Asa-Chang & Junray

ASA-CHANG & Junray is a band founded by Japanese percussionist ASA-CHANG, who was the founder and original bandmaster of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. After leaving the group in 1993, he formed ASA-CHANG & Junray in 1998 with programmer and guitarist Hidehiko Urayama. They were joined in 2000 by tabla player U-zhaan. Live, the group used a portable sound-system called 'Jun-Ray Tronics', hence the name; the word 'junray', however, also means 'pilgrimage'.

ASA-CHANG & Junray
ASA-CHANG & Junray
Background information
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Avant-garde electronic percussive music
Years active	1998–present
Labels	The Leaf Label, Oon Music Inc
Members	ASA-CHANG Yoshihiro Goseki Anzu Suhara
Past members	Hidehiko Urayama U-zhaan
Website	www.junray.com

In 2002, the British label The Leaf Label released Jun Ray Song Chang, which compiled the group's first two Japan-only albums.^[1] It was followed a year later by the mini album Tsu Gi Ne Pu. The group's song 'Hana' was featured on Fabric Live 07, while 'Tsuginepu To Ittemita' was included on a The Wire Tapper CD. The group's 2005 album, Minna no Junray, featured vocals by singer and actress Kyōko Koizumi.

On March 31, 2010, Urayama and U-zhaan left the band.

In 2012, saxophone flute player Yoshihiro Goseki and violinist Anzu Suhara joined as live members.

In 2013, their song "Hana" was re-done and used as the ending theme for the anime adaptation of Shuzo Oshimi's The Flowers of Evil. Several versions, including the original, are used throughout the series.

Members

• ASA-CHANG (Hirokazu Asakura, ex. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra): percussion, tablabongo
• Yoshihiro Goseki (ex. DCPRG, ex. Zainichi Funk): sax, flute, vocal
• Anzu Suhara (ex. Led Act Sect): violin, guitar, vocal

Former members

• Hidehiko Urayama: guitar, music sequencer
• U-zhaan: tabla

Albums

• Tabla Magma Bongo, 1998 (Japan only)
• Hana, 2001 (Japan only)
• Jun Ray Song Chang, The Leaf Label 2002
• Tsu Gi Ne Pu, The Leaf Label 2003 (BBC review)
• Minna no Junray, 2005
• Kage No Nai Hito, 2009
• Mahou, 2016
• 事件, 2020