Sekai no Owari

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Short description|Japanese pop band}} {{other uses}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = SEKAINOOWARISpaceShowerAwards.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = SEKAI NO OWARI at [[Space Shower Music Awards]] in 2016.<br />From left to right: Fukase, Saori, Nakajin and DJ Love. | native_name = | alias = End of the World | origin = [[Tokyo]], Japan | genre = {{hlist|[[J-pop]]|[[Experimental music|experimental]]|[[indie pop]]|[[Rock music|rock]]|[[jazz]]}} | years_active = {{Start date|2005}}–present | label = * Lastrum (2009–2010) * [[Toy's Factory]] (2011–2020) * [[Virgin Records|Virgin Music]] (2020–present) * Insanity Records (as End of the World, 2019–2020) * Land Music (as End of the World, 2020-2023) | website = {{URL|sekainoowari.jp}} | current_members = * Nakajin * Fukase * Saori * DJ LOVE }}

'''Sekai no Owari''' (literally translated, "End of the World"; stylized in [[all caps]]) is a Japanese [[Pop music|pop]] band from Tokyo. The band was formed in 2005 and has four members: Nakajin, Fukase, Saori, and DJ Love.

Since their debut, they have released 7 albums and various singles as well as featuring in their own documentary film ''Tokyo Fantasy''. The band has performed at Nissan Stadium, Japan's largest concert venue, and are currently considered to be one of the biggest music acts from Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jpopasia.com/news/exclusive-jpopasia-interviews-sekai-no-owari::18349.html|title = JpopAsia interviews SEKAI NO OWARI|date= September 22, 2015}}</ref> The band members have also produced and written content for several Japanese singers and groups, and lead vocalist Fukase has inspired a synthesized [[Vocaloid]] character of himself, known as [[Fukase]].

The band has collaborated with other artists such as [[DNCE]], [[Owl City]], [[Nicky Romero]], [[Epik High]], [[Steve Aoki]], [[Marieme]], [[Niki (singer)|Niki]], [[Clean Bandit]], [[Gabrielle Aplin]], [[Haywyre]] and [[Aloe Blacc]].

== History ==

=== 2007–2009: Formation and indie debut === Fukase and Saori knew each other since kindergarten and met Nakajin in primary school. Together the three began a cover band at an early age while still in high school inspired by senior professional bands such as [[Bump of Chicken]]. Later, they met DJ Love who was added to original line-up as a DJ, replacing Fukase who was meant to take on the concept of a clown, and Fukase became the lead vocalist while Nakajin and Saori became the guitarist and pianist of the band, respectively. Starting out as an indie band, they performed their first live concert at their own-made [[live house]] "Club Earth" with 15 people attending.<ref name="mtviggy">{{cite web|title=MTV IGGY (English)|url=http://www.mtviggy.com/interviews/sekai-no-owari-says-the-end-is-near//en|publisher=mtviggy.com}}</ref> The band self-produced their first demo, ''Sekai no Owari'', with a limited edition of 1,000 copies. Fukase, vocalist, named the band ''Sekai no Owari'' because "Once you've experienced the bottom, you have to find a way to go up. So I named my band ''End of the World'' to create the strength [I needed] through the music."<ref name="mtviggy" />

=== 2010–2011: First album, Nippon Budokan and major label debut === Sekai no Owari released their first album ''Earth'' under the independent label Lastrum in 2010. The album reached number 15 in the [[Oricon]] Weekly Album charts and the band started to become popular in the Japanese indie scene.

The band started touring Japan with their first two tours "Heart the Earth Tour" and "One-Man fall tour" while simultaneously releasing their first double A-side single "Tenshi to Akuma/Fantasy", which peaked at number 8 on the Oricon Single charts. In August 2011, Sekai no Owari performed a solo concert at the [[Nippon Budokan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://natalie.mu/music/news/60122|title = (In Japanese) SEKAI NO OWARI wraps up first Budokan live to a starry sky|date = November 24, 2011|work = Natalie.mu }}</ref> and signed to the major label [[Toy's Factory]].

The band changed their original name '世界の終わり(Sekai no Owari)' to the romanized version Sekai no Owari.

