The Birthday is a Japanese rock group that rose (mostly) from the ashes of Thee Michelle Gun Elephant and Rosso, bands that broke up in 2003 and 2006, respectively. At the head of the band is Chiba Yusuke, the guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist. The Birthday has not had a stable line-up since their 2006 debut, but Chiba Yusuke and drummer Kuhara Kazuyuki have always driven the band’s laid-back style of rock. The Birthday had a prolific start, releasing a handful of singles and two studio albums in eleven months. But they slowed down as the roles of lead guitarist and bass became swinging doors. Yusuke and Kazuyuki have remained constant fixtures though, and the Birthday continues to perform and release new material.