Yoyoka Soma (Japanese: 相馬世世歌), known mononymously as YOYOKA (よよか), is a Japanese drummer from Ishikari. In 2018, at age…Yoyoka Soma (Japanese: 相馬世世歌), known mononymously as YOYOKA (よよか), is a Japanese drummer from Ishikari. In 2018, at age 8, she gained international attention for an online video in which she covered Led Zeppelin's "Good Times Bad Times", which was uploaded to Vimeo as her entry for the 2018 Hit Like a Girl contest. As of October 2019, the video has 3.2 million views and David Grohl, Ian Paice, and Robert Plant all praised the video and her drumming capabilities. She has stated that John Bonham, Chris Coleman, and Benny Greb are her favorite drummers and Rage Against the Machine her favorite band.
Shun Ishiwaka (石若駿, born 1992) is a Japanese jazz drummer. He has performed alongside artists such as Hiromi Uehara, Ai…Shun Ishiwaka (石若駿, born 1992) is a Japanese jazz drummer. He has performed alongside artists such as Hiromi Uehara, Ai Kuwabara, Sakura Fujiwara, Jason Moran, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Scofield, and Chris Potter.
Yuuki Ozaki (尾崎雄貴, Ozaki Yūki; born May 27, 1991), is a Japanese musician, best known as the leading vocalist and…Yuuki Ozaki (尾崎雄貴, Ozaki Yūki; born May 27, 1991), is a Japanese musician, best known as the leading vocalist and songwriter for the bands Galileo Galilei and BBHF. He also performs under his solo project warbear. In 2014, he began releasing solo material. He announced his new band "Bird Bear Hare and Fish" (renamed BBHF in 2019) during his solo concert on January 27. He released his first full length solo album "warbear" in December 2017.
Hisashi Tonomura (外村 尚, Tonomura Hisashi; born February 2, 1972), better known by his stage name HISASHI, is a Japanese…Hisashi Tonomura (外村 尚, Tonomura Hisashi; born February 2, 1972), better known by his stage name HISASHI, is a Japanese musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Glay. He is particularly associated with the brand Tokai, designing a series of personal signature guitars, based on their Talbo model.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Akio Togashi (富樫 明生, Togashi Akio; born May 15, 1961 in Hokkaidō), better known by his stage name m.c.A • T (エムシーエーティー…Akio Togashi (富樫 明生, Togashi Akio; born May 15, 1961 in Hokkaidō), better known by his stage name m.c.A • T (エムシーエーティー, Emu Shī Ē Tī; "Microphone Controller Akio Togashi") is a Japanese musician, rapper, singer and record producer with Avex Trax. He graduated from Hokkaido Sapporo Tsukisamu High School and the Hokkaido University of Education. His debut single as m.c.A·T, "Bomb A Head!," released in 1993 on Avex Trax, has since been re-released as "Bomb A Head! Returns!" in 2003 featuring DA PUMP and as "Bomb A Head! V" in 2004 as the opening theme of Tenjho Tenge. He has also produced several of DA PUMP's releases, and like DA PUMP's ISSA, is a fan of the Kamen Rider Series. He has performed various songs for the series, collaborating with RIDER CHIPS on "The people with no name," the second ending theme for Kamen Rider 555, and on the single "Kamen Rider no Uta" (仮面ライダーのうた, Kamen Raidā no Uta) and with Rin' on "Flashback," the theme song for Kamen Rider Hibiki & The Seven Fighting Demons, as well as provided the voice for the Ghost Driver in Kamen Rider Ghost. He has also collaborated with Avex Trax artists such as AAA, Ayumi Hamasaki, Nami Tamaki, Namie Amuro, Toshinobu Kubota, and most recently Manabu Oshio on the single "Beastie Life" released late 2007. Several other artists he has worked with appear on the second disc for his latest album Music Conductor A·T.