Arts / Rock band provides unlikely link between Japan and Shetland
IN MANY ways Shetland and Japan could not be further apart.
But the Asian country and our very own isles have a new, unlikely connection – through a Japanese rock/pop band called Shetland which formed last year.
The name was not picked due to the isles’ more famed exports such as ponies or wool.
Instead, it was Shetland’s natural beauty that caught the group’s attention.
Lead guitarist Airu said he first came across the name Shetland when he was in high school.
“My English teacher at the time told me what a beautiful place it was,” he told Shetland News.
“Even though our environments are quite different, I felt a strange sense of familiarity – something that reminded me of Japan in a way.
“Ever since then, the word Shetland stuck in my mind.
“When we formed the band, I thought Shetland was the closest faraway place from Japan — distant in geography, but somehow emotionally close.”
He said the band was in part named Shetland because, one day, they wanted to “send our music there”.
“It’s our dream to eventually build a path to Shetland and, someday, play a show there as part of a tour,” Airu added.
The band’s logo also has something of a Shetland connection, with the image depicting a ram’s head.
Airu said the band’s sound is rooted in “UK guitar rock, blending raw energy with a bit of pop sensibility”.
He said the group have been heavily influenced by British acts, including Scottish band The Snuts.
“One of our members spent time in Glasgow, and that experience shaped much of our admiration for the UK’s music scene,” the guitarist said.
“We play energetic live shows, often described as nostalgic yet sharp and we’re passionate about making music that feels honest, loud, and alive.
“Though we’re based in Osaka, our sound isn’t limited to Japan.
“Our dream is to build real success here in Japan and eventually play live shows in places like Shetland.”
Airu added that getting contacted by Shetland News “truly gives us hope that such a dream is possible”.
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