Takuya Asanuma (浅沼 拓也, Asanuma Takuya; born 9 September 1971), better known mononymously as Takuya (stylized in all…
Takuya Asanuma (浅沼 拓也, Asanuma Takuya; born 9 September 1971), better known mononymously as Takuya (stylized in all caps as TAKUYA), is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He was formerly the second guitarist of Judy and Mary. He currently works as a solo artist under the name Takuya and also had a solo project called Robots which was dissolved in 2009. He was previously married to a former geisha from Gion, but they divorced in 2006. His most recent release was a duet with Aya Kamiki titled "W-B-X (W-Boiled Extreme)", the theme for Kamen Rider W.
Famous Japanese People: Musician
Musician: 160 people
You the Rock (stylized as YOU THE ROCK★; born Yu Takemae (竹前 裕, Takemae Yū); 5 September 1971, in Nagano, Nagano) is a…
You the Rock (stylized as YOU THE ROCK★; born Yu Takemae (竹前 裕, Takemae Yū); 5 September 1971, in Nagano, Nagano) is a Japanese hip-hop musician, MC and tarento. He is nicknamed You-chan (Youちゃん) and Yū-chan Da Aniki YTR (ユウちゃん DA 兄貴 YTR).
Takurō Kubo (Japanese: 久保 琢郎, Hepburn: Kubo Takurō; born May 26, 1971 in Hakodate, Hokkaido), better known by his stage…
Takurō Kubo (Japanese: 久保 琢郎, Hepburn: Kubo Takurō; born May 26, 1971 in Hakodate, Hokkaido), better known by his stage name TAKURO, is a Japanese musician and lyricist best known as one of the guitarists and leader of the rock band Glay, for which he is also the main composer and lyricist. As a musician and composer, Takuro has worked with different artists and has also released solo works. Takuro and his older sister were raised by a single mother, as she never remarried after his father's death, when Takuro was three years old. He considers his mother an early influence in his musical career, as he was strongly impressed by her singing.
Suneohair (スネオヘアー, Suneoheā) is the performing name of Kenji Watanabe. He is best known in the West for his…
Suneohair (スネオヘアー, Suneoheā) is the performing name of Kenji Watanabe. He is best known in the West for his contributions to the soundtrack of the anime adaptation of Honey & Clover and Honey and Clover II, for which he provided the ending themes "Waltz" (ワルツ) and "Split" (スプリット). He has also provided the ending themes for Arakawa Under the Bridge and Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge, namely "Sakasama Bridge" (逆様ブリッジ) and "Akai Coat" (赤いコート) respectively. More recently, he provided the ending theme to the Anime Sukitte Ii na yo, "Slow Dance".
Do As Infinity is a Japanese pop and rock band that formed in 1999 with three members: vocalist Tomiko Van, guitarist…
Do As Infinity is a Japanese pop and rock band that formed in 1999 with three members: vocalist Tomiko Van, guitarist Ryo Owatari, and guitarist and composer Dai Nagao. The band's name is sometimes abbreviated as DAI, alluding to the fact that Do As Infinity was named after Nagao. Signed to Avex Trax, the band released their debut single "Tangerine Dream" on September 29, 1999, followed by three more singles between 1999 and 2000, which appeared on their debut album Break of Dawn (2000). In December 2000, Nagao decided to devote all his time to composing the music and no longer appeared at live events. Five more studio albums were released between 2001 with New World and 2005 with Need Your Love. With the release of their A-side singles compilation album Do the A-side (2005), Do As Infinity disbanded on September 29, 2005. The members continued work in the music industry, with Van pursuing a solo career, Owatari working with his band Missile Innovation formed in 2004, and Nagao continuing to work with other artists at Avex Trax. The band reformed on September 29, 2008, but Nagao did not return. Do As Infinity had their first new single release "∞1", in June 2009, followed by their seventh studio album Eternal Flame (2009). The band released their 11th and latest studio album Brand New Days in February 2015.
Keizoh Kawano (河野啓三, Kawano Keizō; born February 4, 1971) is a Japanese pianist, keyboardist, and composer who served…
Keizoh Kawano (河野啓三, Kawano Keizō; born February 4, 1971) is a Japanese pianist, keyboardist, and composer who served as keyboardist and pianist for the band T-Square until August 2020.
