Violent Technologies: Osaka’s Vegan Straight Edge Punk-Rockers

Osaka-based punk rocker Hirokazu Emura has been vegan and straight edge for over 20 years. During that time, he has done a great deal for both vegan advocacy and the DIY hardcore scene.

Besides booking Japanese shows for international hardcore bands, Hirokazu has played in obscure local bands such as Undivided, Positive Outlook, xThe Best Defencex, and xStart Revengingx. He is now the driving force behind the punk rock band Violent Technologies.

Originally formed as a vegan punk band to play the Ethical Vegan Fest in Osaka, Violent Technologies are now the only vegan straight edge band in the city, if not all of Japan. Here is a short interview with Hirokazu that I hope you’ll find interesting.

Hi, Violent Technologies! Can you introduce yourselves and tell us how you got together and what the main driving force behind the band is?

Hirokazu: Hi, I’m xHirokazux, the vocalist of Violent Technologies. The other members at the moment are xGenkix on guitar, xYoheix on drums, and Yukino on bass as a support member.

Our main driving force is the desire to make this planet a better place, not only for humans but also for nonhuman animals and the environment as a whole.

What are your personal experiences with and reasons for living a vegan and drug-free lifestyle? Why do you emphasize ethical veganism in particular?

Hirokazu: Vegan straight edge feels like the simplest and most natural lifestyle to me. Being vegan doesn’t just mean not eating meat. It means being aware of the responsibility each of us has in the process through which all products are created. That’s why I think ethical veganism is so important.

You also sing about the dangers of GMOs and palm oil extraction. How important are the environmental and anticapitalist aspects of your message? What is the meaning behind the name Violent Technologies?

Hirokazu: Actually, we are not against capitalism as a whole. We are against greedy capitalism, such as the neoliberal global system that puts profit above everything else. The name “Violent Technologies” refers to biotech companies such as Monsanto.

What is it like to be vegan in Japan? Do you support the work of any activists or organizations promoting veganism and animal rights? Are you involved in any such groups yourself?

Hirokazu: In large cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, the number of vegan restaurants and places offering vegan options is rapidly increasing. If you’re vegan, you don’t have to worry about finding meals when living in these cities.

I’m the president of The Ethical Vegan Society of Japan. I’m also an organizer of the Ethical Vegan Fest in Osaka and a staff member of Anonymous for the Voiceless.

The Ethical Vegan Society of Japan was launched in 2015. It is the first and only organization of its kind in Japan. It aims to represent the Japanese vegan community as a whole and make significant progress in spreading its ideas. If you are looking for vegan and vegetarian restaurants, the society has a comprehensive list for you.

The organization also supports other vegan, humanitarian, and animal welfare groups in Japan. It acts as an umbrella organization for various projects, including the Farm Sanctuary Japan Project, which aims to establish a facility near the metropolitan area where people can experience the true nature of the farmed animals they are unintentionally harming.

Traditionally, spiritual teachings such as Buddhism and Shintoism both promoted a plant-based diet. It wasn’t until the modern era that the country became accustomed to widespread meat consumption, so what arguments do people use to justify the meat on their plates? Do you think meat consumption, whale hunting, and environmental destruction will continue to increase? What alternatives do we have besides going vegan?

Hirokazu: After adopting many aspects of Western culture during the Meiji era in the late 19th century, Japanese society rapidly began eating more meat. During the 20th century, following the US occupation and reconstruction after Japan lost World War II, meat-eating culture spread throughout the country.

Today, Japanese people celebrate the New Year by visiting Shinto shrines while also celebrating Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Weddings are held in a Christian style, while funerals follow Buddhist traditions. Japan has adopted a variety of different religious and cultural practices.

The culture of eating whale meat has almost disappeared. Only the government and some private companies still promote whale hunting.

Japanese people now tend to adopt new cultures without necessarily thinking about them. If a larger ethical vegan movement arrived here from Europe or the US, I think it would be rapidly accepted.

When we talk about vegan straight edge, we usually think of bands influenced by the ’90s hardcore scene, often with a significant metallic sound. Why do you play straightforward punk rock, and what are your main musical influences?

Hirokazu: The song that influenced me most to adopt a vegan straight edge lifestyle was “No More” by Youth of Today. Of course, I also like Earth Crisis, Vegan Reich, and Framework.

I have invited bands such as xPurificationx, xReprisalx, and Liar to play in Japan, and they have all toured throughout the country. As a punk rocker, I think the best way to spread the idea of veganism is by playing punk rock.

Tell us about the DIY punk scene in Osaka right now. Are there any good venues, interesting bands, zines, political collectives, or other projects?

Hirokazu: I highly recommend visiting Revenge Records when you come to Osaka. They sell many rare and interesting records that would appeal to hardcore punk freaks. They also kindly support our band.

Are there any other vegan straight edge bands around? What about the Japanese straight edge scene in general? Do you care about youth crew or other offshoots of straight edge hardcore that are not necessarily vegan or political?

Hirokazu: As far as I know, there might not be any other vegan straight edge bands in Japan right now. There were a few straight edge bands here in the past, though, and it seems that some people are becoming straight edge now as well. Generally, I don’t care whether or not they are vegan or political.

Do you think hardcore punk, vegan straight edge, and the broader DIY ethos can provide a genuine alternative to the outside world on both a material and spiritual level?

Hirokazu: Looking at the current situation, I don’t think so.

There are many activities, such as liberating animals from places of abuse, protecting the earth’s environment, following spiritual teachings, and farming sustainably. However, these acts are usually carried out separately, even though they are all connected and related to one another.

In my opinion, every form of activism is important and shouldn’t be underestimated. People working in different fields of activism need to act harmoniously, but the current situation is bad.

What other influences do you have beyond music? Are there any interesting things you can share about your personal life or ideas?

Hirokazu: Recently, I started learning yoga. The fact that Ray and Porcell of Youth of Today, whom I respect so much, became yoga teachers was a huge inspiration to me.

Satish Kumar’s ideas also really resonate with me. I’m now studying his books and would like to recommend them.

Thank you very much. Is there anything you would like to add?

Hirokazu: We are working on a new Violent Technologies demo, and we are almost finished recording it. It will be released soon, so look forward to it.

I’m really grateful for this opportunity. Thank you, Mitko, and thank you to everyone who has read this interview. Arigato!