Credit: This is Puppypet

New UK tour agency It Came From Japan explodes into life with its first Japanese music showcase this month.

The short tour, which takes place 16 to 21 May 2006, features three diverse Japanese bands and calls in to London, Bournemouth and Brighton. Three-girl grunge band Bo-Peep are travelling all the way from Tokyo and poppy boy/girl ska-punk band Puppypet are coming from Osaka, both especially for this tour. Opening act Shinonome are based in London.

“Ever since I first visited the UK, I’ve wanted to play there,” gushes Ryoko, Bo-Peep’s drummer. “I have a lot of unforgettable memories. For example, I got food poisoning and nearly died! But the UK is an essential place for rock music.”

“It’s my first time abroad,” chimes in her bandmate, bassist Hime. “I want to drink with you guys and make friends.”

“Everyone will get fucked up and get down,” says vocallist Mika. “They’ll get hammered and there’ll be good vibes.”

Drunk? The British? Surely not. Anyway, Bo-Peep have a great affinity for British music, citing The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, Siouxsie And The Banshees, The Smiths and even Franz Ferdinand as influences. No wonder these girls are so bloody loud...

Puppypet boast a fun ska-punk sound fused with traditional Japanese melodies, as Sachi and Tomo squeak impossibly high-pitched vocals over a chunky punk backing.

When asked why Puppypet want to play in the UK, Sachi tells us, “Music is something the whole world has in common. I think music can bring us together - and I want to prove it.”

Sachi says she won’t miss much about Japan while Puppypet are here. She too has a fondness for British music, especially such heavyweights as Oasis and Radiohead. “I can’t understand any of the lyrics though,” she frowns (is there anything to understand? ed).

Shinonome are a London-based band made up of anywhere between four and 11 members. They’re taking the full line-up on the road for It Came From Japan’s tour, happily, allowing them to indulge in experimental jams between pure J-pop tunes that take in everyone from Sonic Youth to Shiina Ringo.