The Novembers

Japanese band

THE NOVEMBERS

Origin| Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan
Genres|

* Alternative rock[1]
* indie rock
* post-hardcore
* shoegazing[2]
* gothic rock

Years active| 2005–present
Labels|

* Daizawa Records
* Merz
* MAGNIPH/Hostess

Members| Kobayashi Yusuke
Matsumoto Kengo
Takamatsu Hirofumi
Yoshiki Ryousuke
Website| the-novembers.com

THE NOVEMBERS is a four-piece Japanese alternative rock band.
A preceding band was first formed in 2002 by Kobayashi Yusuke and Takamatsu Hirofumi.[3] Subsequently, the preceding band disbanded in 2005, and "The Novembers" was officially formed in March 2005 with Kobayashi and Takamatsu joined first by drummer Yoshiki Ryousuke in August 2005, before its current lineup solidified in October 2005 with the arrival of Matsumoto Kengo.[4]

The band released two demo albums in 2006 before making its indie debut on UK Project's Daizawa Record with the release of their album, The Novembers in November, 2007.[5]

They launched their independent label MERZ in October 2013 and also played a variety of Japanese festivals, such as appearing at the Red Marquee stage at the Fuji Rock Festival in 2014.

In October 2015 they joined forces with producer Masami Tsuchiya (Blankey Jet City, GLAY) and released their fifth EP, Elegance. The band celebrated their 11th anniversary (its significance highlighted by their namesake) by inviting an array of guests such as Boris, Klan Aileen, MONO, Roth Bart Baron, Art-School, Burgh, acid android, Takkyu Ishino, and The Birthday to their self-produced event series named "KUBI", as well as releasing their sixth album, Hallelujah, becoming the first Japanese artist to release on the MAGNIPH / Hostess joint label. The subsequent album release tour culminated in 11th anniversary show on November 11 at Shinkiba STUDIO COAST in Tokyo. The TODAY EP was released in May 2018 and their 7th album, ANGELS, arrived in March 2019.

To create their 8th album At The Beginning, THE NOVEMBERS collaborated with yukihiro, drummer of L'Arc~en~Ciel.

They released their 9th album, The Novembers on 6 December 2023. It's a self-titled work, the first to bear the band's name since their debut EP in 2007. The straightforward yet powerful intention behind the title is to convey "a rock album that distills who we are right now — we want people to feel the essence of The Novembers."[6]

The Novembers celebrated their 20th anniversary with a special live performance titled "The Novembers 20th Anniversary -バースデイ-" on March 28, 2025, at HEAVEN'S ROCK Utsunomiya VJ-2, the city where the band was originally formed.

This commemorative concert marked exactly 20 years since their formation on March 28, 2005. During the show, they announced another milestone event: their first-ever hall one-man live, titled "Your November", scheduled for November 20, 2025, at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA in Tokyo.[7]

A special page commemorating the 20th anniversary of the band's formation, "The Novembers Chronicle" has also opened on the official website.[7]

They have also supported numerous international bands, including RIDE, Television, No Age, Mystery Jets, Wild Nothing, Thee Oh Sees, Dot Hacker, Astrobright and Yuck.

## Band members

[edit]

* Yūsuke Kobayashi (小林祐介, born December 18, 1985) – vocals, guitar, keyboards \- also vocalist in DECAYS and The Spellbound with Masayuki Nakano of Boom Boom Satellites
* Kengo Matsumoto (ケンゴマツモト, born June 1983) – guitar, keyboards
* Hirofumi Takamatsu (高松浩史, born November 19, 1985) – bass \- also bassist in Petit Brabancon with Kyo, Yukihiro, Miya, and antz (Tokyo Shoegazer).[8]
* Ryousuke Yoshiki (吉木諒祐, born November 1, 1985) – drums

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

Year  | Album Details  | Oricon chart[9]

|
|

2008  | Picnic

* Released: March 6, 2008

| 96
2010  | Misstopia

* Released: March 10, 2010

| 56
2011  | To (Melt Into)

* Released: August 3, 2011

| 45
2013  | Zeitgeist

* Released: November 30, 2013

| 289
2014  | Rhapsody in Beauty

* Released: October 15, 2014

| 40
2016  | Hallelujah

* Released: September 21, 2016

| 36
2019  | ANGELS

* Released: March 13, 2019

| 58
2020  | At The Beginning

* Released: May 14, 2020

2023  | The Novembers

* Released: December 5, 2023

### EPs

[edit]

Year  | Album Details  | Oricon chart[9]

|
|

2007  | The Novembers

* Released: November 7, 2007

| 202
2009  | Paraphilia

* Released: March 18, 2009

| 68
2012  | Gift

* Released: November 7, 2012

| 38
2013  | Fourth Wall

* Released: May 15, 2013

| 35
2015  | Elegance

* Released: October 7, 2015

| 59
2018  | TODAY

* Released: May 16, 2018

| 54

### Singles

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Oricon chart[10]

|
|

2011  | "(Two) Into Holy"

* Released: August 3, 2011

| 39
2014  | "今日も生きたね" (Kyou mo ikita ne)