=== 2012–2014: ''Entertainment'', nationwide tours and increasing popularity === After signing to Toy's Factory, Sekai no Owari released two singles in 2011. The singles titled "Inori" and "Starlight Parade" reached number 13 and 16 respectively. The band embarked in their next tour "Sekai no Owari Tour 2011". The next year they released their next single "Nemurihime" (眠り姫, "Sleeping Beauty") which reached number 4 in the Oricon Single charts and was set to be included in the new album the band was working on.

In July 2012, the band released their second album and first major studio album ''Entertainment'' which reached number 2 in the Oricon charts. To support the album release, the band also toured "Arena Tour 2013 Entertainment in Kokuritsu Yoyogi Daiichi Taiikukan" and "Arena Tour 2013 Entertainment"''.'' The band went on to release two more singles in 2013, the first 'RPG' reached number 2 in the Oricon charts and number 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and was later given the double platinum certification by [[RIAJ]] for over 250,000 copies sold. The second single "Death Disco" was released as a digital single only and reached number 20 in the Billboard Japan Hot 100.

In 2013, they performed their first-ever outdoor-live-event, "Fire and Forest Carnival", gathering a total of 60,000 people, their largest audience at that moment.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.musicman-net.com/artist/29795.html|title = (In Japanese) SEKAI NO OWARI's Fire and Forest Carnival a major success gathering over 60,000 people and arena tour announced|date = October 15, 2013|publisher = musicman.net}}</ref>

After finishing their tour activities, Sekai no Owari resumed recording activities releasing three different singles during 2014. The first single "Snow Magic Fantasy" reached number 1 and was certified gold by the RIAJ. The next single "Honou to Mori no Carnival" (炎と森のカーニバル, "The Flame and Forest Carnival") was released almost three months after and reached number 2 in the Oricon charts being certified gold once again by the RIAJ. In October 2014, the band collaborated with [[Owl City]] on a new song, titled "Tokyo". It was released on Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|url =http://www.owlcitymusic.com/2014/10/07/two-new-songs-tokyo-youre-not-alone-out-now/|title =Owl City ft. SEKAI NO OWARI – Tokyo|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150704000210/http://www.owlcitymusic.com/2014/10/07/two-new-songs-tokyo-youre-not-alone-out-now/|archive-date =July 4, 2015}}</ref> The song was later put on Owl City's fifth studio album, ''[[Mobile Orchestra]]'', in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/mobile-orchestra/1442610675?l=en|title=Mobile Orchestra by Owl City|website=Music.apple.com|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref> In November, they released a single "Dragon Night", which was produced by Dutch DJ [[Nicky Romero]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

On August 15, 2014, ''Tokyo Fantasy'', a 90-minute film featuring the band members was released nationwide in Japan. It was directed by French filmmaker Raphaël Frydman and later made available on DVD.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

=== 2015–present: ''Tree'', overseas activities and international debut === In January 2015, Sekai no Owari released their third album, ''[[Tree (Sekai no Owari album)|Tree]]'' 2 years and 7 months after their previous album. The album topped the chart at No. 1, and reached 1 million sales in total of physical sales and digital downloads.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

In June 2015, an English version of their hit song "Dragon Night" was released in their YouTube channel in June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-05-26/sekai-no-owari-to-perform-theme-songs-for-live-action-attack-on-titan-films/.88583|title=SEKAI NO OWARI to Perform Theme Songs for Live-Action Attack on Titan Films|date=May 26, 2015|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 12, 2015}}</ref> In July 2015, Sekai no Owari held a two-day show, "Twilight City"'','' at [[International Stadium Yokohama|Nissan Stadium]]. "Twilight City" was a two-day event with attendance of 140,000 and is to date their biggest audience received.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}} American pop-star [[Austin Mahone]] joined the show as a guest act.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000117340|title= (in Japanese) Overseas' Austin Mahone Appears at SEKAI NO OWARI's Nissan Stadium Concert|date= March 7, 2015|access-date= April 30, 2016 |work= Barks.jp}}</ref>

Their following singles "Anti-Hero" and "SOS" were used as the theme songs of the movies ''[[Attack on Titan (film)|Attack on Titan]]'' and ''Attack on Titan: End of the World'', respectively and they both sold 100,000 copies with 'SOS' reaching again number one in the Oricon album charts being the third time the band achieves so. Both songs are performed fully in English.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsVGf1T2Hfs|title=SEKAI NO OWARI – Dragon Night|date=June 16, 2015 |publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref>