Kiyonobu Inoue (Japanese: 井上 清信, Hepburn: Inoue Kiyonobu; born September 29, 1970), better known exclusively by his…
Kiyonobu Inoue (Japanese: 井上 清信, Hepburn: Inoue Kiyonobu; born September 29, 1970), better known exclusively by his stage name Inoran, is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Luna Sea since 1986. He started his solo career in 1997. Luna Sea disbanded in 2000, and he formed Fake? with Oblivion Dust vocalist Ken Lloyd a year later. In 2005 he left Fake? and founded Tourbillon with Luna Sea vocalist Ryuichi Kawamura and Hiroaki Hayama. He rejoined Luna Sea when they reunited in 2010, and in 2012 formed Muddy Apes with bassist Taka Hirose and guitarist Dean Tidey, both from Feeder, and 8otto's vocalist Maeson. In 2011, Inoran became the first Japanese musician to have a signature model guitar with Fender.
Takanori Nishikawa (西川 貴教, Nishikawa Takanori; born September 19, 1970) is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter…
Takanori Nishikawa (西川 貴教, Nishikawa Takanori; born September 19, 1970) is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, voice actor, radio personality, and businessman. He performs under the stage name T.M.Revolution (T.M.R.), which stands for "Takanori Makes Revolution" (貴教が革命を起こす, Takanori ga kakumei o okosu), stemming from the famous 1980s pop electronic band TM Network. Despite most of his songs being written by Akio Inoue and composed/arranged by Daisuke Asakura (also TMR's former producer), T.M.Revolution is considered Nishikawa's solo project. Nishikawa is also known for contributions of ending and opening themes to many notable anime and game series. After three years as vocalist of the visual kei rock band Luis-Mary, Nishikawa debuted as TMR with the release of his first solo single "Dokusai (Monopolize)" (独裁 -monopolize-) in May 1996. Later that year, his third single "Heart of Sword (Yoake Mae)" (HEART OF SWORD ～夜明け前～) was used as the third ending song for the anime series Rurouni Kenshin, further expanding his fan base. He also contributed six songs to the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED franchise – three for Gundam SEED and three for Gundam SEED Destiny. Nishikawa has guest starred as a minor character in each of those anime series that featured his songs. In 2010, his single "Save the One, Save the All" was used as the ending theme song for the movie Bleach: Hell Verse. Several of Nishikawa's songs, such as "Crosswise" and "Flags", have been used by Capcom's Sengoku Basara video game series and media franchise. In 2005, Nishikawa formed the rock band Abingdon Boys School. T.M.Revolution was the first artist to be signed to Tofu Records, a record label (affiliated with Sony Music Japan) promoting Japanese artists in North America. Tofu released three of his studio albums: coordinate (2003), Seventh Heaven (2004), and vertical infinity (2005). Nishikawa made his North American live debut at Otakon, a large anime convention in 2003. He has also performed at Pacific Media Expo in 2004 and at the New York Comic Con in 2008. Nishikawa revisited his 2003 US performance at the Asian culture convention Otakon by performing at Otakon's 20th Anniversary on August 10, 2013.
Hidetaka Yoshioka (吉岡 秀隆; born on August 12, 1970) is a Japanese actor known for his performance in several movies as a…
Hidetaka Yoshioka (吉岡 秀隆; born on August 12, 1970) is a Japanese actor known for his performance in several movies as a child and the TV drama Dr. Coto's Clinic. He played the part of Tora-san's nephew in the Otoko wa Tsurai yo film series, and he appeared in Akira Kurosawa's Rhapsody in August and Madadayo. He won two Japan Academy Awards Best Actor for Always: Sunset on Third Street and its sequel Always: Sunset on Third Street 2.
Koichi Toyama (Japanese: 外山 恒一, Hepburn: Toyama Kōichi; born July 26, 1970) is a Japanese street musician and a fringe…
Koichi Toyama (Japanese: 外山 恒一, Hepburn: Toyama Kōichi; born July 26, 1970) is a Japanese street musician and a fringe political activist who was a candidate for the governor of Tokyo in the year 2007. He was born in Kagoshima Prefecture and lives in Fukuoka. He gained notoriety with his provocative 2007 Tokyo gubernatorial election speech.
Kankurō Kudō (宮藤 官九郎, Kudō Kankurō; born July 19, 1970 in Miyagi Prefecture) is a Japanese screenwriter, dramatist…
Kankurō Kudō (宮藤 官九郎, Kudō Kankurō; born July 19, 1970 in Miyagi Prefecture) is a Japanese screenwriter, dramatist, director, actor and member of the theater company Otona Keikaku. He won the 'Best Screenplay' award at the 2002 Japanese Academy Awards for Go, which explores problems faced by people of Korean-heritage living in Japan. He acted in Crying Out Love in the Center of the World, and is also guitarist in the Japanese comedy rock band Group Tamashii.
