2021
In February, Buck-Tick announced the sale of another collaboration of Hisashi and Kiryuyrik. This time it was another mask design plus a chain to attach to your mask so you could wear it like reading glasses for quick removal and not lose it.
On February 5, the delayed international release of Abracadabra finally happened. This was the first time Buck-Tick was marketed in English. The album included an insert with the song lyrics translated into English. It also contained extra tracks from the respective singles. On February 17, this international version of the album was available to purchase in Japan.
In February, Gain (garment, artist, illustration, noise) released silkscreen canvas panels of the illustrations made by Atsushi Kamijo that they sold as t-shirts last year. They were signed by the artist and sold for ¥10,000.
After being delayed for a year, the Guitar Circus Vol.9 event was held on February 25. Originally it was to be several bands performing to celebrate the 50th birthday of singer/guitarist Kenta Harada and the 52nd birthday of drummer Eiji Mitsuzono. Both U-ta and Toll were scheduled to perform last year. However, the in person live event shifted to have less capacity and make it more of a streaming event. The participants also changed. There were performances by Katamali (Kenta's band with Eiji), Tengoku Brothers (Koichi Sato plus all members of Katamali), and Yagami Toll & Blue Sky (Kenta on guitar, Kaname on bass, Masato Yagi on guitar). The tribute band that U-ta was going to make an appearance with last year did not participate.
During Atsushi's birthday month of March, the sale of an Atsushi produced corsage was announced. Not the fresh flower kind you might wear on your arm but more of a fake flower accessory you might see old ladies wear. Two different colors were available for ¥15,000.
On April 24, Atsushi was interviewed by comedian Hiroshi for "Switch Interview Tatsujin-tachi" (means 'experts') on NHK's Educational TV channel AKA E Tele. Though he's a comedian known for a particular shtick, he is also known in Japan for promoting solo camping and has a show devoted to the joys of camping alone. Of all the Buck-Tick members, Atsushi is the least likely to be out in nature and go camping so it is one of the most unique television interviews that any Buck-Tick member has ever appeared in. The show started out with them meeting in Tokyo and then they were to camp but due to poor weather, they chatted in a cabin instead, though Atsushi did help to chop a small piece of wood for a fire. During their conversation, it turns out that the two have a lot in common and are fans of each other's work. The interview was also notable for showing an unpublished photo of Atsushi as a child with his brother and father.
During Hide's birthday month of June, the sale of two Hide produced items were announced: a floor mat and house slippers. They were ¥3,500 each or discounted when purchased as a set. Every Japanese person has a minimum of 2 house slippers in their home and likely another pair at school and work. They know their audience.
Over the summer, the official fan club Fish Tank issued their 100th newsletter.
Based on the successful virtual streaming concert from the previous year, Buck-Tick held another streaming concert on July 17 entitled Misemonogoya Ga Kurete Kara ~Show After Dark~, (essentially it means The Freak Show Tent After Dark).
During Toll's birthday month of August, the sale of a Toll produced beret in collaboration with CA4LA was announced. The CA4LA Shibuya store had a display of the sample model. Two colors sold for ¥9,800 each. If you scour the net for off duty photos of Toll hanging out with his friends, you may notice that he's often wearing berets.
In August, Toll performed his annual birthday gig It's A Now! with his band Blue Sky. The members once again included Kenta Harada (guitar/vocals), Kaname (bass), and Masato Yagi (guitar/vocals). This time Blue Sky performed only on August 19 at Shimokitazawa Shangri-La in Tokyo. They were joined with special guests Tochikatsu Uchiumi (Carol), Atsushi Yokozeki (The Slut Banks), Minako Yoshida, and opening act Hitsuji Suzuki. These birthday shows have a central theme of Carol covers so having an actual member of Carol was quite special. Toll has long been a fan of Minako and she previously appeared as a guest vocalist on the chorus for "Gensou No Hana" (2003) as well as did the backing vocal arrangement for the single's B-side "Nocturne -Rain Song-." Hitsuji participated in the Blue Sky EP released in 2019.
After some tough pandemic times, perhaps it was time to offer the fans a little value for money. Two virtual concerts were packaged as one with the August 18 release of the home video Tour 2020 Abracadabra On Screen / Abracadabra Live on the Net.
On September 18, Atsushi appeared on the FM Cocolo radio show "The Majestic Saturday Night."
On September 22, the single "Go-Go B-T Train" was released. The song's lyrics were written by Atsushi and music by Hisashi. The B-sides included a new song "Koi" (Atsushi/Hide) and new self-covers of "Uta" (1995) and "Just One More Kiss" (1988). There was a momentary confusion when a media outlet published the wrong kanji reading for "Koi" when announcing the details of the new release. I will not repeat it here to avoid any further confusion.
There was a pop up store at Seibu Ikebukuro department store for Project (Re:II) from September 22-October 5. This was the collaboration announced at the end of the previous year that featured Buck-Tick lyrics as inspiration on clothing and tapestry.
During Hisashi's birthday month of October, it was announced that Hisashi would also have some produced goods for sale but the details weren't revealed until December. These were original footwear that looked like Converse high tops. Available in three colors, they sold for ¥11,000-¥16,000.
Off schedule from everyone else announcing birthday month merchandise, in October it was announced that U-ta produced a tulip pendant using the lyrics of "Go-Go B-T Train" as the motif. (His birthday is in January.) Different color stones were available for ¥17,600 each.
Buck-Tick was going to hold the Go-Go B-T Train tour but it never took place. It was to start with a fan club members only show on September 21 at Toyosu Pit in Tokyo and end on December 26 in Miyagi for a total of 21 dates. (The official website does not count fan club only shows as part of the tour and would say the tour was to start on October 3 in Shizuoka.) On August 17, the band announced that Hisashi had fractured the top of his left femur (thigh bone) and would require 2.5 months to recover. They regrettably postponed the first 5 shows to 2022. As Hisashi's healing and physical rehabilitation took place, he posted occasionally on social media. These included photos of himself in a wheelchair, on crutches, and also that he acquired a Yamaha SLG series 'silent guitar' for practice. (Prior to the injury, he had posted pictures of what appeared to be an inflatable pool on his rooftop so perhaps he slipped getting out of the pool.) Eventually the band cancelled all of the shows. These are the most shows the band has ever cancelled without rescheduling but with Hisashi's well-being in mind and a continuing pandemic, I think most fans were disappointed but understood that it was for the best. Due to the injury, Hisashi started walking with a cane and seemed to enjoy it as he bought different designs.
Atsushi and Toll were guests on Minako Yoshida's Usen (cable radio) show "Uta No Showa Hito" on November 3 with rebroadcasts through December 1. It was likely recorded in mid-late August as that's when photos first surfaced.
The previous year's only in person live performance was released on home video on December 29 as Abracadabra The Day In Question 2020. Also on December 29, Buck-Tick took the Misemonogoya Ga Kurete Kara ~Show After Dark~ show to the Nippon Budokan for a live audience concert. It was also broadcast on the Wowow Prime cable channel as well as Wowow On Demand.