Broken my toybox (ブロークン マイ トイボックス) is a Japanese pop-rock band formed in 2016. The band is known for their unique genre slogan, 'Broken', as well as a musical approach that is not bound to any single style. With a dynamic trio lineup, they have released a number of works, including a self-titled debut album and a single that became the opening theme of a television drama.
History and Career
Formation and Early Years
Broken my toybox was formed in Tokyo in May 2016. The initial idea of forming the band came from Naoto Goma, who together with guitarist Kentaro Takata and former drummer Yoshiki Kato was looking for a vocalist. They then introduced Itsuki Fujii through a friend from their university circle to fill the vocal and guitar position.
The band name was coined by vocalist Itsuki Fujii. He was inspired by the animated film Toy Story and wanted to use a word related to toys in the band's name. The following year, they released their first single titled "Hello Halo / Wanda Rair" and began actively holding live performances, including a tour titled 'Play Pray Prey'.
Breakthrough and Debut Album
An important milestone in their career came in 2020 when Broken my toybox won the Grand Prix at the talent search event "Gunosy × ARTIST BASE Audition 2020 ~RISE~". This victory became a significant stepping stone for their career.
The peak of this early success was reached in 2021. Their debut song, "Hello Halo -ReLight-", was chosen as the opening theme for the MBS television drama titled 'Muchuu sa, Kimi ni.'. In December of the same year, they released their first studio album titled 'Broken my toybox'. The album contains ten songs, including 'ReLight' versions of their older songs such as "Blackout" and "Hello Halo", as well as new songs such as "Emotional Hero" and "Banshee no Sakebi". The album was released in a limited edition that included a DVD containing music videos. As a form of appreciation for fan support, their first solo concert titled "Owari Kara no Hajimari" sold out for both afternoon and evening performances.
Recent Developments
Entering 2024 and 2025, Broken my toybox continued to show their presence in the music industry. In 2024, they released the single "Tasty" in June, which was part of the exploration of the larger theme of "ishokuju" that they had been carrying since the previous year. This theme continued in 2025 with the consecutive release of two singles. The first single, "Filament", was released as a song with a dark and heavy atmosphere that highlighted another side of the band. The second single, "Washable", arrived with a warm acoustic arrangement while still retaining the melancholic impression typical of Broken my toybox.
In terms of membership, as of 2025 and 2026, the band consists of three members: Itsuki Fujii on vocals and guitar, Kentaro Takata on guitar, and Naoto Goma on bass and backing vocals. In 2026, Itsuki Fujii began a monthly column titled "Broken my toybox Itsuki Fujii no Sagyoubeya" on the official eggman website.
Musical Style and Lyrical Themes
Broken my toybox defines their own genre as 'Broken'. This term reflects their approach of going beyond the usual genre boundaries of band music, freely combining elements of rock, pop, and other musical elements. Their music often features strong contrasts, such as a blend of harshness and clarity, or memorable melodies with heavy and dark arrangements.
The lyrics written by Itsuki Fujii often explore the dark side of human psychology, such as feelings of alienation, anxiety, and inner struggle. This can be seen in the song "Filament", which exposes raw human emotion, or "Loneliness Yourself", which depicts the struggle against loneliness and the inability to connect with others. Although they take on heavy themes, they have the ability to package them into catchy pop compositions, creating a bittersweet atmosphere that has become their trademark.
Band Members
Current Members
Itsuki Fujii serves as vocalist and guitarist. He was born on April 5 and is the lyricist as well as the main architect behind all of the song compositions. He is also the one who named the band. Itsuki Fujii was inspired by singer Shiina Ringo in his childhood, as well as bands such as BUMP OF CHICKEN and RADWIMPS.
Kentaro Takata is the guitarist, born on March 5. He spent his childhood listening to RADWIMPS and BUMP OF CHICKEN, and considers THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT to be the band that influenced him the most.
Naoto Goma holds the position of bass and backing vocals. Born on October 3, he was the initiator of the band's formation. He started playing bass in junior high school after being influenced by the song "Hare Hare Yukai" from the anime Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu. He also listened to Western rock such as Green Day and The Offspring, as well as Japanese bands such as ELLEGARDEN. In addition to music, he is also responsible for merchandise design and music video production.
Former Members
Yoshiki Kato is a former drummer who was one of the early founders of the band before eventually leaving at a certain period.
Discography
Studio Album
Their debut album titled 'Broken my toybox' was released on December 22, 2021. The album contains ten songs, including "Hello Halo -ReLight-" and "Blackout -ReLight-".
Singles
Their first single was "Hello Halo / Wanda Rair", released in 2017. After that, they released "Tasty" in June 2024. In 2025, they released two singles in succession, namely "Filament" as the first release and "Washable" as the second release, which carried a clothing theme.
References
1. "Broken my toybox", Wikiwand.
2. "Broken my toybox", Weblio 辞書.
3. "Broken my toybox / Broken my toybox [CD+DVD] [限定]", CDJournal.
4. "Broken my toyboxが昇華するダークサイド", BIG UP!zine.
5. "Broken my toybox - TOWER RECORDS ONLINE", TOWER RECORDS.
6. "apPETite / Broken my toybox", BIG UP!.
7. "Broken my toybox on OTOTOY Music Store", OTOTOY.