Yoshikazu Yahiro (born July 5, 1970 in Tsu, Mie, Japan), better known by his stage name Panther and formerly as Circuit…
Yoshikazu Yahiro (born July 5, 1970 in Tsu, Mie, Japan), better known by his stage name Panther and formerly as Circuit V. Panther, is a Japanese metal guitarist. His stage name was comes from the place he was born, Mie Prefecture where the Suzuka racing circuit is, his favorite guitarist, Steve Vai from which he adopted the letter V, and the panther. He joined Sex Machineguns in April 2001 as a tour supporter and became an official member in September 2001. When Sex Machineguns went on hiatus in 2004 most of the members, including Panther, formed Elleguns. On September 26, 2003, he released a six track instrumental solo album, named Sexy Finger. On September 15, 2004, Sexy Finger II, another six track instrumental solo album, was released. Sexy Finger III, once again a six track instrumental solo album, was released on April 13, 2011. Panther's style encompasses a wide variety of musical genres, including blues, hard rock, and different genres of metal; speed, power, neo-classical. He demonstrates the qualities of a guitar virtuoso; fluid sweep-picking, tapping, etc. He has also been featured in Young Guitar magazine. Panther uses ESP guitars, of which he has his own signature line of custom designed guitars. He is currently in the band Cycle (or The Cycle) since December 2006, with other former Sex Machineguns members of the 4th stage; such as Samurai.W.Kenjilaw and Speed Star Sypan Joe.
Ryuichi Kawamura (Japanese: 河村 隆一, Hepburn: Kawamura Ryūichi; born May 20, 1970) is a Japanese singer, songwriter…
Ryuichi Kawamura (Japanese: 河村 隆一, Hepburn: Kawamura Ryūichi; born May 20, 1970) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and author. He is best known as lead singer of the rock band Luna Sea since 1989. They are regarded as one of the most influential bands in the visual kei scene. After they disbanded in 2000, he focused on his solo career as a pop singer, which began in 1997. In 2005, Kawamura formed Tourbillon with fellow Luna Sea member Inoran and Hiroaki Hayama. He rejoined Luna Sea when they reunited in August 2010. Kawamura's first full-length album Love topped the Oricon Albums Chart with sales of 1,021,000 copies, making him the only male solo artist to have an album sell over one million copies within its initial week in the chart's history. It went on to sell 3.2 million copies, making it the best-selling male solo album in Japan. In 1997 alone, with his mini and full-length albums and four singles (of which "Glass" sold over one million itself), he sold over six million records.
Ken Ishii (ケン・イシイ) is a Japanese DJ and record producer from Sapporo. He graduated from Hitotsubashi University. He has…
Ken Ishii (ケン・イシイ) is a Japanese DJ and record producer from Sapporo. He graduated from Hitotsubashi University. He has released work under his own name as well as under the pseudonyms FLR, Flare, UTU, Yoga, and Rising Sun. Ishii had his first release on Belgian label R & S records. He composed the music for the opening ceremonies to the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. "Creation the State of Art" was used in the third level of the 2001 video game Rez, and some tracks in the soundtrack release to the game LSD were produced by Ishii. His track "Let It All Ride" has also been used in the PlayStation Portable video game Lumines II. His music video for "Extra" (directed by Koji Morimoto) won Best Dance Music Video of the year for MTV Europe in 1997.
Mitsuhiro Oikawa (及川 光博, Oikawa Mitsuhiro; born October 24, 1969, in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese musician…
Mitsuhiro Oikawa (及川 光博, Oikawa Mitsuhiro; born October 24, 1969, in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, composer and actor who is represented by the talent agency, Mother Enterprise. He graduated from Seijo Gakuen Junior High School and High School and Seijo University Faculty of Law. He is business partners with Horipro.
Tetsuya (Japanese: テツヤ; born October 3, 1969), formerly known as Tetsu, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, and…
Tetsuya (Japanese: テツヤ; born October 3, 1969), formerly known as Tetsu, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as bassist and bandleader of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. Formed in 1991, they have sold over 40 million records, making them one of the best-selling music artists in Japan. Tetsuya also performs backing vocals in L'Arc-en-Ciel and has composed many of the band's songs, including "Link", "Ready Steady Go", "Finale", "Driver's High", "Stay Away", "Pieces" and "Good Luck My Way". In 2001, he started a solo career under the name Tetsu69. From 2005 to 2006, Tetsuya was a support member of Morrie's solo project Creature Creature. He formed a L'Arc-en-Ciel cover band named Like-an-Angel in 2023.
