Sumika (band)

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = Sumika Bandlogo.svg

| alias = sumika [camp session]

| origin = Kawasaki, Kanagawa (10 years ago)

| genre = Rock

| years_active = 2013–present

| label = Muffin Discs (2014–2017)
Sony Music Entertainment Japan (2018–present)

| website = {{URL|http://www.sumika-official.com}}

| current_members = {{unbulleted list|Kenta Kataoka|Tomoyuki Arai|Takayuki Ogawa}}

| past_members = Junnosuke Kuroda

}}

Sumika (stylized as sumika) is a Japanese rock band from Kawasaki, Kanagawa. The band formed as an indie rock band in 2013, before being signed to a major label in 2018. The band is also known as Sumika [camp session] during live performances, which are known for including performances by non-musicians such as filmmakers, photographers, painters, sculptors, architects, potters, and poets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_sumika_000000000586332/biography/|title=sumika | プロフィール|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=HMV Japan|language=Japanese|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=October 31, 2018}} The band's music has also been featured in the anime series Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Mix: Meisei Story, Pretty Boy Detective Club, Delicious in Dungeon, and the anime film I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, My Hero Academia.

The band is affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan.

History

Sumika was formed in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, in May 2013.{{cite web |title=BIOGRAPHY |url=http://www.sumika-official.com/biography/ |website=Sumika official website |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}} The group's name is derived from the Japanese word {{nihongo3|residence|すみか|sumika}}, and refers to the desire of its members to consider the band as their "house" or their "room".{{cite web |title=【HMVインタビュー】sumika 初全国流通作品「I co Y」リリース！ |url=https://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/1411050059/ |publisher=HMV Japan |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese |date=November 10, 2014}} The original members were Kenta Kataoka, Junnosuke Kuroda, and Tomoyuki Arai. Takayuki Ogawa, who had previously performed with the group as a guest member, joined the group full-time in 2015.{{cite web |title=sumika、新メンバーの加入を発表＆4月に自主企画開催決定 |url=https://rockinon.com/news/detail/118520 |publisher=Rockin'on.com |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese |date=February 12, 2015}}

Sumika debuted in 2013 with the release of their first mini-album {{nihongo|Shinsekai Orichalcum|新世界オリハルコン}} in October of that year.{{cite web |title=1st Mini Album「新世界オリハルコン」特設サイト |url=http://sumika.info/shinsekai/ |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}} Their second mini-album I Co Y was released in November 2014 and peaked at number 59 on the Oricon weekly charts.{{cite web |title=I co Y |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1100396/1/ |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}} Their third mini-album Vital Apartment was released in June 2015 and peaked at number 32 on the Oricon weekly charts.{{cite web |title=Vital Apartment. |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1129032/1/ |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}} In 2016, they released the single {{nihongo|"Lovers/Dengon Uta"|Lovers/「伝言歌」}}, the mini-album {{nihongo|Answer Parade|アンサーパレード}}, and the extended play "Sally".{{cite web |title=Lovers/「伝言歌」 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1167268/1/ |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}}{{cite web |title=アンサーパレード |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1175768/1/ |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}}{{cite web |title=SALLY e.p. |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1207873/1/ |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}} In 2017, they released their first full-length album Familia, which peaked at number 5 on the Oricon weekly charts and charted for 41 weeks.{{cite web |title=Familia |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1236674/1/ |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}}

Sumika became affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan in 2018.{{cite web |title=ソニーミュージックのイチオシ新人アーティストが一堂に会するコンベンションイベント、DATSら9組が出演 |url=https://www.musicman-net.com/artist/80679 |publisher=Musicman-net |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese |date=October 26, 2018}} That same year, they released the extended play "Fiction"; the title track was used as the opening theme to the anime television series Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku.{{cite web |title=Fiction e.p. |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1272132/1/ |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=October 31, 2018}} This was followed by the release of the single {{nihongo|"Fanfare/Shunkashuutou"|ファンファーレ / 春夏秋冬}} in August;{{cite web |title=ファンファーレ/春夏秋冬(初回生産限定盤) |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1288325/1/ |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |language=Japanese}} The release's two songs were used in the anime film I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, and the band's members also made voice acting appearances in the film.{{cite web |title=I Want to Eat Your Pancreas Anime Film Casts sumika Band Members |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-08-22/i-want-to-eat-your-pancreas-anime-film-casts-sumika-band-members/.135765 |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=October 31, 2018 |date=August 22, 2018}}

