Asuka's history starts with Tenchi gagaku, the band Asuka originated from.
Tenchi gagaku debuted in August 2003. The group had a whole series of performances and even a concert on NHK television. Barely a year after their debut, the band started performing overseas, and Tenchi gagaku appeared in places like Switzerland and in France. The band performed a lot, even in atypical places such as hotels and banquet halls, all the while recording new albums.
It was 2007 when Asuka was eventually formed from four members of Tenchi gagaku. Those musicians were Kijime Kazuya (kan-nushi), Mami Hirosaki (miko), Naoya Yoshimura (gagaku-gakushi) and Asako Naito (miko), who, except for working in the temple, had decided to start their own music career. Their first release, the single Tenchi no hibiki, was quickly followed by the album Tengai hirin.
In 2008, the band made two new recordings – mini-album Tenchi kaibyaku and album Tenchi muso, with just a three-month break between the releases. That year Asuka also, in collaboration with famous composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, performed twice on Lohas Classic Concert.
The group appeared again on NHK in January 2009, performing a live show. Asuka also collaborated with creator of famous anime character Albator (“Galaxy Express 999”), Leiji Matsumoto, who designed the look of their new album, Tenjo mukyu. Moreover the band again appeared in Europe, performing in France at the tenth edition of Japan Expo in Paris.
Asuka is definitely an unconventional group. While being influenced by traditional, Japanese court and temple music, the band avoids a stiff atmosphere in their songs. Their mix of tradition and modernity in this case is really successful.