Yoshinori Sunahara (砂原 良徳, Sunahara Yoshinori; born September 13, 1969) is a Japanese record producer and DJ from…
Yoshinori Sunahara (砂原 良徳, Sunahara Yoshinori; born September 13, 1969) is a Japanese record producer and DJ from Sapporo, Hokkaido. He is a former member of Denki Groove. He was also a member of Metafive.
Yūne Sugihara (Japanese: 杉原有音, Hepburn: Sugihara Yūne), born Yasuhiro Sugihara (杉原 康弘) and better known by his stage…
Yūne Sugihara (Japanese: 杉原有音, Hepburn: Sugihara Yūne), born Yasuhiro Sugihara (杉原 康弘) and better known by his stage name Sugizo, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist and violinist of the rock band Luna Sea since 1989. Sugizo started his solo career in 1997 and has since collaborated with a variety of different artists. He formed the psychedelic jam band Shag in 2002, the rock duo The Flare in 2004, and the electronica duo S.T.K (Sensual Technology Kooks) in 2005. In 2007 he became a member of the international trance/world music act Juno Reactor, and of the Japanese rock supergroup S.K.I.N. Sugizo officially joined the rock band X Japan in 2009, and became a member of the supergroup The Last Rockstars in 2022. In addition to being known for experimenting with many musical genres, mostly rock, psychedelic and electronica, he is known for his political views and for being an anti-war, anti-nuclear, and environmental activist.
Takako Minekawa (嶺川貴子, Minekawa Takako; born June 3, 1969) is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, and writer.
Tomomitsu Yamaguchi (山口智充, Yamaguchi Tomomitsu; born March 14, 1969) is a Japanese comedian, actor, voice actor, singer…
Tomomitsu Yamaguchi (山口智充, Yamaguchi Tomomitsu; born March 14, 1969) is a Japanese comedian, actor, voice actor, singer and presenter from Shijōnawate, Osaka. He is a graduate of the Osaka Prefecture North Shijōnawate Senior High School. He is currently attached to the Yoshimoto Creative Agency. He is best known as the boke half of the Manzai act "DonDokoDon" alongside tsukkomi Keiji Hirahata.
Keigo Oyamada (小山田 圭吾, Oyamada Keigo; born January 27, 1969), also known by his moniker Cornelius (コーネリアス, Kōneriasu)…
Keigo Oyamada (小山田 圭吾, Oyamada Keigo; born January 27, 1969), also known by his moniker Cornelius (コーネリアス, Kōneriasu), is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the indie pop band Flipper's Guitar in 1988. Following their breakup in 1991, Oyamada pursued a solo career. He is regarded as one of the principal figures of the 1990s Shibuya-kei music and art scene.
Kiyoharu Mori (Japanese: 森 清治, Hepburn: Mori Kiyoharu; born 30 October 1968), better known by his stage name Kiyoharu…
Kiyoharu Mori (Japanese: 森 清治, Hepburn: Mori Kiyoharu; born 30 October 1968), better known by his stage name Kiyoharu (清春), is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter, known as frontman of the rock bands Kuroyume and Sads. In 2003, he began a solo career, performing as both singer and guitarist.
Kenichi Kurosawa (黒沢 健一, Kurosawa Ken'ichi; 11 August 1968 – 5 December 2016) was a Japanese musician and record…
Kenichi Kurosawa (黒沢 健一, Kurosawa Ken'ichi; 11 August 1968 – 5 December 2016) was a Japanese musician and record producer from Hitachi, Ibaraki. His younger brother is Hideki Kurosawa, who is also a musician.
Miwa Watabiki (綿引 美和, Watabiki Miwa; born January 13, 1968), better known by her stage name Chara (ちゃら), is a Japanese…
Miwa Watabiki (綿引 美和, Watabiki Miwa; born January 13, 1968), better known by her stage name Chara (ちゃら), is a Japanese singer, actress and video jockey. She debuted in 1991 with the single Heaven. She is known for her song "Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta)", the theme song for the 1996 Shunji Iwai film Swallowtail Butterfly in which she starred, her 1997 hit single "Yasashii Kimochi", and her collaboration with Judy and Mary vocalist Yuki, "Ai no Hi Mittsu Orange". Chara later formed a band with Yuki, called Mean Machine.
