Buffalo Daughter

Buffalo Daughter

Buffalo Daughter is a Tokyo-based Japanese rock group formed in 1993 and active since then. The group’s core line-up is suGar Yoshinaga on guitar, 大野由美子 on bass and moOog Yamamoto on turntables and graphic design. Yamamoto is also credited in the group’s name in its stylised form, and the band also uses electronic instruments including the TB-303, TR-606, Minimoog and shortwave radio.

Line-up and live setup

The group originally includes drummer Chika Ogawa, but after her departure Buffalo Daughter does not keep a permanent drummer and instead uses different players as needed. Yoshinaga and Ohno were formerly in Havana Exotica.

Style and place in Japanese music

Buffalo Daughter is associated with j-rock, rock and shibuya-kei. It is described as part of the cut-and-paste side of the Shibuya-kei movement in Japan, alongside acts such as Pizzicato Five and Cibo Matto.

Recordings and labels

The band starts out on the independent Japanese label Cardinal, then moves to the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal label for wider exposure. By that point its discography includes four full-length albums, an EP and several remixes. Its sound develops from a wide mix of styles into a more restrained melodic approach. One of its later albums is I, which appears in the United States on Emperor Norton Records.

Collaboration

Buffalo Daughter also works with Ami Suzuki. Their collaboration produces the single “O.K. Funky God”, which later appears on Suzuki’s Connetta album.

Name

The group explains its name as a reference to strength, with “Buffalo” chosen for its strong image and “Daughter” reflecting the fact that the members are women at the time of the group’s formation.