Walking blindly to the House of Blues last Thursday, I was surprised by the crowd forming by the doors, hurrying to get into the venue. Hitsujibungaku was in San Diego for their first show on the mainland U.S., having previously only played in Honolulu, Hawaii, back in December. The Japanese alternative rock band was founded by Moeka Shiotsuka in 2011 when she was just fifteen years old. As she continued to study while working on her music, the band began to grow, with Hiroa Fukuda joining in 2015 as a backup drummer. Later, during a search for a bassist, Yurika Kasai auditioned after encountering the band at a school music festival. Once the three banded together, their careers began to flourish, and they’ve since released their debut album To the Youth (若者たちへ, Wakamono-tachi e) in 2018. Now, in 2025, they’ve written songs for multiple popular anime series and have released three more albums.
I was lucky enough to attend their mainland U.S. debut at the House of Blues in San Diego, witnessing a special moment for the band. I honestly went in blind, having never listened to Hitsujibungaku’s music before that evening. However, their intoxicating hits and endearing personas captivated me all night.
To kick off the show, Hitsujibungaku played “countdown,” an underrated and lively song that got the crowd hyped. The band counted down in sync with the audience, creating an energizing start to the night. Early in the set, Moeka and Yurika’s angelic harmonies grabbed me; despite the language barrier, I could still appreciate their amazing voices and emotional delivery. The drummer, filling in for Hiroa on tour, kept the energy flowing, playing between songs and creating seamless transitions.
Hitsujibungaku © Isabella Le
The set continued with “Eien No Blue (永遠のブル),” which had me bopping my head along as they lit up the stage. As the show went on, Yurika tore it up on bass, the deep vibrations rushing through me, a feeling I always chase at live shows. After that heavy, rhythmic energy, they slowed things down for the soft, sweet vocals of “Tears (涙),” heightening my admiration for their range. One of the highlights of the performance was how the music almost never stopped, whether it was the drummer or guitarists, someone was always playing, weaving a continuous flow. It wasn’t until more than thirty minutes in that the music paused for them to thank the crowd—or at least I believe they did, as I don’t speak Japanese.
Starting back up, we were treated to a powerful guitar duet between Moeka and Yurika that set the tone for the electrifying second half. Between these two talented musicians, they covered nearly the entire vocal spectrum. The crowd’s energy built as fans swayed and clapped along, with some die-hards even singing every word. To close their set, they played “more than words,” their most popular song, which is featured in Jujutsu Kaisen. Several of their other songs have also been used in anime like The House of the Lost on the Cape, The Heike Story, and Oshi no Ko.
Hitsujibungaku © Isabella Le
Like many of their American counterparts, Hitsujibungaku returned for an encore at the crowd’s urging. They began with “Mayoiga (マヨイガ),” a laid-back yet rhythmic track that blends soft rock and pop. Finally, they ended the night with the lesser-known but hauntingly beautiful “Inori (祈り),” from their 2020 EP Zawameki (ざわめき). The chill yet enigmatic closer perfectly sealed the evening of great tunes and infectious energy.
The alternative rock trio sold out their first U.S. show and kept the crowd dancing all night, which is no easy feat. I can’t end this review without praising Moeka’s steady, sweet vocals and her impressive electric guitar skills. The night also introduced me to a whole new genre of music, one I’m excited to dive deeper into. After the show, I got to meet Moeka and Yurika, who were both incredibly charming and friendly, even with the language barrier. After such a strong debut, I have no doubt there’s much more to come from this rising band.
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