Fumitoshi Ishino (石野 文敏, Ishino Fumitoshi; born 26 December 1967), better known by his stage name Takkyu Ishino (石野 卓球…
Fumitoshi Ishino (石野 文敏, Ishino Fumitoshi; born 26 December 1967), better known by his stage name Takkyu Ishino (石野 卓球, Ishino Takkyū), is a Japanese musician, DJ, record producer, and singer from Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. He is a member of Denki Groove.
Masanori Taki (瀧 正則, Taki Masanori; born April 8, 1967), better known by his stage name Pierre Taki (ピエール瀧, Piēru…
Masanori Taki (瀧 正則, Taki Masanori; born April 8, 1967), better known by his stage name Pierre Taki (ピエール瀧, Piēru Taki), is a Japanese musician and actor. He is the front man for synthpop group Denki Groove, which consists of himself and Takkyu Ishino. As of 2001 he was involved in an exhibit called Prince Tongha with Hideyuki Tanaka in New York City. He also frequently appears as an actor in film and on television.
Ken Morioka (Japanese: 森岡賢; March 15, 1967 – June 3, 2016) was a Japanese musician, keyboardist, composer, and music…
Ken Morioka (Japanese: 森岡賢; March 15, 1967 – June 3, 2016) was a Japanese musician, keyboardist, composer, and music producer. He died of heart failure at the age of 49. In addition to being a member of influential synthpop group Soft Ballet, he worked with numerous other musicians such as Kaya, Buck-Tick, and ZIZ (with ex-Malice Mizer member Közi). He was also in the bands minus (-) and Ka.f.ka. In 2006, he formed unit Gentleman Take Poraloid with Masayuki Deguchi, on the independent record label Palm Tree and in 2009, released the studio album Orfeu.
Yutaka Higuchi (桶口 豊, Higuchi Yutaka; born January 24, 1967 in Takasaki, Gunma), nicknamed "U-ta", is a Japanese…
Yutaka Higuchi (桶口 豊, Higuchi Yutaka; born January 24, 1967 in Takasaki, Gunma), nicknamed "U-ta", is a Japanese musician. Known as the bassist of the rock band Buck-Tick since 1983. He is the younger brother of Toll Yagami, Buck-Tick's drummer.
Yoshiharu Abe (阿部 義晴, Abe Yoshiharu; born 30 July 1966 in Yamagata) is a Japanese popular music artist and producer.…
Yoshiharu Abe (阿部 義晴, Abe Yoshiharu; born 30 July 1966 in Yamagata) is a Japanese popular music artist and producer. His 1992 single "+ OR -" hit the Billboard charts in Japan at number 5 in October 1992. After Unicorn dissolved in 1994, he started his solo career.
Taiji Sawada (Japanese: 沢田 泰司, Hepburn: Sawada Taiji; July 12, 1966 – July 17, 2011), also known mononymously as Taiji…
Taiji Sawada (Japanese: 沢田 泰司, Hepburn: Sawada Taiji; July 12, 1966 – July 17, 2011), also known mononymously as Taiji, was a Japanese musician and songwriter. He is best known as bassist of the rock band X from 1986 to 1992. The band rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, credited as founders of the Japanese visual kei movement. After leaving X in January 1992, Taiji went on to work with many other recording acts, including Loudness and D.T.R. In July 2011, Taiji was arrested in Saipan for a violent outburst that took place on the flight there. Facing federal charges, he attempted suicide by hanging in his jail cell, which left him brain dead. Taiji died in a hospital on July 11 after his family decided to turn off his life support. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted him the best bassist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election".
Hidehiko Hoshino (Japanese: 星野 英彦, Hepburn: Hoshino Hidehiko; born June 16, 1966), nicknamed "Hide", is a Japanese…
Hidehiko Hoshino (Japanese: 星野 英彦, Hepburn: Hoshino Hidehiko; born June 16, 1966), nicknamed "Hide", is a Japanese musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known as the rhythm guitarist of the rock band Buck-Tick since 1983. Following the October 2023 death of vocalist Atsushi Sakurai, Hoshino began sharing lead vocal duties in the band with fellow guitarist Hisashi Imai.
Atsushi Sakurai (Japanese: 櫻井 敦司, Hepburn: Sakurai Atsushi; March 7, 1966 – October 19, 2023) was a Japanese musician.…
Atsushi Sakurai (Japanese: 櫻井 敦司, Hepburn: Sakurai Atsushi; March 7, 1966 – October 19, 2023) was a Japanese musician. He was the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band Buck-Tick from 1985 until his death in 2023. Initially joining as their drummer in 1983, Sakurai fronted the band for 38 years and 23 studio albums, nearly all of which reached the top ten on Japan's Oricon chart. Sakurai and Buck-Tick are commonly credited as among the founders of the visual kei movement. Sakurai released the solo album Ai no Wakusei in 2004, and was a member of Schwein alongside his Buck-Tick bandmate Hisashi Imai, Sascha Konietzko and Raymond Watts. In 2015, he debuted a solo project called The Mortal. After falling ill during a Buck-Tick concert, Sakurai died from a brainstem hemorrhage in a Yokohama hospital on October 19, 2023.
