Syrup 16g are one of the best bands to have emerged from the incredibly active music scene in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa district, which has more than a dozen live houses. The two founding members of Syrup 16g are vocalist/guitarist Takashi Igarashi and Daiki Nakahata, who met at a vocational school in 1993. The band's current bass player is Maki Kitada. Syrup 16g's band's music is basically rock, but with pop harmonies - call it Japanese power pop, a la Badfinger. Igarashi writes the band's material,...

Syrup 16g are one of the best bands to have emerged from the incredibly active music scene in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa district, which has more than a dozen live houses. The two founding members of Syrup 16g are vocalist/guitarist Takashi Igarashi and Daiki Nakahata, who met at a vocational school in 1993. The band's current bass player is Maki Kitada. Syrup 16g's band's music is basically rock, but with pop harmonies - call it Japanese power pop, a la Badfinger. Igarashi writes the band's material, and he specializes in beautifully melancholic lyrics and melodies. Perhaps their most consistent effort is the 2002 album, Delayed, comprising new versions of ballads originally recorded in their indie days - powerful, haunting stuff. The 2001 album Copy shows the harder side of the band's music to good effect. Like many new bands these days, Syrup 16g didn't wait to get a recording deal before starting to release their material. They recorded and released two self-produced "demo tapes" before signing with indie label Daizawa Records, which they are currently signed to following a stint at major label Columbia Music Entertainment. The band hit upon the name Syrup 16g when they were taking a break in a coffee shop and noticed that the little containers of sweetener that came with their iced coffees each contained 16 grams of gum syrup.