Soundsphere chats with Jean-Ken Johnny, guitarist and vocalist of Japan’s genre-bending rock phenomenon MAN WITH A MISSION
Fifteen years into their career, MAN WITH A MISSION are still serving up outstanding J-Rock. The Japanese rock phenomenon isn’t just a cult favourite in Japan. They’ve soundtracked Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), lent their music to the Japanese anime TV series Demon Slayer, and popped up everywhere from Final Fantasy to the X Games. They’re ready to bring that same larger-than-life energy to the UK with their upcoming Howling Across the World tour.
If you’ve somehow missed the half-man, half-wolf collective, you won’t be able to forget them when you first learn about them. Forget any clichéd rock-star shades. All five members of MAN WITH A MISSION turn up to every gig and appear in every music video, wearing their wolf masks, each one with its own design. The band has just celebrated their 15th anniversary with a massive arena tour across Japan, a brand-new XV EP called Across The Globe (out September 19th via Sony Music Japan / Century Media Records), and now, an international release and European tour.
MAN WITH A MISSION on the global stage
“Touring all over the world – the UK, the US, across Asia – has been such a whirlwind. Tour dates in the UK, including Reading Festival, have been some of the most memorable and special memories for us. We’re so grateful that we’re still here, still a band, and still connecting with fans everywhere – it’s a dream come true”. This autumn, the dream continues. The band’s XV EP Across The Globe takes the Japanese EP and adds bonus live tracks from their anniversary arena shows. Then, they head back to the road for their Howling Across the World tour, which kicks off at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on October 2nd, followed by Manchester’s O2 Ritz (October 3rd) and Birmingham’s XOYO (October 5th), before heading across Europe.
When I catch up with the band, they’re buzzing about getting back to their UK fans. “Touring in the UK is always amazing for us. So many of our favourite bands come from there. Bands like Oasis, Radiohead, The Stone Roses. So it feels extra special to play for audiences in the UK.” Over the past decade and a half, MAN WITH A MISSION have built a reputation for blending rap, rock, and electronic metal into an infectious, genre-hopping sound. I ask where the perfect starting point in their discography might be for anyone just discovering them.
“I’d probably say early songs like Welcome to the New World from 2010. It’s an track that really shows who we are with a mix of alternative rock, rap, metal, and punk. We grew up in ’90s music, when genres were constantly crossing over, and that’s exactly what we try to do. We’re constantly trying to add new elements into our music.”
What to Expect from the UK Tour
This mix-and-match energy keeps their music fresh, and it’s also probably why Man With A Mission has become a cultural mainstay in Japan. One of their proudest recent moments was writing tracks for Demon Slayer, the worldwide anime phenomenon and television series. “I’m a huge anime fan myself,” they tell me. “So knowing how big that franchise is around the world, it was amazing to be part of it. A lot of people reacted to it and discovered us through that song.”
Fans heading to the UK shows are in for a treat. “We are definitely going to drop one of our newest songs in the set and we’ll play tracks from the XV EP, plus our big hits. And of course, we always want to make sure the show is fun – lights, energy, everything.”
Given that UK venues like Shepherd’s Bush Empire and the O2 Ritz have hosted legends, the band sees it as both a challenge and an honour. “It’s always amazing for us to perform there,” they say. “Watch us live and you’ll see – we’re having just as much fun as the crowd.”
Advice for the Next Generation
Fifteen years into their careers, MAN WITH A MISSION are excited about what’s ahead. What advice would they give to new musicians starting out today? “Be consistent and ambitious” they say. “Even if you think you’re nothing to the world right now, you’re already something. One day people will notice it. Just keep going.”
It’s a message that feels central to MAN WITH A MISSION’s story. The band started as a surreal concept, becoming half-wolf and half-man rockers with a taste for chaos, and turned it into one of Japan’s biggest rock exports.
Before we wrap up, I ask if there’s anything else they want fans to know about their visit to the UK. “The upcoming tour is one of our biggest,” they tell me. “We’re really looking forward to seeing and meeting UK fans and having a lot of fun. Just come and enjoy it.” With their mix of ferocious live energy, singalong anthems, and a sense of humour as sharp as their wolf fangs, MAN WITH A MISSION are ready to bring the howl back to the UK and beyond. Catch them in October in the UK – the wolves are coming.
AloJapan.com