In a world where stereotypes and societal expectations are ingrained within us, where women are expected to be nurturing, empathetic and cooperative, when women are still expected to be submissive, care for their home and children, or dish out salads - Otoboke Beaver was born.
A fervent punk protest: breaking the norms, expressing individuality, and dishing out their own brand of punishment. Otoboke Beaver have unleashed a riot for change that they’re bringing to The Eighty-Six this October, a movement that’s not slowing down any time soon.
Formed in 2009, Kyoto-based Otoboke Beaver consists of four fiercely talented musicians: Accorinrin (vocals), Yoyoyoshie (guitar), Hirochan (bass), and Kahokiss (drums). Otoboke Beaver as we know them formed while the quartet were still in university.
Their iconic name comes from a Japanese love hotel, it was nearby the school they attended and seemed an obvious choice at the time. Now it serves as a fitting moniker for a band unafraid to disrupt the status quo.
We spoke to Yoyoyoshie (Yoshie) through translator Emi Aoki ahead of the band’s visit to Australia and explored the evolution of the band and discovered one protest close to Yoshie’s heart.
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Known for their explosive sound, unwavering energy, and purposeful lyrics the band have become a powerful force for change and a reminder that the fight for equality and self-expression is a battle worth waging.
However, Yoshie tells us that when they first started out, they liked the idea of pop-sounding tunes that had a catchy beat. Yoshie tells us through Emi that after going through trial and error they realised that they really enjoyed playing fast songs with lots of lyrics that are very weird.
So as the band evolved, they began playing increasingly faster songs with lots of notes and beats, and that's where they're at currently.
When they write the songs they write in Japanese. Rather than starting with the melody, it's more like having a conversation through the lyrics and they feel that that's very unique about their music.
Yoshie tells us that Acco writes about what happens in her daily life and when the band first formed the songs were about her love interests. Lately, the songs have been about how she views the world, death, and even the fear of dying alone.
Acco will bring a phrase or expression to the band who will then add to it and build it up. They add the melody and baselines and sometimes combine lyrics from another song they were working on.
“Japanese culture is still very male dominated,” Yoshie says. So enters the protest aspect of their music.
Otoboke Beaver use their lyrics to challenge gender roles and the expectation for women to conform. Their lyrics support the dismantling of oppressive structures and encourage women to be loud and proud.
I Don't Dish Out Salads is one song that Yoshie points to as a critique of expectations, the lyrics make it clear that the protagonist won’t serve others. Songs including Don't Light My Fire are also an intense cry for liberation.
The band's performances are just as enthusiastic as their lyrics, the energy is electric and Otoboke Beaver becomes one with the audience when they perform.
Yoshie tells us that the source of energy for the performance comes from the intensity of the songs and the way they want to express that in their performances.
A lot of their lyrics come from powerful emotions which Yoshie says translates into a powerful performance. She also tells us that their energy is reciprocal of the audience, their crazy reactions draw a more energetic performance from the band. Yoshie welcomes the chaos.
Most people know that Yoshie is famous for her stage diving, however not many people know that the act itself is also a protest for Yoshie.
She tells us there was an incident in Japan where a performer was sexually assaulted by a fan while stage diving, and she realised she could relate with a terribly similar experience. She explains that there is a fine line between being handled or accidentally touched to move around the crowd and being groped.
So, Yoshie stage dives to claim back the narrative, for cathartic release, liberation, and to punch anyone who tries to harass her!
It’s safe to say that the band’s music and fight for more inclusivity has earned them a following that extends beyond Kyoto.
This October, The Eighty-Six will see Otoboke Beaver make their Australian debut. For Yoshie, her greatest hope is that she might see a Koala. She has wanted to visit Australia since she was little and recalls an episode of the Japanese variety show How Do You Like Wednesday? that featured a drive through Australia.
Since seeing that episode, she has hoped to immerse herself in the natural iconic beauty of the country, questioning why she hasn't visited sooner.
While Yoshie loves Australia and is happy their music is being well received by English-speaking audiences, she admits to being a little confused as to why so many people relate to it.
She said “It's still a wonder because a lot of the songs are in Japanese, the intonation and pronunciation of the songs are typical of Kansai slang.
"Kansai is from Osaka and Kyoto, and it has this particular intonation to it that makes it sound really funny. When audiences can understand the lyrics, they find it really amusing and fun. Fans in other countries still listen, they still hear the music, and they still go crazy.
"They really enjoy it, but it's still a question as to why.”
We think it's because the performances are nothing short of explosive. We can expect Otoboke Beaver to command the stage and the crowd leading them through a punk rock protest like no other.
Yoshie both promises and hopes for “a super intense, hot, and sweaty show where everybody is singing along all together in a packed full crowd and we can all have fun. That would be great.”
Catch Otoboke Beaver for The Eighty-Six at Thornbury Theatre on Tuesday 24 October and Wednesday 25 October. Join the waitlist here and check out the full Eighty-Six program here.
This article was made in partnership with The Eighty-Six.