In August 2015, it was announced that a [[Vocaloid]] vocal for the [[Vocaloid 4]] engine based on Fukase would be produced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vocaloid.com/articles/sekainoowari|title=SEKAI NO OWARI Fukaseのボーカロイド『VOCALOID4 Library Fukase』発売中！|website=Vocaloid.com|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref> [[File:End of the World 2016.jpg|thumb|Sekai no Owari performing as support act to [[Clean Bandit]] in 2016.]] In September 2015, Sekai no Owari became the first Japanese act to perform for [[MTV World Stage]] Malaysia 2015 in front of 20,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://worldstage.mtvasia.com/news/mtv-reveals-first-wave-of-performers-with-apink-and-sekai-no-owari-to-perform-for-the-first-time-at-mtv-world-stage-malaysia/|title= MTV Reveals First Wave of Performers With Apink and SEKAI NO OWARI To Perform For The First Time At MTV World Stage Malaysia|date= July 21, 2015|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151001104939/http://worldstage.mtvasia.com/news/mtv-reveals-first-wave-of-performers-with-apink-and-sekai-no-owari-to-perform-for-the-first-time-at-mtv-world-stage-malaysia/|archive-date= October 1, 2015}}</ref> They performed 5 songs: Anti-Hero, Death Disco, SOS, Mr. Heartache and Dragon Night. Later on Sekai no Owari held a special live event in Taiwan supported by [[KKBOX]] and was also invited to perform at Taiwan's prestigious 'KKBOX Music Awards' representing Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.musicman-net.com/artist/51934.html|title = SEKAI NO OWARI performs first live overseas at KKBOX|date= November 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.helloasia.com.au/news/the-11th-kkbox-awards-an-exciting-night-to-remember/|title = The 11TH KKBOX AWARDS an exciting night to remember|date= January 25, 2016}}</ref>

In March 2016, Sekai no Owari announced their plans to debut in the United States and work on an English language album that was initially planned for 2017. In December 2018, the members announced on social media that their English album, ''Chameleon'', would be released in spring 2019 using the English version of their name "End of the World",<ref name="auto1">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8490908/japan-end-of-world-Sekai-No-Owari-new-albums-international-eye-lip-Chameleon|title=Japan's End of the World to Drop Two Domestic & One International Album in 2019|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 4, 2019}}</ref> working with famous producers [[Nicky Romero]], [[Clean Bandit]], and [[Owl City]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.jpopasia.com/news/exclusive-sekai-no-owari-working-on-first-english-album-entering-us-and-international-markets::19372.html|title= SEKAI NO OWARI Working On First English Album, Entering US & International Markets|date= April 29, 2016|access-date= April 30, 2016|archive-date= July 14, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160714041426/http://www.jpopasia.com/news/exclusive-sekai-no-owari-working-on-first-english-album-entering-us-and-international-markets::19372.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> The band released two Japanese albums on February 27, 2019: ''[[Eye (Sekai no Owari album)|Eye]]'' (showcasing the band's wild side) and ''[[Lip (album)|Lip]]'' (featuring their signature pop sound).<ref name="auto1" /> ''Chameleon'' was released on November 27, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End of the World {{!}} a new project by SEKAI NO OWARI |url=http://endoftheworld.jp/ |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website=End of the World {{!}} a new project by SEKAI NO OWARI}}</ref>

On December 30, 2022, "[[Habit (Sekai no Owari song)|Habit]]" earned Sekai no Owari the Grand Prix at the [[64th Japan Record Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jacompa.or.jp/record/64.php |title=第64回日本レコード大賞 |publisher=[[Japan Composer's Association]] |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref>

Their song "Present" was in the Japanese dub of [[Inside Out 2]].<ref>{{cite web|title=『インサイド・ヘッド２』日本版本予告解禁！ SEKAI NO OWARIが歌う「プレゼント」が日本版エンドソングに決定！|url=https://www.disney.co.jp/movie/insidehead2/news/20240626_01 |language=ja|access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SEKAI NO OWARIがディズニー＆ピクサー映画「インサイド・ヘッド2」日本版エンドソング担当（コメントあり / 動画あり） |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/579383 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=音楽ナタリー |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=「インサイド・ヘッド2」日本版エンドソングはSEKAI NO OWARIの「プレゼント」本予告が公開 : 映画ニュース |url=https://eiga.com/news/20240626/3/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=映画.com |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SEKAI NO OWARIが歌う日本版エンドソングを使用した予告映像が公開映画『インサイド・ヘッド２』 |url=https://otocoto.jp/news/inside_head2_0626/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=otocoto {{!}} こだわりの映画エンタメサイト |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SEKAI NO OWARI、『インサイド・ヘッド２』エンドソング「プレゼント」の特別ミュージッククリップ公開 - CDJournal ニュース |url=https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/sekai-no-owari/111735 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.cdjournal.com |language=ja}}</ref>