Kenji Ohtsuki (大槻 ケンヂ, 大槻 賢二, Ōtsuki Kenji; born February 6, 1966 in Nakano, Tokyo) is a Japanese rock musician and…
Kenji Ohtsuki (大槻 ケンヂ, 大槻 賢二, Ōtsuki Kenji; born February 6, 1966 in Nakano, Tokyo) is a Japanese rock musician and Seiun Award-winning writer. His musical career began in the late 1970s. He is the vocalist of Kinniku Shōjo Tai, Tokusatsu, Underground Searchlie and Karate Bakabon. The lyrics of a Kinniku Shōjo Tai's song "Doko e demo Ikeru Kitte" affected the character design of Rei Ayanami, from the popular anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. He's also performed the theme songs to several anime, including Welcome to the N.H.K., Hellsing and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.
Yutaka Ozaki (尾崎 豊, Ozaki Yutaka; November 29, 1965 – April 25, 1992) was a Japanese singer-songwriter. His hit debut…
Yutaka Ozaki (尾崎 豊, Ozaki Yutaka; November 29, 1965 – April 25, 1992) was a Japanese singer-songwriter. His hit debut single "Jūgo no Yoru" and debut album Jūnanasai no Chizu were released in 1983. He died in 1992 at the age of 26.
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a…
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer. He is best known as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, for which he is the drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. Time labeled Yoshiki as "an absolute force" and "one of Japan's most celebrated musicians". Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, the Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and Kiss, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Brightman, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Diana Ross, and Josh Groban. In 1999, at the request of the Japanese Imperial family, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. Yoshiki also composed the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards as well as for several anime and film soundtracks including Attack on Titan and Saw IV. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Yoshiki the best drummer and the best keyboardist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". In 2023, he was selected as the first Japanese artist to be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in nearly 100 years. In 2024, Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree. Time named Yoshiki one of the most influential people of 2025 in their Time 100 list.
Hisashi Imai (Japanese: 今井 寿, Hepburn: Imai Hisashi; born October 21, 1965) is a Japanese musician, singer and…
Hisashi Imai (Japanese: 今井 寿, Hepburn: Imai Hisashi; born October 21, 1965) is a Japanese musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Buck-Tick since 1983. Following the October 2023 death of vocalist Atsushi Sakurai, Imai began sharing lead vocal duties in the band with fellow guitarist Hidehiko Hoshino. He has also performed in side-projects such as the duo Schaft with Soft Ballet member Maki Fujii, the supergroup Schwein, and the rock trio Lucy. Imai is known for his visual aesthetics, and Buck-Tick are commonly credited as one of the founders of the visual kei movement.
Kōsuke Toyohara (豊原 功補, Toyohara Kōsuke; born 25 September 1965) is a Japanese actor and singer who has appeared in…
Kōsuke Toyohara (豊原 功補, Toyohara Kōsuke; born 25 September 1965) is a Japanese actor and singer who has appeared in more than 80 films since 1982. He serves as head representative of Headrock Inc.
Kenji Ueda (上田ケンジ Ueda Kenji, nickname ウエケン UEKEN) is a Japanese rock musician and producer. He is known for his solo…
Kenji Ueda (上田ケンジ Ueda Kenji, nickname ウエケン UEKEN) is a Japanese rock musician and producer. He is known for his solo work, as well as his work with Kenzi & the Trips and the Pillows.
