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Fusing high-octane dance moves and plenty of head banging with an arresting blend of retro pop, rap and punk – all performed while dressed in their signature school uniforms – four-piece Atarashii Gakko! look far too fresh to be celebrating a decade in showbiz.
But that’s exactly where they stand in 2025, having completed a 33-city world tour and played Coachella just last year. Now they’re on the cover of the inaugural issue of Time Out Japan, too – and have a couple of strong opinions on Japanese food.
How are you feeling about hitting 10 years as a band?
Suzuka: It’s a big responsibility. Back when we started we were just doing our thing, thinking we’d be happy if our music would speak to, like, every tenth person out there. But now that our fanbase has grown, we’ve realised that the things we create could change somebody’s life. We approach shows and songwriting differently now.
Also, making [the 2025 concert film] Atarashii Gakko! The Movie really drove home what our fans feel through us. It helped us gain a deeper understanding of what people seek out when they come to our shows.
Kanon: Compared to the past, the audience’s reactions at our shows have gotten much bigger. When the four of us perform something thinking, ‘This is wild, right?’, that’s exactly how the crowd tends to react. It feels like we’re connecting on a deeper level; like our fans are gradually becoming more like us. So now, I hope to enjoy our shows even more together with the audience and share this feeling.
How have you been received abroad?
Kanon: Since we started performing abroad, people often compliment us on our energy. We did think we’ve always been pretty energetic, but we’ve started consciously putting that side of us out there more and more.
Suzuka: We hate doing things by the book and want to give our all every day, in every performance.
You’ve made playing with cultural expectations a trademark, right?
Kanon: Overseas audiences have real respect for Japanese culture and styles. We’re always looking for ways to combine traditionally Japanese elements with our own, whether it’s in our music or other creative aspects.
Rin: The first time we played in the US we incorporated all these references to Japanese school rules and activities, and the crowd loved it. We’d like to keep drawing on traditional Japanese influences and making them our own.
Suzuka: We incorporated taiko drums and kimono-style outfits on our album AG! Calling, and songs like ‘Omakase’ and ‘Tokyo Calling’ enabled us to express ourselves while showcasing Japanese culture.
What Japanese food do you miss while on tour?
All: White rice!
Suzuka: One time in Europe, we didn’t eat any Japanese food at all for 11 days, and all four of us eventually started shaking because we wanted to have white rice so bad.
Rin: We’ve had a rice cooker on our tour bus ever since and use it twice daily [laughs]. We keep stuff like natto in the fridge, and buy sashimi along the way to make our own kaisendon bowls.
If Atarashii Gakko! was a food, what dish would you be?
Oden. We’re all different, but swim around in the same pot. Oh, and our shows are hotter than the hottest slice of daikon.
Lastly, what’s next for Atarashii Gakko!?
We just want to enjoy stepping outside the lines, expressing our individuality and freedom with everything we’ve got. And we hope to make our message heard all over the world!
Atarashii Gakko! are in the midst of a nationwide tour until December 2025. Tickets are still available for some shows.