Recommended Rawk: Tokyo Syoki Syodo and Enfants (SXSW 2025)

by Joseph Perry

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” column “Recommended Rawk,” Joseph shares news about current and recent rock album releases, news, and performances.

Some highly interesting musical acts from Japan performed as part of SXSW 2025’s “Tokyo Calling X Inspired by Tokyo” showcase in March, two of which I’d like to introduce to you in this installation of “Recommended Rawk”: The energetic punk-pop girl band Tokyo Syoki Syodo and the introspective alternative rock band Enfants. Following is information about the bands from their official SXSW press announcements, with brief comments from yours truly in red italics.

Tokyo Syoki Syodo

Tokyo Syoki Syodo is a Japanese girl band that combines punk elements with rock and pop. The band consists of Sheena (vocals, guitar), Mare (guitar), Asaka (bass), and Nao (drums). In 2019, they launched their own label Cherry Virgin Records, and made their debut album. Their sensational music and live performances attract a lot of attention: they performed at SXSW in 2024 for the first time, as well as Fuji Rock Festival '24, one of Japan's leading music festivals.

Tokyo Syoki Syodo released the 5-track EP pink II on January 8th. Check out their infectious, driving music and be prepared to bop along with it!

Here’s a link to their latest music video:

Enfants

Enfants is a four-member Japanese alternative rock band. They began live performances in April 2022, under the theme of "playfulness" and "envelopment."

Members

・Dai Matsumoto（Vo&Gt）

・Shintaro Oya（Gt&Cho）

・Kento Nakahara （Ba&Cho）

・Takashi Ito（Drs）

Three of the current members (excluding the drummer) were previously active under the name LAMP IN TERREN. As LAMP IN TERREN, they released five full-length albums, performed at major Japanese rock festivals, and held solo concerts at venues such as Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall and Nihon Seinenkan. However, due to the drummer's departure, the band disbanded in December 2021.

In early 2022, they welcomed a new drummer and, led by vocalist Dai Matsumoto, rebranded as Enfants. Initially, they kept their identities and their connection to LAMP IN TERREN a secret, focusing exclusively on live performances at local venues for a year.

Their first EP, Q., released in April 2023, featured the song "Play," which gained widespread attention after being shared on social media by prominent Japanese musicians such as Kenshi Yonezu and Enon Kawatani. This word-of-mouth exposure led to increasing buzz around the band. In January 2025, the song was highlighted on the popular music show KanJam Kanzen NenSHOW as part of the "Professionals' Top 10 Songs of 2024" segment, where renowned producer Koichi Tsutaya ranked it 7th, propelling the band further into the spotlight. The track also entered Japan's viral charts.

In January 2024, they released their second EP, E. Their first-ever solo concert in March 2024, held with just eight released tracks, sold out a 700-capacity venue.

That same year, they were invited to perform at events such as Carnival Fever in Taichung, Taiwan, and at Taipei's live house THE UU MOUTH. They also appeared at Japan's major music festival, SUMMER SONIC 2024. In July, they released their third EP, D., featuring four tracks. The lead track "Kid Blue" was added to playlists like Early Noise and BIG HITS JAPAN. It also received recommendations on social media from members of popular bands like BUMP OF CHICKEN and Macaroni Empitsu, steadily growing their fanbase. Their YouTube channel has also attracted many comments from overseas fans.

From February to March 2025, Enfants held solo concerts in larger venues across Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, building on their growing momentum.

Here are some fine introductions to Enfants’ pensive alternative rock, with English translations of the lyrics.