Kōji Kikkawa (吉川 晃司, Kikkawa Kōji; born August 18, 1965) is a Japanese singer, musician and actor. His most recent…
Kōji Kikkawa (吉川 晃司, Kikkawa Kōji; born August 18, 1965) is a Japanese singer, musician and actor. His most recent album is 2022's Over the Nine. Kōji was born in Hiroshima and his music career began on February 1, 1984, with "Monica" (later remade in Cantonese sung by Leslie Cheung) and he won eight music awards in the same year. After taking a short break in 1988, he came back as a lead singer in the band Complex with Tomoyasu Hotei (former guitarist of Boøwy) and "Be My Baby" was released. Complex remained as one of the most popular bands in Japan until 1990, when it was announced that Complex had disbanded. After "Complex", Kōji released series of hit singles such as "Setsunasa O Korosenai", "Kiss Ni Utarete Nemuritai" and "Boy's Life". Kōji completed a "20th Anniversary Tour" at Budokan on February 1, 2005. In 2006 he recorded "One World," the theme for the 2006 motion picture Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love. More recently, he had teamed up with popular Japanese DJ TWINS to release a single "Juicy Jungle". Also, DJ TWINS had released an album with remixes of several of Kōji's previous hits. With this new sound-disco revisit, Kōji redefined himself like he does year after year. Throughout all his career, it could be considered that Kōji had outgrown from an idol to an artiste that explore the music boundary. He writes his own songs, produced and arranged his own albums and also played most of the instruments in it. He had just released a remix album of his old hits-titled-DISCO K2. In April 2007, a new single "BABY JANE" was released. He portrayed Sokichi Narumi/Kamen Rider Skull in the Kamen Rider W franchise from 2009 to 2010, and sung "Nobody's Perfect," Skull's theme. In 2011, Kōji and Tomoyasu Hotei reunited as Complex for two concerts at the Tokyo Dome to benefit victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The duo had not performed together as Complex for almost 21 years. In 2017, Koji's single "SAMURAI ROCK" was used theme for the J-Sports broadcast of 2017 World Baseball Classic. In 2024, 13 years later, Kikkawa and Hotei reunited again for another Complex benefit concert at the Tokyo Dome, this time to benefit the victims of the 2024 Noto earthquake. In 2025, Kikkawa formed the unit Ooochie Koochie with Tamio Okuda.
Yoko Utsumi is a Japanese musical artist. Her solo music is a blend of punk, rock and ska influences, with some blues…
Yoko Utsumi is a Japanese musical artist. Her solo music is a blend of punk, rock and ska influences, with some blues and jazz thrown in. During her long career, she has also played Japanese traditional music. Utsumi has been a member of a few important Japanese underground bands, including Mescaline Drive, Soul Flower Union and Soul Flower Mononoke Summit. Although she left Soul Flower Union in 1998, she still occasionally appears on the band's albums and live shows. She is also still a member of Soul Flower Mononoke Summit, an acoustic offspring of Soul Flower Union which plays traditional Asian music with protest lyrics. She has one self-titled album released in the United States on the Asian Man Records label, in 2005. She also performs with a band called YOKOLOCO, which includes Soul Flower Union keyboardist Shinya Okuno and former Thee Michelle Gun Elephant drummer Kazuyuki Kuhara.
Eri Kawai (河井 英里, Kawai Eri; May 8, 1965 – August 4, 2008) was a Japanese singer from Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from…
Eri Kawai (河井 英里, Kawai Eri; May 8, 1965 – August 4, 2008) was a Japanese singer from Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and both composed and sang not only classic but also pop and world music. She was also friends with well-known video game composer Yasunori Mitsuda and had collaborated with him on some of his works. She died on August 4, 2008, at age 43 after being hospitalized as the result of liver cancer.
Nobuteru Maeda (前田亘輝, Maeda Nobuteru; born April 23, 1965) is a Japanese male singer-songwriter from Atsugi, Kanagawa.…
Nobuteru Maeda (前田亘輝, Maeda Nobuteru; born April 23, 1965) is a Japanese male singer-songwriter from Atsugi, Kanagawa. He is signed onto Sony Music Japan. He is also a leader of rock band Tube. He released the hits "Sobani Iruyo" and "Try Boy, Try Girl".
Tatsuya Nakamura (中村 達也, Nakamura Tatsuya; born January 4, 1965, in Toyama) is a Japanese musician, drummer and actor.…
Tatsuya Nakamura (中村 達也, Nakamura Tatsuya; born January 4, 1965, in Toyama) is a Japanese musician, drummer and actor. After performing with several prominent punk rock bands, Nakamura rose to fame as drummer of Blankey Jet City from 1987 to 2000. In 1996, he founded his solo project Losalios, where he performs every instrument. He is also a member of Friction, Mannish Boys with Kazuyoshi Saito, and Gokumontō Ikka.