* Released: May 14, 2014

| 51
2016  | "黒い虹" (Black Rainbow)

* Released: July 21, 2016

| —
2020  | "理解者" (Rikai-sha)

* Released: May 13, 2020

2020  | "Rainbow"

* Released: May 20, 2020

2023  | "kanashimigakawaitara"

* Released: April 7, 2023

### Demos

[edit]

Year  | Information

|

2005  | The Novembers

* 1st demo
* Released: August 13, 2005

2006  | The Novembers

* 2nd demo
* Released: September 13, 2006

The Novembers

* 3rd demo
* Released: October 13, 2006

### DVDs and Blu-rays

[edit]

Year  | Information

|

2015  | Tour Romance (Live At Studio Coast)

* Released: May 13, 2015

2017  | 美しい日

* Released: September 25, 2017

2018  | ROSES at Shinagawawa GLORIA CHAPEL

* Released: August 22, 2018

2020  | Live at TSUTAYA O-EAST "NEO TOKYO – 20191111 -"

* Released: March 19, 2020

2021  | Live – At The Beginning – at 大谷資料館

* Released: May 17, 2021

2022  | Live -At The Beginning- at STUDIO COAST

* Released: March 2022

2025  | 「The Novembers Release Tour 2024 2024.09.19 EBISU LIQUIDROOM」

「TOUR – UЯA – The Novembers」

* Released: April 2025

### Compilations appearances

[edit]

Year  | Song  | Album  | Notes

|
|
|

2005  | "Brooklyn Saishuu Deguchi"
(ブルックリン最終出口)  | College of Kitazawa No. 3

(コラージュ オブ 北沢3丁目)

* Released: May 30, 2005[11]
* Concept album by Shimokitazawa Garage and enndisc

"She Lab Luck"
2007  | "Chernobyl"  | Hi-Style ~Itaku Version 01~ |

* Released: February 20, 2007
* High Line Record Compilation No. 1[12]

2012  | "Human Flow"  | Dip Tribute ~9faces~ |

* Released: June 6, 2012

"Stay Away"  | Nevermind Tribute |

* Released: April 4, 2012
* A tribute album to celebrates 20th anniversary of Nirvana's masterpiece album Nevermind.

2013  | "Doubt"  | Tribute VII -Rock Spirits- |

* Released: December 18, 2013

## Music videos

[edit]

### Official music videos

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Director(s)

|
|

2009  | "dnim"  | KYABETWO FILM
"she lab luck"  | H. Koarai
"こわれる" (To Break)  | Kojima Takayuki
2010  | "Misstopia"  | Maruyama Taro
2011  | "夢のあと" (After the Dream)
"彼岸で散る青" (Blue falling on the shore)  | Kojima Takayuki
2012  | "Harem"  | Makoto Tezuka
2013  | "dogma"  | Takeshi Shibata
"Flower of life"  | Yu Adumi
"鉄の夢" (The Iron Dream)  | Yousuke Asada
"Meursault"  | Maruyama Taro
2014  | "今日も生きたね" (I Lived Today As Well)  | minsak
"Romancé"  | minsak
2015  | "きれいな海へ (Mother Side)" (To the Beautiful Ocean)  | TAIYOU KIKAKU
"きれいな海へ (Father Side)" (To the Beautiful Ocean)  | TAIYOU KIKAKU
2016  | "黒い虹" (Black Rainbow)  | minsak
"1000年" (Year 1000)  | Yousuke Asada
2017  | "最近あなたの暮らしはどう" (How's Your Life Lately)  | Yousuke Asada
2018  | "みんな急いでいる" (Everyone is in a Hurry)  | Yousuke Asada
2019  | "BAD DREAM"  | Yousuke Asada
2024  | "BOY"  | Yousuke Asada

## References

[edit]

1. ^ THE NOVEMBERS official website. THE NOVEMBERS Biography
2. ^ Barks. THE NOVEMBERS : Biography
3. ^ "THE NOVEMBERS Misstopia Interview". natalie.mu. 2010. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
4. ^ "THE NOVEMBERS Profile". www.sound-tv.net. 2007. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
5. ^ "THE NOVEMBERS Artist Page". www.ukproject.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
6. ^ "The Novembers - 】ニューアルバムリリース&ツアーファイナル映像を使用したダイジェスト映像を公開！". www.virginmusic.jp (in Japanese). 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
7. ^ a b "THE NOVEMBERS". THE NOVEMBERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-04-16.
8. ^ "New band "Petit Brabancon" includes members of DIR EN GREY, MUCC, L'arc-en-ciel!". jrocknews.com. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
9. ^ a b Oricon. THE NOVEMBERSのランキング
10. ^ Oricon. THE NOVEMBERSのランキング
11. ^ "College of Kitazawa No. 3". www.garage.or.jp. 2007. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
12. ^ "High Line Record HI-STYLE". www.highline.co.jp. 2007. Retrieved 2011-06-27.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Weblog
* Official Myspace
* Official X
* Official YouTube

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

|