Keiichi Tomita (冨田 恵一, Tomita Keiichi; born January 1, 1962) is a Japanese music producer, composer, and arranger.…Keiichi Tomita (冨田 恵一, Tomita Keiichi; born January 1, 1962) is a Japanese music producer, composer, and arranger. Known in Japan as a "pop maestro" and "master of sound," Tomita has produced several tracks that have achieved popularity in Japan, including Misia’s song "Everything" and Mika Nakashima’s debut single "Stars." He has collaborated with a diverse array of musicians, including Kirinji, Bird, Maaya Sakamoto, Ringo Sheena, and Kaela Kimura.
Yasuharu Konishi (小西 康陽, Konishi Yasuharu; born February 3, 1959) is a Japanese musician, composer and DJ. He was a…Yasuharu Konishi (小西 康陽, Konishi Yasuharu; born February 3, 1959) is a Japanese musician, composer and DJ. He was a founding member of Pizzicato Five and the only such to stay with the group until its breakup in 2001. Konishi's current activities are through his company readymade entertainment and his record label 524 records (a play on words from Konishi's name, as the numbers 524 can be read ko-ni-shi in Japanese using goroawase).
Ken Narita (成田 賢, Narita Ken; October 22, 1945 – November 13, 2018) was a Japanese musician and singer who primarily…Ken Narita (成田 賢, Narita Ken; October 22, 1945 – November 13, 2018) was a Japanese musician and singer who primarily sang anison, or anime theme songs. He was most known for being the singer of the theme songs "For Whom" (誰がために, Ta ga Tame ni) of the 1979 anime Cyborg 009 and "Oh, Denshi Sentai Denziman" (ああ電子戦隊デンジマン, Aa Denshi Sentai Denjiman) of the 1980 Super Sentai series, Denshi Sentai Denziman. He released Super Best! For Whom?: Ken Narita History (スーパーベスト 誰がために~成田賢ヒストリー, Sūpābesuto Ta ga Tame ni~Narita Ken Hisutorī), a compilation of his works. He also provided vocals to a song on the soundtrack to the 1977 film House. Narita died from pneumonia on November 13, 2018, at the age of 73.
Umeko Ando (安東 ウメ子, Andō Umeko; November 20, 1932 – July 15, 2004) was an Ainu singer and mukkuri player. Her…Umeko Ando (安東 ウメ子, Andō Umeko; November 20, 1932 – July 15, 2004) was an Ainu singer and mukkuri player. Her participation in Oki Kano's second album Hankapuy, helped her gain recognition. She recorded several albums, including her solo debut album, Ihunke, produced by Oki in 2001, that was praised by critics and artists alike, and many music publications in Japan declared it the best world music album of the year. It was followed by her second studio album, Upopo Sanke, in 2003, with Chikar Studio, which gained worldwide attention. She died from cancer on July 15, 2004, at her hometown Makubetsu-cho, Hokkaido, at the age of 71. She is featured posthumously on the Samurai Champloo soundtrack with her song "Pekambe Uk" (ペカンベ ウㇰ; "Wheat Harvesting Song"). The seventeenth episode, "Lullabies of the Lost", which featured this song, was dedicated to her memory with the message "May her soul rest in peace" in the ending credits.