Hitsuji Bungaku is an indies rock trio from Tokyo, whose name translates to "Sheep Literature". They started in 2011 when they were freshmen in high school. The current members are Moeka Shiotsuka (guitar, vocals) and Yurika Kawanishi (bass).
* Original drummer Hiroa Fukuda left in 2024.
Originally a 5-piece all-girl high school band that played cover songs, they began writing their own songs and performing locally around Tokyo. In 2013. As high school seniors they were finalists in the Yokohama Highschool Music Festival. To concentrate on studying for university entrance exams the band went on hiatus but reunited as a 3-piece and began playing shows again in March 2015.
Their music shares the same soulfulness, dark lyrical content, emotional power and sonic intensity as Regal Lily and Kinoko Teikoku's earliest material.
They formed their current lineup in 2017, and have released four EPs, one full-length album, and the limited edition single "1999 / Ningen Datta", which became a national hit.
On August 19, 2020, they made their major debut with the digital release of "Sabaku no kimi e / Girls" (F.C.L.S. - Sony Music Labels)..
They released their 2nd full album "our hope" on April 20, 2022, and completed a tour to promote the release at Zepp in five major cities, as well as performances at Tokyo's Nakano Sunplaza and Osaka's Festival Hall, which were all sold out. From September 2023, they had their largest solo tour with 12 performances in 10 locations nationwide.
The band's profile continued to rise when they contributed "More Than Words" as the ending theme for the Shibuya Incident Arc of Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 in September 2023. They rounded out the year with their fourth album, 12 Hugs (Like Butterflies), released in December.
In May 2024, drummer Hiroa Fukuda would take a break from performing, with the band continuing to use support members for live shows.
The following month, on June 6 (Japan's Sheep Day), they released their version of the Shaun the Sheep theme song "Life's a Treat."
In July 2024, Hitsujibungaku released "Burning" as the ending theme for season two of Oshi no Ko. On March 19, 2025 the music video for “Burning,” directed by Umi Ishihara, won Best Rock Video at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan.
The band made their U.S. debut with a performance in Honolulu on December 14th, 2024 and they subsequently toured the US west coast in April 2025. Drummer Yuna (formerly from Chai) filled in for Fukuda during the tour.
On January 20, 2025, Hitsujibungaku released the song “Koe.” On March 28, Hitsujibungaku released the song “Map of the Future 2025.”
They released their new album Don’t Laugh It Off on October 8, 2025. Later that month, Hitsujibungaku went on its first European tour with stops in Nijmegen, Cologne, Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna, and London.
