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Zazen Boys are a Japanese band formed by ex-Number Girl guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. Stylistically, they combine elements of alternative music, hip-hop, and progressive and experimental rock.
After Number Girl broke up, Mukai Shutoku started to work on a band in his basement, Matsuri Studio. He started to work with an old friend from Number Girl, drummer Ahito Inazawa, and began to bring his vision to life. At first he started out solo and went on tour until June 2003. Shutoku then put Hinata Hidekazu (ex-Art School) on bass and Yoshikane Sou (Kicking the Lion) on guitar, thus Zazen Boys was formed.
Using Shutoku's experimental mindset, which was influenced by Buddhist chants and hip-hop combined with funk and progressive rock, Zazen Boys was an unexpected hit. They released Zazen Boys I and went on a very successful tour. Five months after releasing their first album, they released Zazen Boys II. In early 2005, Inazawa left to form his own band, Vola and the Oriental Machine. Shutoku then recruited Matsushita Atsushi as their drummer. They then recorded a five-track EP, Himitsu Girl's Top Secret, in July of 2005. In early 2006 they released Zazen Boys III. Zazen Boys III featured more improvisational and experimental elements than their previous albums.
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