"I'm a person just like you, but I've got better things to do, than sit around and fuck my head, hang out with the living dead, snort white shit up my nose, pass out at the shows, I don't even think about speed, that's something I just don't need, I've got straight edge."
Those words of Ian McKaye, from 1981 became an anthem of an international movement and inspired so many people all over the world.
Fast forward to four decades later, the straight edge community is still keeping strong and is an integral part of the hardcore scene.
Everyone, who claims themselve SxE is very likely to tell you, that is saved their life. There are as many possible reasons and stories as the people who live by this statement.
As we all, more or less, know the history of the movement itself, I'd like to focus on the experiences of people who I have met and talked to.
Straight edge has always inspired me and I'm full of appreciation for folks keeping sober, especially in the hardcore/punk scene, where the drugs and drinking were always commonly acceptable or even encouraged. Just to keep it clear, I've never consider myself straight edge, never even tried to. However, after a lot of perturbations I quit doing all hard drugs many years ago, and stopped drinking alcohol a few years back too. For me it was a natural next step, which appeared to just make sense at the time. And I can say, from my perspective, how hard sometimes it is to keep sober (at least at first), when you are surrounded by drunk/drugged people.
So now, lets move to Japan where, as always, the article will take place.
I spent two weeks in this beautiful country in September 2023, and during my stay there I attended a few live shows in and around the Tokyo area (including a whole day hc festival), and spent a lot of time with people involved in the hc/punk scene there.
I was very curious for a long time, considering my absolute admiration and love for Japanese hardcore bands, how it is at the shows there, and how the whole community gels together and generally what the overall vibes are. What caught my attention instantly was how strong the SxE community seems to be in Japan. I knew I wouldn't be able to judge fully after such a short period of time, but from what I saw, the positive vibes at the gigs and the general friendliness that thrive to an insane level, I really wanted to find out how the straight edge people in Japan feel about it. That's why I reached out to a few guys and gals, trying to learn and understand it a little bit more.
I LOVE listening to people's stories and real life experiences, and I think anyone who decides to go edge has something interesting to share, even if they may not appear, at first to be very different or even compelling. Yet creating and joining a counter-culture within a subculture, is for me one of the most personal forms of self-definition.
I'm always particularly interested in the main reasons and inspirations, and why people decide to become straight edge. And it never ceases to amaze me how some find it so easy, to turn their whole life around and make this sometimes a drastic life change!
Shin (from SxE band RECLUSE) told me: "I started being sober four years ago, then identify myself as SxE right after that. Why did I become SxE? I was just tired to see people acting like they are screwed up and do screwed up things, and I thought, as I'm already fucked up, so I don't wanna be anymore haha".
Seems so effortless, but sometimes you just need to jump on it with that kind of positive attitude I guess. Also, recognising the right momentum can make a huge difference with our ability to adapt to the new lifestyle.
What I also found super interesting, is that a lot of people get inspiration not only from their favourite bands, but also from seeing their SxE mates, and the way they manage to stick to it and still being able to enjoy themselves when going out.
Here's a word from Ed, who is originally from the States and currently lives in Osaka:
"I heard about being straight edge when I was ~15 years old and it sounded cool, plus the singers I liked were edge so I thought pretty highly of the community. While I never 'officially' (lol) went edge, I did refrain from drinking until I was around 20 or so. Flashforward six or so years later and after certain life events, plus understanding more and more about the edge movement, I thought it's only natural to make it a part of my life for good.
A big portion of my inspiration was just seeing first-hand how people of all ages could still enjoy their lives without relying on vices to help enhance things. Also, not needing said vices to help deal with life's many problems. A common pipeline I see for people joining the movement (and also similar to my own) was seeing how people conducted themselves in public and then eventually asking them questions about being edge, etc. It's a little weird typing that out but the more I think about it, the more I understand just how much my choices were influenced by what I was seeing first-hand rather than solely what I was reading on a lyric sheet, etc."
And yet again, I think Ed pointed out perfectly how self reflection and real life examples are so much more powerful and influential than just 'virtual' stories.
In particular I really wanted to hear a voice from the female perspective, as we all know how male dominated hc/punk scene was and still is. I felt so happy when I was preparing myself to write this, and I got a message back from Yuka (currently plays guitar in MINI MYTH; ex.CRUNK vocalist), who kindly shared her view and the story behind her inspiration. Here's what she said:
" The reason I became straight edge was related to my experiences at live house when I was 16 to 20 years old.
I like intense sounds, but I think I'm serious on the inside, and I'm shy.
I was interested and listened to metal, hardcore, punk, etc. from an early age.
I started going to live shows at the age of 16, but the music scene I saw had a huge gap between ma and myself, so it wasn't the place I felt comfortable.
Tobacco, alcohol, drugs and sex are indispensable.
Bad people, strong people, and violent people are praised.
Since I was one of the few women in the scene, I experienced many negative feelings that only a woman can have.
There were a lot of places like that, and there was a time when I started hating metal, hardcore, and punk, and I didn't go to live shows that much anymore. (The scenes I was watching at the time were biased. I may have assumed that part of the scene was the whole story.) However, when I learned about the idea of straight edge and the existence of such people and bands, I started to like hardcore and punk again.
