The word “pioneer” is an overused term in music, but when it comes to MIKABOMB’s founder and lead vocalist Mika Handa, it is perfectly apt. When she arrived in the United Kingdom in 1998 with the intention of forming a band, Japanese artists were the exception rather than the rule, and the do-it-yourself networks that Mika forged paved the way for others to follow. Amongst the triumph of signing to the Beastie Boys’ fledgling record label and sharing stages with the likes of At The Drive-In, there was also tragedy in the life-threatening illness that afflicted former drummer Ergi Ahmed. However, 2026 finds the band in ruddy health, with the recent reissue of their debut album, The Fake Fake Sound Of Mikabomb, and a host of live dates planned. Therefore now seemed like a great time to speak to Mika about the band’s past and their hopes for the future.
AVO Magazine: First things first. Can you tell us about your early forays into music in Japan? What music and artists inspired you to pick up a guitar to play and write music?
Mika: I liked J-pop when I was little, but I was inspired by British and American bands when I was 10 years old. I used to draw a lot of Rolling Stones pictures and listened to the Beatles and the Monkees! Later on, I got into the CBGB music scene, including bands such as the Ramones, the Stooges, and Blondie, and then became interested in British music. And I decided to move to London! I used to see Blur, Pulp, and Supergrass, and many other indie bands.
AVO Magazine: In 1998 you came to London with the intention of starting a band. What made you travel to London, rather than forming a band in your native Japan?
Mika: I liked British indie music; that’s why I moved to England. I went to lots of gigs in London – probably a few times a week. At that point, I wasn’t really thinking about playing in a band. Then I realised I could do it too, so I formed a band.
AVO Magazine: Was it easy or hard assembling a band in London? How did the initial line-up come together?
Mika: Incredibly difficult. There were a lot of Japanese students living in London, but in the end, they all went back to Japan. Because of that, I was constantly recruiting new band members. The initial line-up came together through word of mouth and an ad at the Japan Centre.
AVO Magazine: What were the pros and cons of being a Japanese musician in London in 1998?
Mika: At that time, there weren’t many Japanese bands playing in England. Shonen Knife was the only one most people knew. So when MIKABOMB started, we played in the Camden area every month, and our shows were always packed. Being a Japanese band was definitely an advantage.
AVO Magazine: In the year 2000 MIKABOMB signed with the Beastie Boys’ record label Grand Royal. How did that come about: a Japanese musician living in London signing with an American label?
Mika: We actually received a lot of interest. Epitaph, Damaged Goods, and several other labels were interested in us. First, we signed with Sanctuary Management (Iron Maiden’s management company), and they picked up Ground Royal. We loved Beastie Boys so we were very happy! It was really a shame that Grand Royal went bankrupt, we were going to sign to Toshiba EMI in Japan….
AVO Magazine: The following year you released your debut album, The Fake Fake Sound Of Mikabomb on Damaged Goods. You have recently re-issued that album on vinyl. Can you tell us about the re-issue; have you made any changes in terms of remastering the sound and/or updating the artwork?
Mika: No, it was exactly the same as before. Damaged Goods wanted to reissue the pink vinyl.
AVO Magazine: From 2006 to 2010 the band went on hiatus. Why? Did you need a “break” from music?
Mika: Yes, there was a tragic incident at the end of 2005. Our drummer became critically ill. Miraculously, he survived, but he lost both of his legs. He is my best friend, and I couldn’t continue playing. It was just too hard. However, he now plays in a couple of bands. And he will play some songs at our London show, too.
AVO Magazine: Last year you undertook two tours of the UK. First some dates across the North, and more recently four shows in the South. Was there a difference between crowds in the North and South?
Mika: That’s a good question. I think there were more gig-goers in the south, but I think it really depended on the venue. Leeds was amazing though.
AVO Magazine: You’ve also returned to Japan twice for performances. What was it like performing in your home country?
Mika: That was our first time ever playing in Japan. It was a strange experience. Japanese bands were really good—they were incredibly tight. What surprised me the most was that Japanese musicians didn’t drink before the show! The audience didn’t drink much either. I was used to seeing European people getting drunk and going crazy, so it felt very different. Another thing was that I was used to talking to the audience in English. I didn’t know what to say in Japanese.
AVO Magazine: How do you see the garage rock scene right now in Japan compared to the UK (and the rest of Europe)? And how do you think it has changed since before the coronavirus pandemic and especially since you started MIKABOMB?
Mika: I think there are so many Japanese bands trying to come to Europe at the moment. They sound very much like English bands, and some of them are really good.
AVO Magazine: At the moment, you are preparing for a new UK tour this summer, including a performance at Rebellion. Are there plans for gigs elsewhere in Europe this year?
Mika: We have been asked to play in Germany, but it might not happen this year. We are going to Japan again for a Kyushu tour in November. We want to play in the Netherlands though!
AVO Magazine: With MIKABOMB’s return, you recently have also released a new 7 inch single (currently only out in Japan), titled Shut ya mouth, with a live track of a song that can be found on the album Hellcats (released in 2005) and a previously unreleased song Simon Says. How was the release received by the fans?
Mika: I don’t know, it was mainly for our tour in Japan. We would like to release some new songs soon.
AVO Magazine: Finally, this incarnation of MIKABOMB feels revitalised and reenergised, so what are your future hopes and aspirations for the band? How high are you aiming?
Mika: We just want to enjoy ourselves. Personally, as a songwriter, I’d love to release our third album soon.
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Many thanks to Mika for taking the time to answer the questions for this interview and to the Editor-in-Chief, Francisca, for her input. MIKABOMB will start touring the United Kingdom very soon; more information about the tour can be found in AVO Magazine’s news post.
