Under the Big Onion” and shaved head…Samplaza Nakano-kun reveals “Behind the Scenes of the Birth of a Great Song and Unique Visuals

Why don’t you wear sunglasses?

Our goal, of course, is a full house!　Budokan is a special place for us.

The Budokan is a special place for us,” said Samplaza Nakano-kun, 65, vocalist of “Bakufu Slump.

This August, “Bakufu Slump” will hold its first concert in 35 years at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda Ward). Budokan is a sacred place for “Bakufu Slump” and its fans. In the hit song “Under the Big Onion,” the “onion” is compared to a giboshu on the roof. It is only natural that they would be fired up to fill the Budokan with memories. Nakano-kun reveals the behind-the-scenes story behind the birth of the famous song and the origin of its unique visual style–.

Nakano joined the band “Super Slump” with guitarist Papparah Kawai as a vocalist in May 1980, right after he entered university (Waseda University). Nakano did not have a shaved head at the time, but a turning point came before he could participate in an amateur rock band contest.

We were confident in our musical abilities. We were confident in our musical ability, but the problem was visuals. When we discussed it among the members, it was unanimously decided that the vocalist should have a shaved head. We each received 1,000 yen and went to the barbershop on the same day.

The reason he started wearing sunglasses was a comment from a female vocalist in another band.

It was at one of our gigs. I had been singing with silver-rimmed glasses, but the woman said, ‘Why don’t you wear sunglasses today? She said, ‘Why don’t you wear sunglasses today? I refused, but the people around me persuaded me, saying, ‘She’s the one who recommended it. When I tried them on, the impact of the sunglasses on my shaved head was surprisingly strong and well received.

He met Funky Sueyoshi, who was a member of another band, and they formed “Bakufu Slump” in June 1982. The band was very popular at live houses, breaking attendance records in many places, but it did not make its major label debut.

That’s right,” he said. They were known for their extreme performances, such as throwing flour at the audience. The record companies must have had a hard time dealing with them.

It was not until August 1984 that they finally made their major label debut. Their popularity skyrocketed, thanks to their lyrics, which were on the edge of being banned for broadcast, and their extreme antics, including using fire on a TV music program. In December 1985, they were scheduled to perform at the Budokan for the first time.

When we finished our live performance at Kudan Kaikan in December of the previous year, the staff at the record company told us, ‘We’ve got the place next door. The “next door” to Kudan Kaikan was the Budokan. I was happy, but I also felt a lot of pressure. At that time, rock bands did not have many customers. I thought there was no way we could fill the hall.

So I wrote a song “Under the Big Onion,” which later became a big hit, as an excuse. It is about a pen pal who promised to go to the Budokan with us, but didn’t show up after all. …… It was a precaution against there being empty seats.”

My fears were unfounded. The first live performance at the Budokan was a full house. Thirty-five years have passed since then. Bakufu Slump” will once again take the stage at the Budokan. Under the big onion …… a new legend is born.

In the February 6 issue of “FRIDAY February 20 and 27” and the paid version of “FRIDAY GOLD,” the unexpected thoughts behind the hit song “Runner” and Ixatsu’s temporary hiatus from the band are introduced. Many ultra-rare photos of Nakano-kun, who was in a groove and ready to be photographed, are also included.

For more details and multiple photos, click here.

From the February 20/27, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY