Nihon Break Kogyo

JapanToday has an article about an unlikely hit pop song. The song is the official song for a demolition company, composed and performed by one of the workers.

Unlike the stiff, propagandalike nature of regular Japanese corporate anthems, the up-tempo rock tune, written and performed by a Nihon Break Kogyo demolition worker, sounds like the themes from old Japanese animated films featuring superheroes.

But the humorous lyrics reflect the pure corporate anthem spirit of promoting the company -- "We will destroy houses! We will destroy bridges! We will destroy buildings! To the east, to the west -- Run, Run, Nihon Break Kogyo!"

I guess in Japan it is common for corportaions to have their own theme song. After it was picked up and played on a TV show, the company began getting so many calls that they started to sell recordings of it.

I found the lyrics (english translation) here:

Break alright Break alright Now we're ready for your town
Dismantle away Dismantle away The just one rule we'll obey
Conclusion of the duration is comin'up, Concrete is losin' its unity
There are the delayers of buildin' our peaceful days Break'em out!
NIHON Break KOGYO Smashin' steel ball Da Da Da
NIHON Break KOGYO Chemical anchor bolt driven to beat&wave the hardest rock!!
Any houses! Any bridges! And any towers can't stop us in any way!
Going ahead! Going ahead! NIHON Break KOGYO

Break alright Break alright Terrible defective housings
Wooden frames, mortared walls and pencil-formed over tall buildings
Have you ever seen mighty skills to treat pile heads, rough clenched fists to support you
By the justice, like a hammer, Yumbo swung to raise!! Break'em out!
NIHON Break KOGYO Shinin' diamonded cutter Da Da Da
NIHON Break KOGYO Compressor roaring loud between the earth & the sky!!
Any houses! Any bridges! And any towers can't stop us in any way!
Going ahead! Going ahead! NIHON Break KOGYO

The japanese lyrics are here (I think, I can't read kanji).

Someone has created flash movie arrangments of the song in japanese and in english. You can listen/watch them here: [japanese|english]

I found the flash movies from a forum posting by someone named kawanago:

Well, I introduce a comedy song!
"Nihon Break Kogyo Shaka"(=The corporation song of Japan Break Industry) is the unique song. NBK-Shaka has designated the justice and courage of the employees who exhaust all power to dismantling the obsolete building as theme. The theme, justice and courage has been similar to the theme of many Japanese animation songs. The atmosphere of NBK-Shaka resembles the theme song of a passionate robot hiro animation.
Japanese edition parody (When it passes for a while, "break" is indicated. Please click that.)
English edition parody (When it passes for a while, "Start Da Da Da" is indicated. Please click that.)

I've been trying to find an mp3 sample on Kazaa, but no luck yet. Evil Timmy found a WMA file on the company site and converted to MP3.

You can buy the album from Amazon Japan.

Thanks Jesse!

Comments

[Evil Timmy]

I found this page on the company site: http://www.nbk.gr.jp/melody/
There's a WMA file that has the whole dang song. And if you poke around you can find ringers and themes for your DoCoMo phone!
I'll try to convert the WMA to MP3 and send it here.

[Dav]

Cool, thanks Evil Timmy!

[Strange Interlude]

A few minutes of googling uncovered this site, which also houses an mp3 of the NBK tune. I *think* it's just a straight-up mp3 that hasn't been converted from the WMA format or anything, so this may be the least lossy version we'll find.

http://www9.plala.or.jp/u-suke/mp3/nbk-theme.mp3

I wonder if the NBK Rangers have ever met Kikkoman?

-- Strange Interlude

[Dav]

Kikko Man is another entertaining japanese coporate theme song:

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/kikkoman-e.php

found via http://www.livejournal.com/users/endswitha/

[vans]

Yogatori, the creator of the kikkomaso.swf, says at his english website( http://yoga.at.infoseek.co.jp/index_e.html ) that there is no affiliation between Yogatori and Kikkoman corporation. Kikkoman(the hero) is separate from Kikkoman(the company) and belongs to 2-channel.

Heh, I hate to crack down like a copyright boogieman, but I just happened to read that at Yogatori's site.

The English Eurobeat version of NBK was also done by 2-channel members.

[Joseph]

Spoof remix of the Nihon Break Kogyo Co song:

http://www.pthbbbt.com/remix/break_it.html

[Dav]

Here's a bunch of pertinent links: http://el30.sub.jp/archives/000556.html

[Yorokobi no uta]

This CD can be ordered in English.
http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?LANG=en&sku=1908956

I found the advertisement:http://www.infinite-record.com/rld/kikaku.htm
Translation:
We record your works, such as the remix version of a "Japanese break industrial company song", and a flash movie, on a compilation album!! Please send a work to the following address after specifying your name and the address.

---Mailing registration of MO or CD-R---
Infinite Record (Manzo kikaku-2)
7-19-9, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, JAPAN