Follow the remaining members of Fishmans as they commemorate the 20th anniversary of Shinji Sato’s death.

An accumulation of some of our favorite sounds, Fishmans was (and still is) a Japanese dub meets dream pop meets post-rock band from the ’90s Shibuya-kei era. Formed in 1987 by Tokyo-based university students Shinji Sato, Kin-Ichi Motegi, and Kensuke Ojima, the group was discovered early on by Kazufumi Kodama (of the legendary Japanese dub band Mute Beat) and signed to Virgin Japan. Despite being signed to a major, Fishmans would remain an underground act for many years until their first breakout single “いかれたBaby” in 1993 off their third studio album Neo Yankees’ Holiday. The track blends dreamy synthesizer melodies with a steady dub groove and nostalgia-laced songwriting from Shinji Sato (When I was sad / what comes to mind / I’d always remember your face / When I was sad, it made me laugh / I’d always remember, you were the one).

Eccentric even amongst their contemporaries like Pizzicato Five and Flipper’s Guitar, Fishmans stood out with their unique dubwise approach (originally influenced by Kazufumi Kodama but later spearheaded by longtime collaborator become producer ZAK) along with the poetically melancholic songwriting and distinctively haunting often falsetto vocals of leader Shinji Sato. Fishmans was also known for their dynamic live sets once again led by the group’s captivating frontman.

This live performance of Fishmans’ classic track “Baby Blue” is one of our favorite clips of the band with Sato doing a dance that sort of imitates those flailing inflatable tube men you’d often see in a strip mall or outside a car dealership in the ’90s. He jumps into the crowd and cameraman at one point, nearly falling over completely before diving into the next refrain.

We’re intentionally skipping a lot here (watch the documentary for a deeper dive), including the group’s 35-minute-long one-track experimental epic Long Season, which featured the great percussionist Asa-Chang, but Fishmans would play their final concert in 1998 at Akasaka Blitz. Tragically, frontman and lead creative force Shinji Sato suddenly passed away from heart failure just three months after the recording of the live concert… A recording of Akasaka concert titled 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare (A Farewell of Men) would be released on Polydor in 1999 and years later become a cult classic.

“A flow that’s different from the ordinary flow of time is incorporated everywhere into the song.”

Shinji Sato on “Long Season”

For the rest of the Fishmans story, we highly recommend watching the 2019 documentary on the band, which follows the remaining members as they prepare for a reunion concert commemorating the 20th anniversary of Shinji Sato’s death.

Read the synopsis:

“In 1999, following recent artistic and critical highs, and the subsequent breakdown of his band, maverick Japanese songwriter and visionary Shinji Sato suddenly passed away. Fishmans (the film), traces the rise of a band of three university friends in Tokyo amidst a band boom in the early 90s with a singular musical vision that would see them swim against the current of the industry and prevailing trends to create unique sonic statements and ultimately, reach cult status both domestically and abroad.

Forming under the unusual moniker “Fishmans”, the group would blend dub, reggae, and rocksteady with elements of rock, funk and hip-hop to create several highly acclaimed records including “the Setagaya trilogy” and live document 98.12.28: Otokotachi no Wakare yet success in the commercial sense remained elusive. Following the industry challenges and dissolution of the band at its creative peak, Sato died.

Now alone, drummer and band leader Kin-ichi Motegi made the difficult decision not to end the band’s story there but to continue bringing Sato’s music to the people. Members and friends echoed this will and the group resume musical activities. In 2019, the 20th anniversary of Sato’s death, Fishmans took to the stage with special determination.

This film, with the blessing of the band and the Sato family, through unseen live video, in-depth interviews with members of the Fishmans universe and fly-on-the-wall footage, tells the remarkable story of this one-of-a-kind Japanese group and catches up with surviving members as they wrestle with the legacy of a creative force while forging on with his music with dignity and love.”

You can watch the documentary now through Vimeo On Demand:

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Website: https://fishmans-movie.com/