On February 24, 2023, it was announced that guitarist Junnosuke Kuroda died the day prior, at the age of 34.{{cite web |script-title=ja:sumika黒田隼之介さん死去 34歳 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2269196/full/ |publisher=Oricon |date=February 24, 2023 |accessdate=February 24, 2023 |language=Japanese}}

Members

Current members

{{nihongo|Kenta Kataoka|片岡健太|Kataoka Kenta}} – lead vocals, guitarist
{{nihongo|Tomoyuki Arai|荒井智之|Arai Tomoyuki}} – drummer
{{nihongo|Takayuki Ogawa|小川貴之|Ogawa Takayuki}} – keyboardist, chorus vocals

Past members

{{nihongo|Junnosuke Kuroda|黒田隼之介|Kuroda Junnosuke|died 2023}} – guitarist, chorus vocals

Discography

=Albums=

class="wikitable"

|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions

!Title

!Peak Oricon position{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/album/|title=sumikaのアルバム作品|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Oricon|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 12, 2025}}

Release date: October 16, 2013

|—

I co Y

Release date: November 12, 2014

|59

Vital Apartment

Release date: June 10, 2015

|32

Release date: May 25, 2016

|12

Familia

Release date: July 12, 2017

Chime

Release date: March 13, 2019{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1309815/1/|title=Chime {{!}} sumika|website=Oricon News|language=Japanese|accessdate=March 20, 2019}}

AMusic

Release date: March 3, 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1384251/1/|title=AMUSIC {{!}} sumika|website=Oricon News|language=Japanese|accessdate=March 19, 2021}}

For.

Release date: September 21, 2022{{Cite web |title=For.(初回生産限定盤A) {{!}} sumika |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1454605/1/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=ORICON NEWS}}

Sugar Salt Pepper Green

Release date: September 21, 2022{{Cite web |title=Sugar Salt Pepper Green {{!}} sumika |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1465735/1/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |publisher=Oricon}}

|18

Vermillion's

Release date: March 5, 2025{{Cite web |title=Vermillion's {{!}} sumika |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1530958/1/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Oricon}}

=Singles=

==Independent releases==

class="wikitable"

!Title

!Peak Oricon position{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/single/|title=sumikaのシングル作品|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=October 31, 2018}}

"Dress farm #1"

Release date: June 6, 2014{{Cite web|url=https://sumika.bandcamp.com/album/dress-farm-1|title=Dress farm #1|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Bandcamp|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=October 31, 2018}}

|—

"Dress farm #2"

Release date: June 27, 2014{{Cite web|url=https://sumika.bandcamp.com/album/dress-farm-2|title=Dress farm #2|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Bandcamp|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=October 31, 2018}}

|—

Release date: March 19, 2016

|15

"Sally e.p."

Release date: December 7, 2016

|12

"Dress farm #3"

Release date: May 18, 2017{{Cite web|url=http://www.diffusy.com/dressfarmsumika|title=Dress Farm #3|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Diffusy|language=Japanese|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=October 31, 2018}}

|—

==Major releases==

class="wikitable"

!Title

!Peak Oricon position

"Fiction e.p"

Release date: April 25, 2018

Release date: August 29, 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1288325/1/|title=ファンファーレ/春夏秋冬|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|access-date=October 31, 2018}}

"Equal/Traveling"

Release date: June 12, 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1322662/1/|title=イコール/Travering|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|access-date=April 20, 2020}}

"Negai / Higher Ground"

Release date: December 11, 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1343870/1/|title=願い/ハイヤーグラウンド|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|access-date=April 20, 2020}}

"Harmonize e.p"

Release date: March 04, 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1349068/1/|title=Harmonize e.p|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|access-date=April 20, 2020}}

"Honne/Late Show"

Release date: January 06, 2021{{Cite web |title=本音/Late Show(初回生産限定盤) {{!}} sumika |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1375377/1/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=ORICON NEWS}}

"Shake & Shake/Nightwalker"

Release date: June 02, 2021{{Cite web |title=Shake & Shake/ナイトウォーカー(初回生産限定盤) {{!}} sumika |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1393738/1/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=ORICON NEWS}}

"Sound Village"

Release date: December 01, 2021{{Cite web |title=SOUND VILLAGE {{!}} sumika |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1428277/1/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=ORICON NEWS}}

|17

"Glitter"

Release date: July 27, 2022{{Cite web |title=Glitter(初回生産限定盤) {{!}} sumika |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1449475/1/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=ORICON NEWS}}

|12

"Starting Over"

Release date: June 7, 2023{{Cite web |title=Starting Over {{!}} sumika |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/633030/products/1476268/1/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Oricon}}

"Unmei"