holding the room with a drawn-out riff, while Yuna closed the song with a pounding drum-heavy outro. On ‘More Than Words’, their track featured as the ending theme for Jujutsu Kaisen, the energy spiked—fans raised their phones, cheering and clapping as soon as the opening notes hit after a minute-long synth intro.

RELATED: Hitsujibungaku interview: US debut, anime themes, and life beyond Tokyo’s indie circuit

Though their set leaned more toward performance than personality, glimpses of warmth broke through. At one point, they wished a fan happy birthday. Later, during the encore, a fan handed flowers to bassist Yurika Kasai, and the band addressed the crowd, mostly in Japanese. “Thank you so much for coming. We want to come back”, Shiotsuka said.

They closed the night with ‘Inori’, a slow-burn finish that grew more theatrical with each closing beat—drums and notes gradually slowing as the band headbanged to each drawn-out hit. On the final note, Moeka and Yurika ran and jumped through the center of the stage in one final burst of motion. 

Though fans may have come in more familiar with their anime tie-ins than their full discography, the band proved they’re far more than a soundtrack staple. Onstage, they performed with the poise of a group fully at ease, even far from home. Calm, collected, and confident, they delivered a show that felt both intimate and assured.

Following their appearance at Sakura-Con in Seattle, Hitsujibungaku return to Japan for major festival performances at VIVA LA ROCK and METROCK. From there, they’ll embark on their largest Asia tour to date, with stops at iconic venues like Nippon Budokan and Osaka-jō Hall. Later this year, they’re also set to make their UK debut at HYPER JAPAN in London—continuing to expand their international presence, one stage at a time.

Photos by Ammar Chishty

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