Editing Asian Kung-Fu Generation (section)

===1996–2002: Formation and indie releases===
Asian Kung-Fu Generation was first formed in 1996 when [[Masafumi Gotoh]], [[Kensuke Kita]], and [[Takahiro Yamada (musician)|Takahiro Yamada]] met while attending a music club at [[Kanto Gakuin University]], a private university in [[Yokohama]], [[Japan]]. After realizing that they all shared similar musical tastes, the three decided to start their own band. [[Masafumi Gotoh]] became the [[lead vocalist]] and played [[rhythm guitar]], Kensuke Kita played [[lead guitar]] and sang [[backup vocals|backup]] and [[Takahiro Yamada (musician)|Takahiro Yamada]] played bass. Drummer [[Kiyoshi Ijichi]] joined them later on after parting with another college band he was in. The four then began providing performances at their university as well as throughout the local [[Yokohama]] area. After graduating from college, following years of playing in several small venues and having [[Caramelman and Asian Kung-Fu Generation|collaborated]] with fellow Japanese rock musician Caramelman, AKFG released their first [[Indie (music)|indie]] [[Extended play|EP]] in 2000. The six-track EP contained original lyrics written and sung almost entirely in [[English (language)|English]]. The four spent the remainder of the year playing in clubs and hosting independent events.

The year after, the band made an attempt to attain airplay on indie radio stations for their first Japanese single, {{nihongo|"Konayuki"|粉雪|}}. The song was eventually picked up by a popular radio DJ and put into heavy rotation on the station [[FM Yokohama]] upon the demand of listeners. AKFG then released another indie EP, ''[[I'm Standing Here]]''. This time, however, the band wrote songs in [[Japanese (language)|Japanese]]. At this time, the band had begun drawing an increasingly large number of audiences to their shows held in clubs in the districts of [[Shibuya, Tokyo|Shibuya]], [[Shimokitazawa]], [[Kichijōji]], and [[Tokyo]].<ref name="ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION: Biography">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/AKG/eng/bio/index.html |title=ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION: Biography |access-date=2008-10-09 |work= Sony Music Website |publisher=[[Ki/oon Records|Ki/oon Records Inc]] | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081025080610/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/AKG/eng/bio/index.html| archive-date= 25 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>