[2][3] Originating from Mind Control, a Western-influenced new wave band formed in 1982, Date of Birth crossed over multiple genres, including psychedelic pop, Shibuya-kei, and jungle.
Mind Control's 1983 songs "Red Enamel" and "Don't Break My Heart" attracted both foreign and domestic record labels.
In 1985, Kenichi, a former punk rock singer working with computers in Mind Control's studio, decided to join the band, which became Date of Birth.
By now, Date of Birth was becoming more popular, holding their first concert at Club Quattro in Shibuya in May 1991 and performing live shows in other cities that summer, while also releasing After the Happy the same year.
Around the same time, the Shigeto brothers, particularly Kenichi, became more interested and active in computer technology and CGI, helping create music videos starring Dob-kun.
It is unclear why, though the band's website notes that around this time Kenichi became increasingly active in video game development, while Isao began teaching at the Kyushu Institute of Design.