== Musical style == Sekai no Owari started as an [[alternative rock]] band but later adopted concepts of [[J-pop]] and experimented with other genres. The band expressed their wish "not to be thrown into any particular box..." and attempted to develop a diverse style.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} The band's music ranges from [[electro-pop]] to [[jazz]], [[Rock (music)|rock]] and [[classical music]], merging them into a fantasy-inspired concept.

Sekai no Owari performs internationally as "End of the World". They have a number of songs which are in English, in order to better reach an international audience. The band has stated in interviews that they feel a non-Japanese audience will not connect as well with Japanese (language) music, and so they try to write English language music from a different perspective.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asianpopweekly.com/27/post/2016/05/apw-exclusive-interview-the-story-of-sekai-no-owari-happiness-is-hard-fought.html|title=[APW Exclusive Interview] The story of SEKAI NO OWARI- Happiness is hard-fought|website=ASIAN POP WEEKLY|language=en|access-date=August 2, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

Guitarist and sound producer Nakajin has also contributed vocals. He wrote and performed "Tonight" and "Honou no Senshi" (lit. "warrior of flame"), from Sekai no Owari's second album, ''Entertainment'', as well as "Goodbye," from their album ''Lip'', and "Doppelganger," from their album ''Eye''. Nakajin also performed vocals on and wrote the lyrics for "Kaleidoscope," a B-side track from the 2020 single "silent." Sekai no Owari's 2021 album ''scent of memory'' also features a solo song from Nakajin, titled "Masayume."

== Band members == * Nakajin – Shinichi Nakashima (中島真一, ''Nakashima Shinichi) –'' leader, vocals, chorus, sound production, guitar, stringed instruments * Fukase – Satoshi Fukase (深瀬慧, ''Fukase Satoshi) –'' vocals, group conceptor, guitar, bass * Saori – Saori Ikeda (池田彩織, ''Ikeda Saori'') piano, accordion, stage production * DJ LOVE – real name unknown – DJ, drums, sound choice, comedic talk, bass<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sekainoowari.jp/en|title=Sekai No Owari Official Site|publisher=TOKYO FANTASY Inc|access-date=June 29, 2015}}</ref>

== Discography == {{Main|Sekai no Owari discography}}

=== Album === *''Earth'' (2010) *''Entertainment'' (2012) *''[[Tree (Sekai no Owari album)|Tree]]'' (2015) *''[[Lip (album)|Lip]]'' (2019) *''[[Eye (Sekai no Owari album)|Eye]]'' (2019) *''Chameleon'' [End of the World] (2020) *''scent of memory'' (2021) *''Nautilus'' (2024)

== Tours == === Japan tours === * ''Heart the eartH Tour'' (2010) * ''One-Man Fall Tour'' (2010) * ''Sekai No Owari at Nippon Budokan!!! ''(2011) * ''Sekai no Owari Tour'' 2011 (2011) * ''Sekai no Owari Zepp Tour 2012 "Entertainment"'' (2012) * ''Sekai no Owari Hall Tour 2012 "Entertainment"'' (2012) * ''Sekai no Owari Arena Tour 2013 "Entertainment"'' (2013) * ''Fire and Forest Carnival'' (2013) * ''Arena Tour "Fire and Forest Carnival: Starland Edition"'' (2014) * ''Tokyo Fantasy'' [with Owl City] (2014) * ''Twilight City'' [with Austin Mahone] (2015) * ''The Dinner Tour'' (2016) * ''Tarkus Tour'' (2017) * ''INSOMNIA TRAIN Tour'' (2018) * ''The Colors Tour '' (2019) * <s>''Dome Tour 2020 "Du Gara Di Du"'' (2020)</s> → Cancelled (due to [[COVID-19]]) * ''Tour 2021-2022 "Blue Planet Orchestra"'' (2021) * ''Dome Tour 2022 "Du Gara Di Du"'' (2022) * ''Fanclub Tour 2023 "Fafrotskies ~The Fan~"'' (2023) * ''Zepp Tour 2023 "Terminal"'' (2023) * ''Arena Tour 2024 "Shinkai (Deep sea in Japanese)"'' (2024) * ''"Instant Radio" Fanclub Tour 2025'' (2025) * ''"THE CINEMA" Dome Tour 2026'' (2025)

