He and the band's drummer, Robb Reiner (no relation to Hollywood director Rob Reiner), met as junior-high-school students in Toronto, felt an immediate musical kinship and, in the face of raised hopes, dashed hopes, big-deal record-label indifference and ever lowered expectations, have been rocking out together ever since.

WSJ: Film Review: 'Observe and Report'

The family hoped to be able to enroll Ryohei in Shiba Junior High School, a springboard for students into the even more sought-after Tokyo University.

CNN: On The Frontline