KURROCK, the rock band that connects Japan and Vietnam through music.

Vietnam-Japan rock band KURROCK, composed of Vietnamese and Japanese members, released their first debut album "越" (Vượt). KJO, the leader and guitarist, expressed his goal of becoming the musical bridge between Japan and Vietnam. KJO came to Japan from Vietnam as a university student in 2009. He met Trok (vocalist) and Sang (bassist), who were also studying abroad in Japan, and Daisuke (drummer), a Japanese musician, and together they formed the band KURROCK in 2020.

"1日が始まり、街色に染まり/孤独な人の群れの中泳ぐーー" The opening lines of the song "越" (Vượt), which is also the name of the album, depict the hardships of daily life. It is said to represent the feelings of Vietnamese people living and studying in Japan.

Both Japanese and Vietnamese languages alternate in the lyrics of the songs. Although many listeners understand only one of the two languages, KJO emphasizes that "the special thing about this band is conveying the landscapes of both countries, Japan and Vietnam" (KJO). Through the lyrics' rhythm, listeners can perceive the atmosphere of both countries.

The number of Vietnamese people living in Japan as foreign residents has increased ninefold in the past 10 years, reaching 480,000 people as of December 2022. Daisuke's intention was to "deliver courage to people, including Vietnamese people, who come to Japan." In the final part of the album "越" (Vượt), there are words of encouragement in Vietnamese such as "Stand up and move towards tomorrow."

The band will soon welcome a new Japanese vocalist. Sang is determined to "introduce the cultures of both countries through music" and is preparing songs inspired by folk tales from both countries. They are scheduled to perform at the "『シンチャオ ! さいたま』 ベトナムフェス" (Xinchao! Saitama) in September, commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam. In October, they will perform at the concert "HATSU" (Hulic Hall Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku) with the participation of various top Vietnamese singers and bands, as well as Miyazawa Kazufumi, famous for the song "Shimauta" from Japan.