Listen to Half Japanese, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!

Alternative

United States

Half Japanese

Top Songs By Half Japanese

Beyond CompareHalf Japanese

Lemonade SunsetHalf Japanese

Poetic LicenseHalf Japanese

Put Some Sugar on ItHalf Japanese

Blame It on Your SmileHalf Japanese

Trouble in the WaterHalf Japanese

Miracles Happen Every DayHalf Japanese

Step On UpHalf Japanese

Listen to Firecracker by Half Japanese, see lyrics, music video & more!

FirecrackerHalf Japanese

One Million KissesHalf Japanese

Latest Release

ALBUMAdventureHalf Japanese

More albums from Half Japanese

ALBUMJump into LoveHalf Japanese

ALBUMI Guess I'm Living: The Charmed Life TapesHalf Japanese

ALBUMCrazy HeartsHalf Japanese

ALBUMInvincibleHalf Japanese

ALBUMWhy Not?Half Japanese

ALBUMHear the Lions RoarHalf Japanese

ALBUMPerfectHalf Japanese

ALBUMOverjoyedHalf Japanese

ALBUMHeaven SentHalf Japanese

ALBUMHotHalf Japanese

ALBUMBoo!Half Japanese

Listen to Fire In the Sky by Half Japanese

ALBUMFire In the SkyHalf Japanese

ALBUMWe Are They Who Ache with Amorous LoveHalf Japanese

ALBUMThe Band That Would Be KingHalf Japanese

ALBUMCharmed LifeHalf Japanese

ALBUMMusic to Strip ByHalf Japanese

ALBUMOur Solar SystemHalf Japanese

ALBUMSing No EvilHalf Japanese

ALBUMLoudHalf Japanese

ALBUMHalf Gentlemen Not BeastsHalf Japanese

About Half Japanese

Hometown

Uniontown, Maryland, United States

Formed

1975

Genre

Alternative

Beginning in the mid-'70s, Half Japanese's chaotic kind of free expression, with Jad Fair expounding on romantic frustration and horror movies while a shifting cast of musicians kicked up a ruckus behind him, have made them the sort of band destined to have a cult following without mainstream recognition. However, that cult came to include Kurt Cobain and Yo La Tengo, and the band released a steady stream of albums throughout the '80s and '90s that made them respected elder statesmen of the underground. Their recording career was on pause during much of the 2000s, but they returned in 2014 with the upbeat and relatively tuneful effort Overjoyed. 2017's Hear the Lions Roar and 2019's Why Not? ranked with Fair's most engaging and accessible work, while 2023's Jump Into Love and 2025's Adventure split the difference between chaos and heartfelt lyrical sentiments.

Members of Half Japanese include, or have included, Jad Fair, David Fair, and Gilles-Vincent Rieder.