Softball (band)

Softball
OriginFunabashi, Japan
GenresPunk rock
Years active
    • 1998–2003
Labels
Spinoffs
  • Akiakane
  • The Babys
Past members
    • Moe
    • Rie
    • Nomiya
    • Emi
    • Haruna

Softball was an all-female punk band from Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, that formed in 1998. They released three albums, signing to both Japanese and American record labels, before disbanding in 2003.

The original members of Softball — Moe (vocals/guitar), Nomiya (bass), and Rie (drums) — got together and formed the band while attending high school in Funabashi[1] in March 1998.[2] Mike Park signed them to Asian Man Records in America[3] while in Japan they were signed to Einstein Records. Prior to their debut album, Tenkū, released in late 1999,[4] the band released a self-titled EP[5] and a mini-album, Kurage.[6] Reviewing Tenkū, In Music We Trust called Softball "Japan's version of The Donnas with more punk driving them than pop."[7]

Softball went on to tour Australia and Japan alongside Frenzal Rhomb[8] as well as perform in Taiwan.[9] In 2001, the band made their major label debut on Avex's Cutting Edge.[2] Prior to the release of their second album, Lamp, the group had gone through some lineup changes. Original bassist Nomiya left Softball and was first replaced by Emi[10][11] and then Haruna.[9] Lamp was released on January 17, 2002, and reached a peak position of 20 on the Oricon Albums Chart.[12] The record touched on the theme of war; Moe explained that she was inspired to write about it after seeing the February 28 memorial in Taiwan.[9]

That August, the band released "Warawabe", a song with Japanese lyrics, as a single. It was backed by a cover of The Clash's "Washington Bullets" and charted on the Oricon Singles Chart, reaching number 50.[13][14] In January 2003, Softball released their third studio album, Hakkōichiu, which peaked at number 32 on the Oricon chart.[15] That February, they made an appearance at the Say Yes to Taiwan music festival in Taipei.[16]

Softball disbanded in April 2003,[17] following their tour to promote the album, which began the previous month.[18] After the band dissolved, the members moved on to other projects. Moe formed Akiakane, another all-female punk band, that same year[19] while Rie and Haruna would go on to form The Babys.[20] Haruna would later join Che-a and Duncan's Divas.[21]

Discography

  • Softball - 1999
  • Kurage - 1999
  • Tenkū - 1999
  • Lamp - 2002
  • Hakkōichiu - 2003

References

  1. ↑ "水母(くらげ) |". UK.PROJECT (in Japanese). 2013-09-01. Retrieved 2026-03-27. 千葉は船橋を拠点に活動を行う彼女達。
  2. 1 2 "FACTORY8 #0039 SOFTBALL - PROFILE". www.fujitv.co.jp. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  3. ↑ "SOFTBALL - goo 音楽". music.goo.ne.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2026-03-27. ティーンエイジ・ガールズ・バンドでありながら、CHINKEESのマイク・パークに見初められ、彼が主宰する<ASIAN MAN RECORDS>から全米デビューを果たした、やんちゃ3人娘。
  4. ↑ "SOFTBALL / 天空 - CDJournal.com". CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  5. ↑ "Softball "s/t"". asianmanrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2000-06-13. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  6. ↑ "水母 | SOFTBALL". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  7. ↑ Steininger, Alex (January 2001). "In Music We Trust - Softball: Tenku". www.inmusicwetrust.com. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  8. ↑ Despres, Shawn (2007-01-26). "The punks descend". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2026-03-27. Frenzal have traveled to Japan several times since 1997. They played with Chiba-based female punk trio Softball on many of those occasions and were taken aback by their hosts' hospitality.
  9. 1 2 3 Yamada, Kuniko (2001-10-25). "SOFTBALLのニュー・アルバム『Lamp』が届けてくれた、現代へのメッセージと真摯な姿勢". Bounce. Archived from the original on 2002-03-06. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  10. ↑ "拳 indies Sound Fist Artist Profile - Softball". Sound Fist. Archived from the original on 2000-05-19. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  11. ↑ "SOFTBALL". UK.PROJECT (in Japanese). 2013-09-01. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  12. ↑ "Lamp | SOFTBALL". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  13. ↑ "SOFTBALL、日本語曲をリリース". OngakuDB.com. 2002-06-10. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  14. ↑ "童部-WARAWABE- | SOFTBALL". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  15. ↑ "八紘一宇 | SOFTBALL". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  16. ↑ Frazier, David (2003-02-21). "Punks, drunks and politics - Taipei Times". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2026-03-27. Other bands will include the familiar cute punk faces of Japan's Softball and nine local bands, including Tizzy Bac, Oi and Trigger.
  17. ↑ "声明文". Einstein Records. Archived from the original on 2003-11-23. Retrieved 2026-03-27. 八紘一宇ツアー"最終日、2003年4月2日、 名古屋アポロシアターでのLIVEをもって、私達、SOFTBALLは、解散致します。
  18. ↑ "SOFTBALL、オフィシャルサイトで解散を発表". Tower Records Online. 2003-03-11. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  19. ↑ "日本最高峰のガールズ・パンク・バンド、秋茜-AKIAKANE-がシングルとミニアルバムをリリース". Tower Records Online. 2007-11-09. Archived from the original on 2018-08-05. Retrieved 2026-03-27. 03年に元SOFTBALLのリーダーMOEを中心に結成され、日本人のアイデンティティーと和の精神を大切にした個性溢れるアグレッシブなサウンドで人気を集めるガールズ・パンク・バンド、秋茜-AKIAKANE-。
  20. ↑ "E.L.L. on the Web OOSU PRESS No.157 ライブレポート". ell.co.jp. Retrieved 2026-03-27. Vo.シュンスケは元zoophilia。Ba.ハルナとDr.リエは元SOFTBALL。
  21. ↑ "女性3ピースバンド「Che-a」、ニューウェーブとポップが融合した待望音源リリース". CINRA (in Japanese). 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2026-03-27. 2009年から活動しているChe-aは、ハードロックバンドのボーカルとして活動していたMarikoと、元SOFTBALLで、DUNCAN'S DIVAS などで活動しているパンクベーシストのHALUNA、元メカネロのメンバーであり、フルカワミキのサポートなどで活動しているドラマーのUからなるバンド。


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