Hiroshi Takano (高野 寛, Takano Hiroshi) (born December 14, 1964) is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist, music…
Hiroshi Takano (高野 寛, Takano Hiroshi) (born December 14, 1964) is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist, music arranger, guitarist and producer. In the end of 1980s and early 1990s, he recorded some successful records which were produced by Todd Rundgren. He has contributed to the works of many musicians, such as Towa Tei and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Hikaru Kotobuki (ことぶき 光, Kotobuki Hikaru; born 1964) is a Japanese musician known for his work with Susumu Hirasawa…
Hikaru Kotobuki (ことぶき 光, Kotobuki Hikaru; born 1964) is a Japanese musician known for his work with Susumu Hirasawa (P-Model), and Jun Togawa. In the early 1980s, Kotobuki joined Morio Agata's tour as a keyboard player and guitarist. After Agata's tour, Kotobuki and Agata formed a band which they called the Yukiyama Brothers. During his time with the Yukiyama Brothers, he played the keyboard on Shigeru Izumiya's tour. Kotobuki joined the band P-Model in 1987, which was formed by Susumu Hirasawa. In his time with P-Model, he played the keyboard as well. Hikaru Kotobuki played many concerts and released music videos with P-Model. Unfortunately recordings from this time only survive as live video sound sources. The band took a four-year break, but came back together in 1991 under the name Thaw P-Model. Kotobuki resigned in 1993 in order to travel through Asia, which he eventually did for several years. Returning briefly from Cambodia in late 1993 he formed Phnonpenh MODEL, in order to join the Errors of P-Mania cover band contest - a contest for P-Model cover bands held for three years. Originally formed as a joke, the band has continued sporadically to this day and have released three studio albums and live CDs from their shows in Paris, Berlin and Tokyo. Key members are Hikaru Kotobuki, Lion Merry (ex-Yapoos and Metrofarce) and Masaaki Taniguchi. He also performs as a solo act with a backing band. In 2016 Kotobuki was involved in a memorial concert for Isao Tomita, where a live orchestra was blended with the synthetic performer Hatsune Miku to perform Tomita's work. Kotobuki had previously worked with Tomita on his 2012 Ihatov Symphony, which was the work performed at the memorial concert.
Motoyuki Ōtsuka (Japanese: 大塚基之, Hepburn: Ōtsuka Motoyuki; born March 4, 1964, in Tatsuno, Hyōgo), known mononymously…
Motoyuki Ōtsuka (Japanese: 大塚基之, Hepburn: Ōtsuka Motoyuki; born March 4, 1964, in Tatsuno, Hyōgo), known mononymously as Morrie, is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He is best known as vocalist and co-founder of the influential heavy metal band Dead End, active from 1984 to 1990, and Morrie's distinctive visual appearance and rough vocal style inspired many later prominent musicians in Japan's visual kei movement. When they disbanded, he began a solo career for five years, before moving to New York City and going into hiatus. He reemerged in 2005 with the solo project Creature Creature, which utilizes several well-known Japanese musicians, reunited with Dead End four years later, and released his first solo album in twenty years in 2015.
Hideki Fujisawa (藤沢 秀樹, Fujisawa Hideki) (born October 12, 1963) is a Japanese musician, better known by the stage name…
Hideki Fujisawa (藤沢 秀樹, Fujisawa Hideki) (born October 12, 1963) is a Japanese musician, better known by the stage name Dance Man (ダンス☆マン, Dansu Man). Dance☆Man calls himself an alien from "Mirror Ball Planet". He is always seen wearing a huge afro wig and sideburns, matched with sunglasses. He is very secretive about his identity to the public, and does not release any personal information in his CDs or his official website. Fujisawa is currently signed to independent record label In Da Groove, distributed by Nippon Columbia.
Hiromasa Ijichi (伊秩 弘将, Ijichi Hiromasa; born 26 April 1963) is a Japanese composer and music producer. Most of his…
Hiromasa Ijichi (伊秩 弘将, Ijichi Hiromasa; born 26 April 1963) is a Japanese composer and music producer. Most of his compositions are sung by the Japanese girl group Speed.
Hiroto Kōmoto (甲本 ヒロト, Kōmoto Hiroto; born 17 March 1963) is a Japanese rock singer who has fronted bands such as The…
Hiroto Kōmoto (甲本 ヒロト, Kōmoto Hiroto; born 17 March 1963) is a Japanese rock singer who has fronted bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons.
Masato Honda (本田 雅人, Honda Masato; born November 13, 1962) is a Japanese saxophone player, composer, and…
Masato Honda (本田 雅人, Honda Masato; born November 13, 1962) is a Japanese saxophone player, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. Born in Nakamura City, Kochi Prefecture (now Shimanto City), he graduated from Kunitachi College of Music. He is most well known for being a member of the band T-Square and appearing on Cowboy Bebop's soundtrack with The Seatbelts.