I thought I was straight edge at heart and I got an X tattoo on my finger when I was 21 years old."
I think this is so powerful. Finding the strength from SxE and kind of 'reincarnating' the love for the scene, which felt like it overpowered and betrayed you earlier. I can totally feel it!
And this brings another question, is SxE community in Japan in general a safe and supportive space then? I witnessed a kind of symbiotic coexistence there, but again, how does it feel from the inside perspective?
I want to quote Ed here again, who is in a good place to be able to compare it first hand with the US scene, living in Japan now for a few good years:
"It's super tiny, but there are a few of us! The drinking culture inside Japan is quite different from that back home in the States and while I don't want to generalise too much, I think given how common booze is in the workplace/among friends it would be harder for someone to make the change.
Despite how much people here like to drink together and party during/after shows here, they don't exclude those who don't want to drink which is really nice. It's easy (and almost understandable) for them to not want to hang around sober people while they're feeling good, so the inclusion goes a long ways. I never see any peer pressure or anything stupid like that.
I'm not really sure if the amount of edge people will ever grow too much to be honest; I'm not sure weather or not that's due to societal expectations of drinking, or merely just making a very large life change, but either way that's OK with me. I've seen a few people recently reduce the amount they drink to get things under control a bit more and honestly, that's just as great as people deciding to become edge. I'm all for people having tons of fun and staying in control while they party without going over the top."
I found Yuka's words in support of this also:
"For me, a band member who often hangs out at live houses, straight edge is a movement that feels like a safe space.
I think that in Japan, there is not a community, but individuals who are practicing straight edge ideas.
Maybe I just don't know.."
I think it's not even about what we know or see, it's about how it feels for people who are involved, and it's always a personal perspective. And it's always right, as our feelings matter. Everyone should be comfortable in their own space, regardless of their drinking habits.
I'm glad that Shin also sees it this way:
"Not big enough to evolve a community, but I believe each individual stays strong to keep these commitments.
I can say it's a very supportive scene.
Basically, non SxE guys and SxE guys can coexist so we can support each other, how beautiful it is?"
It is truly a beautiful thing!
Yuka's personal experience perfectly relays that and I feel is quite insightful to Japan's scene:
"From around the age of 20, I started paying attention not only to the sound, but also to the message and inner aspects of the bands.
A straightforward message. Performances by people who are beautiful on the inside.
In the first place, I realised that rather than 'I like hardcore, punk, and metal', I was 'looking for a safe space in music'.
I think there are many people who find purpose in life through music, both now and in the past.
I think everyone goes out into society and goes through a lot of hardships.
I want live house to be a place where people can liberate themselves from society's prejudices, discrimination, and the hardships of life. This is my personal opinion. I would like to see more events and locations like this."
Damn right, I can only agree!
From a slightly different angle, Ed also has a story to add:
"It's not a particularly interesting anecdote, but I remember X'ing up for my friends' new straight-edge band here called RECLUSE for the first time in many, many years. I was still relatively new to Japan but it was really awesome that there were ~5 of us together in a room all the same time with X's on our hands. It's easy to feel lost and lonely in a new country, but I just remember thinking to myself 'this truly feels like a lil' brotherhood.' It wasn't particularly eventful or anything, but it's the small details I'll think back on years down the line when hopefully we're able to hold an edge day show in Osaka/Japan and the community has grown larger and larger!"
How cool is that? I think that feelings of unity are so important, and it can manifest through the little moments and gestures like that. Especially when you're a newbie in a country far away from home.. I've been there too (hello, England lol), I know exactly how it feels. We need some solid foundation in order to grow, and that kind of friendship, the little family we choose, is everything.
And I so hope when I next visit, Osaka/Japan Edge Day will be a real thing!
I have to say, all these statements just put into words the initial feelings I had, after what I witnessed in Japan. It reminds me a bit of London in particular (can't really say much about the rest of Europe in recent years), which is very inclusive in terms of SxE/non-SxE people, everyone just enjoying the gigs together and nobody giving a fuck much about what's in your glass, or if you are drunk, stoned or sober. It resonates with me and that's why it instantly caught my attention there, in Japan. That feeling of inclusion and lack of separation.
I think in that respect, Japan's scene owes a lot to the classic 90's and 00's hc bands, like Loyal To The Grave for example, which were promoting SxE ethos since the very beginning of their existence. And as the scene wasn't particularly big then, everyone was more in acceptance of each other.
I think passing it on to the next generation. I saw a few young, emerging bands in Japan, who have mixed, SxE and non-SxE members, and they can pull it off with a real energy and vigour, without any unnecessary division. In my opinion the only way it should be!
Just to sum it up is a little message from Shin:
"Shout out to everybody who supports scenes and our bands. Lots of love ❤"
I'm joining in to sign this statement! Love and support to all the bands and SxE folks in Japan (and all over the world).
*All the photos provided by YUKA (ありがとうございます！🙏)
Links:
