I doubt many will read this, given the broken image links and the posts stopping over a year ago, but I feel some responsibility as a long-time (and long inactive) moderator and community member here to post [i]something[/i]. Internets have shifted, and most of the activity is on social media or private chat servers now, but this was our home for so many years and where we made friends and frenemies and shared our earnest feelings about this band we loved for many years.

The Pillows announced today, February 1st, 2025 in Japan, that they have disbanded after their January 31st concert. There was no further information other than that they did not want to leave the situation ambiguous, so they opted to use the word "disband." Their social media profiles and website will remain as a "monument" and to promote individual members' further activities. (Also, Happy Birthday to sheerheartattack!!!!!)

Probably a shock to few, after an outrageously long run as a band, but nonetheless a little surreal. What's there to say? I love this band, and I love you all. So long, Busters.

edit:
[url=https://www.pirouzu.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&p=153839#p153839]Here is Sawao's statement[/url], which gives some sense of a reason.

Only fitting that we should eulogize the band here.

In the absence of new records the pillows haven't been at the fore of my mind for quite awhile, and I suppose I never expected them to go on forever.

The news comes as a rude shock, though. Knowing that they were still out there, doing their thing, was a comfort. Living in a pillow-less world wasn't something I expected when I woke up today.

Late last year, Yusuke Chiba of Thee Michelle Gun Elephant/The Birthday fame died, and I honestly took it pretty hard despite never having known the man. Now, the pillows have called it quits. I feel gross grieving stuff like this, but having grown up with the music it's become a huge part of me. "Its like a death in the family" goes the old cliche. For me (and probably many of us) it kind of is.

They left behind a lot of great music, of course. Guess it's time I revisit the catalog and enjoy a few of the gems.

i'm sad that it's over, but i'm happy that it happened i will always love this band, this forum, and all of you! (okay, maybe except for metal2hedgehog)

Thank god I went to that concert last night. llytheferret:

What a way to go out! While I am torn, I am thankful that they made it to 35 years! The past several have felt a little uneasy, but we made it to 35!

I am also thankful for all of you! (Metal included lol) You guys were my brothers back then and I’ll never forget the good and bad times that happened here.

Hope you all have been doing well!

Thanks for posting this, Jomei. This is difficult to process. I always just assumed the pillows would always be there". But all good things must come to an end. It's just sad how it all happened, so suddenly.

But hey, 35 years is a great run. We'll always have the memories!

I know it’s been forever since I’ve logged in here, but it wouldn’t feel right to not revisit this forum on this day.

the pillows are the reason why I have a life. Finding them led me to discovering other Japanese bands. It led me to do my college radio show, named No Borders No Race in honor of them, It soon led me to starting my own pop culture website and podcast, and getting connected with bands, voice actors, and game developers. I even got to [url=http://www.bostonbastardbrigade.com/2018/07/pillows-noodles-interview/]interview the pillows[/url] when they toured in 2018, perhaps one of my biggest highlights that year that also included interviews with Frank Turner and Perfume! And then, it led me to meeting the right people who would put in motion where I am today, sitting in a Tokyo apartment teaching English and going to countless concerts around the city.

And all of this would not have happened if I didn’t turn on [adult swim] in June 2003. the pillows are responsible for everything that has happened to me these last 22 years, and I cannot thank them enough for being the light that shined upon me as I walked this scary path we call life.

Was the writing on the wall? Maybe. It had been 6 years since they released new music. And this recent tour had them playing songs they normally wouldn’t had played in past tours. Perhaps this was their way of giving the music they created a proper goodbye. And honestly, I wish more bands who were wrapping it up would do that.

I won’t feel sad because the pillows are no more. But I will be happy that the pillows happened. I am certain each and every person here who have been a part of this forum past and present can attest that Sawao, Yoshiaki, and Shinichiro have changed their lives for the better.

Thank you for 35 years. Just as Vladimir and Estragon kept waiting for Godot, I will gladly keep on waiting for the Little Busters.

Do we have any insights into why they've disbanded? The announcement was pretty firm, leaving no real room for a reunion or anything like that. Were there tensions within the band? Burnout? I heard some whispers on social media that things were "tense" and "icy" on stage during that last concert, but have no idea if that's true.

Their last album came out in 2018. The Blank EP released last year serves as their epitaph, I guess.

Has anyone here listened to Blank? Was it any good?

RIP

Thanks to mafu for providing this. I'm posting it here for those that might not see it otherwise.

[quote]Hello

I didn't meet everyone's expectations.

Sorry. I'm sorry.

I tried my best until my body and mind started to go haywire, but I just couldn't take it anymore.

I suffered for years and years, and I did more than 100% of what I could do, believe me.

And I'm sorry that this is an after-the-fact report.

I'm sorry.

I didn't plan to break up from the beginning of the tour, but I started having physical problems around the rehearsal of 916. My brain is not sending normal signals to my body. My brain is rejecting the situation. It got worse and worse, and I decided to end it.

And I couldn't sing in front of everyone if they knew we were breaking up. I simply couldn't do it. I just don't have the strength to put on a decent performance.

And I didn't want to sell out the show, including the people who said, "If it's a breakup tour, I'll go. I guess all I can say is, "Oh well, it can't be helped. Life's choices are always cruel. Chances are not always conveniently kind.

By the way, the setlist was decided on quickly, long before the show, after Takumaru had rushed me into it. Some of the lyrics were linked to each other, but that was just a coincidence. I thought about it long before we decided to break up.

There are so many things I want to talk about. But I'm not going to.

I don't have anything pleasant to say.

But for 35 years and 4 months, Pillows have been making rock music. That much is true.