=== World tours === * ''Sekai no Owari U.S Tour'' (2016) * ''The Colors Asia Tour 2019'' (2019) * ''"Phoenix" Asia Tour 2025'' (2025)

== Festivals and events == * ''[[Summer Sonic Festival]]'' (2014) * ''[[MTV World Stage]] Malaysia'' (2015) * ''Sekai no Owari Special Live Show'' in Taiwan (2015) * ''[[KKBOX]] Music Awards'' (2016) * ''[[Jisan Valley Rock Festival]] South Korea'' (2016) * ''[[Concrete & Grass]] Music Festival'' in Shanghai (2016) * ''[[Clockenflap]] Music and Arts Festival Hong Kong'' (2016)

== Awards == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Ceremony ! Award ! Nominee/Work ! Result |- |[[CD Shop Awards|2011]] | 3rd [[CD Shop Awards]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cdshop-kumiai.jp/|title=全日本CDショップ店員組合|language=ja|access-date=June 30, 2019}}</ref> | Sub Grand Prix | "''EARTH''" | {{won}} |- |- |2012 | 54th [[Japan Record Awards]] | Excellent Album Award | "''ENTERTAINMENT''" | {{won}} |- |2013 | 5th [[CD Shop Awards]]<ref name="auto" /> | Finalist Award |"ENTERTAINMENT" | {{won}} |- | rowspan="2" |2014 | 56th [[Japan Record Awards]] | Excellent Work Award | "炎と森のカーニバル, "''The Flame and Forest Carnival''"" | {{won}} |- | MTV VMAJ |Best Karaokee! Song | "RPG" | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="4" | 2015 |[[57th Japan Record Awards]] | Excellent Album Award | "''Tree''" | {{won}} |- | MTV VMAJ |Best Group Video | "ANTI-HERO" | {{nom}} |- |[[Space Shower Music Video Awards]] |Best Artist of the Year | | {{won}} |- |MTV Europe Music Award |Best Japanese Act | | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="3" |2016 |[[58th Japan Record Awards]] |Best Arranger Award |"Hey Ho" | {{won}} |- |[[Space Shower Music Video Awards]] | Best Group Artist | | {{won}} |- | [[2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards]] | Best Asian Artist Japan | | {{won}} |- |rowspan="3" |2017 |[[59th Japan Record Awards]] |Excellent Work Award |"Rain" | {{won}} |- |rowspan="2" |[[Space Shower Music Video Awards]] |Best Live Production | | {{won}} |- |Best Pop Artist | | {{nom}} |- |2018 |[[60th Japan Record Awards]] |Excellent Work Award |"Sazanka" | {{won}} |- |rowspan="2" |2019 |rowspan="2" |[[Space Shower Music Video Awards]] |Best Live Production | | {{won}} |- |Best Pop Artist | | {{nom}} |- |rowspan="2" | 2022 |[[SPACE SHOWER Music Video Awards|Space Shower Music Video Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOMINEES {{!}} SPACE SHOWER MUSIC AWARDS 2022 |url=https://awards.spaceshower.jp/2022/nominees/index.html |access-date=May 9, 2022 |website=NOMINEES {{!}} SPACE SHOWER MUSIC AWARDS 2022 |language=ja}}</ref> |Best Pop Artist | | {{nom}} |- |[[64th Japan Record Awards]] |Grand Prix |"[[Habit (Sekai no Owari song)|Habit]]" | {{won}} |- |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website|http://sekainoowari.jp}}

[[Category:Toy's Factory artists]] [[Category:Japanese musical quartets]] [[Category:Musical groups from Tokyo]] [[Category:2007 establishments in Japan]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 2007]] [[Category:MAMA Award winners]] [[Category:Japanese dance-rock musical groups]] [[Category:Virgin Records artists]] [[Category:Vocaloid voice providers]]