Thank you for your support over the years.

I appreciate it. Thank you.

I don't know if the other two wrote a blog post at this time or not, but I know they are grateful to everyone too.

Thank you again. I'm speaking for myself just in case.

Thank you so much. I've been happy.

Sawao Yamanaka, The Pillows[/quote]

[quote="Jomei"]Thanks to mafu for providing this. I'm posting it here for those that might not see it otherwise.

[quote]Sawao’s post[/quote][/quote]

Where was this posted on?

[quote="omnistry"][quote="Jomei"]Thanks to mafu for providing this. I'm posting it here for those that might not see it otherwise.

[quote]Sawao’s post[/quote][/quote]

Where was this posted on?[/quote]

Fan club blog, shared by mafu on discord.

oh man what a throwback coming back here, but i just got the news -albeit late.

tbh i didn't keep up with their latest albums or news but they've been in my yearly wrap up on spotify for a reason lol

much respect to Sawao. it couldnt have been an easy decision to make, and it does sound a bit worrying for his health, but he seemed to think now is the time to stop while he still can put on a show and leave on a high note.

if nothing else from that horrid sequel at least it gave me a chance to finally see them live a few years back. that was leaving on a high note for me!

The pillows as a band are no more. As I am typing this it is hard to realize this as truth.

I read the news on FB on Sunday February the 2nd. It was Manabe's post. When I read it, I felt myself welling up.
I was shocked. I had to fight back my tears. The existence of the pillows was one of my certainties in life. And now they were no more. They were a continuous support during my adolescent life. I was about 18 when I got to know them. I was already listening to Japanese rock through anime shows such as Naruto and Death Note. In one package of songs for the game Frets on Fire (Guitar Hero for the computer), besides Haruka Kanata by AKFG, were songs of the pillows: Walking on The Spiral, Carnival, Hybrid Rainbow and Little Busters if I recall correctly. It was so fun to play these songs on FoF.
Soon I was devouring their whole discography, because it was available online through Torrents or something. Two months later I joined this community. It was a treasure chest of everything pillows related. It was one big discovery. Learning of new songs from the pillows of their vast discography; Finding new gems, new favourites, appreciating overlooked tracks, watching videos on YouTube; Discussing with other members and most of all sharing the appreciation of the band.
The pillows inspired me to pick up the guitar. I took guitar lessons and bought my first acoustic guitar, which I still use up to this day! They got me to visit Japan, Tokyo and Kyoto. I attended their 25th anniversary show and I hang out with IM members in real life, Bebob, Tidus and Brye. A true highlight. I got my Bootleg the pillows 1992-1993 there, which I remember uploading the same night to this forum. I got my Buster-Kun key chain. But most of all I was never so close to the band, hearing them live was a dream come true. It felt truly like a catharsis listening to some of their songs live.

This was in 2014. The peak of my pillows experience. Afterwards it waned a bit. I didn't really listen to their newer material, just once or twice to Stroll and Roll. And only after some years I listened to Nook in the Brain and Rebroadcast, but as with many on here, I am more impartial to their older material. Still, I have always listened extensively to them from their oldest material up to Ooparts.

The music of the pillows have always been a constant factor in my life. I also got to know other bands that I still listen to like the Bloodthirsty Butchers, Pixies, Kinoko Teikoku, and Mass of the Fermenting Dreggs (which I saw last year in Belgium!). Through this forum I learned about interesting Japanese music and alternative rock in general. I also got me more in Japanese literature, most notably, Haruki Murakami.

It is sad that the well is running dry now. It is harder to find tracks that I have overlooked or more recent tracks that I have not listened to yet. Yet, with their vast discography there is still a lot to dive into and re-appreciate or feel nolstalgic about. I have strong memories attached to many songs. And to some songs I can listen endlessly.

I have only recently ordered the 25th anniversary show (which I am forever grateful I could attend) on Blu-Ray together with the Pied Piper go to Yesterday Blu-Ray. The 20th anniversary to the 25th anniversary is the period in which my fanhood was the biggest, and I cherish fond memories of that period. I thank the pillows for all the great music they have put out and I wish them all the best.

I am proud that I now own the vast majority of their discography and I am as proud as ever to be a Buster!

[quote="Rick Lee"]What a way to go out! While I am torn, I am thankful that they made it to 35 years! The past several have felt a little uneasy, but we made it to 35!

I am also thankful for all of you! (Metal included lol) You guys were my brothers back then and I’ll never forget the good and bad times that happened here.

Hope you all have been doing well![/quote]

I grew up! i did tried hard to fit in with all of you. Even as an adult. I'm still trying to connect even though I've become a name to myself.
At the end of the day. I still think and get of reminded o this place. I heard of them disbanding a few days ago. Which made me come here.

Many regrets I have is that I never got to see them live. I remember utsu, marekenshin, jolmes, rick, all of you. All i ever did was try and fit in.
As a kid just trying to find a place. I found the pillows. Knowing they are gone and they played their last show last month. It hit. I got a new position.

I'm an important person at my work. But when ever I come here. I always look at all of you and I appreciate what you all gave me. A space to just be me.
I am sorry for being a dumbass. I still am. But I'm always and have always been trying lol.

The pillows taught me that even as an outsider I still have something going on. Even as an outsider. Things will get better and they did.

I never got to see them live. It hurts. H20 . Anyone that I forgot to mention. You all gave me something to come back to even as a dumb ass kid. Jolmes.
I do appreaciate you.

Thank you to all of you this was a space i always went back to even as a kid.

As Sawao once said. Calvero, things may not be always so rosy, but you belived it.
It's over. But Im' happy with what we got.
Thank you all.