Vaundy is a Japanese musician. He started his career in 2019 by independently uploading online, before breaking out…Vaundy is a Japanese musician. He started his career in 2019 by independently uploading online, before breaking out late in the year with the song "Tokyo Flash". He has released songs for multiple anime and live action TV series, most famously "Hadaka No Yusha" for Ranking of Kings and "Chainsaw Blood" for Chainsaw Man.
Hiroaki Tsutsumi (Japanese: 堤 博明, Hepburn: Tsutsumi Hiroaki; born June 5, 1985) is a Japanese musician and composer…Hiroaki Tsutsumi (Japanese: 堤 博明, Hepburn: Tsutsumi Hiroaki; born June 5, 1985) is a Japanese musician and composer best known for his work on various anime television series. He started his musical career at the age of 14 when he first started playing the guitar. After winning a guitar contest three years later, he decided to become a professional musician and later graduated from Kunitachi College of Music. In 2013, he was given the role of lead composer for the first time with Hyperdimension Neptunia: The Animation. Since Hyperdimension Neptunia: The Animation, he has composed many series, including Dr. Stone, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Teasing Master Takagi-san.
Toru Kitajima (Japanese: 北嶋 徹, Hepburn: Kitajima Tōru; born December 23, 1982 in Machida, Tokyo), better known as TK…Toru Kitajima (Japanese: 北嶋 徹, Hepburn: Kitajima Tōru; born December 23, 1982 in Machida, Tokyo), better known as TK, is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He rose to prominence as lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Ling Tosite Sigure, which formed in 2002. In 2011, he started to release solo material as TK from Ling Tosite Sigure (TK from 凛として時雨).
Kazuki Watanabe (渡辺和樹, Watanabe Kazuki; April 7, 1981 – October 31, 2000), known by his stage name Kazuki (華月), was a…Kazuki Watanabe (渡辺和樹, Watanabe Kazuki; April 7, 1981 – October 31, 2000), known by his stage name Kazuki (華月), was a Japanese musician known as guitarist and lead songwriter of the visual kei rock band Raphael. The group became quite popular, with all their releases entering the top 40 of the Oricon chart, before disbanding after Kazuki died at the age of 19.
Akihide Satou (Japanese: 佐藤彰秀, Hepburn: Satō Akihide) is a Japanese guitarist, producer and member of the visual kei…Akihide Satou (Japanese: 佐藤彰秀, Hepburn: Satō Akihide) is a Japanese guitarist, producer and member of the visual kei rock band Breakerz under talent agency B Zone and record label Zain Records.
Chisato (千聖; stylized in all caps) (born on August 4, 1971) is a Japanese guitarist and singer. Originally known for…Chisato (千聖; stylized in all caps) (born on August 4, 1971) is a Japanese guitarist and singer. Originally known for being the guitarist of visual kei band Penicillin since 1992, in 1996 he started a solo career that has been successful in Japan. In 2003, he founded the solo project Crack6.
Kazuya Takahashi (高橋 和也, Takahashi Kazuya; born 20 May 1969) is a Japanese actor, singer, songwriter and bassist. He…Kazuya Takahashi (高橋 和也, Takahashi Kazuya; born 20 May 1969) is a Japanese actor, singer, songwriter and bassist. He was a vocalist and bassist of Otokogumi, the Japanese rock band which was active during late 1980s and early 1990s. Takahashi has appeared in more than 50 films since 1988.
Tomoki Kikuya (菊谷 知樹, Kikuya Tomoki; born 21 February 1968) is a Japanese composer, arranger and guitarist. Kikuya is…Tomoki Kikuya (菊谷 知樹, Kikuya Tomoki; born 21 February 1968) is a Japanese composer, arranger and guitarist. Kikuya is best known for composing original soundtracks for anime series, including most notably Nisekoi, Eromanga Sensei, Bocchi the Rock!, Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs, A Sister's All You Need and Higehiro. He is represented by the music production company Popholic.
Michiya Haruhata (春畑道哉, Haruhata Michiya; born November 5, 1966) is a Japanese musical composer, guitarist and music…Michiya Haruhata (春畑道哉, Haruhata Michiya; born November 5, 1966) is a Japanese musical composer, guitarist and music producer under Sony Music Entertainment Japan. He is a member of the pop rock band Tube.
Hideaki Kikuchi (菊地英昭, Kikuchi Hideaki; born December 7, 1964) is a Japanese musician. Born in Hino, Tokyo, he was…Hideaki Kikuchi (菊地英昭, Kikuchi Hideaki; born December 7, 1964) is a Japanese musician. Born in Hino, Tokyo, he was raised in Hachiōji. He is best known as lead guitarist of the rock band The Yellow Monkey.
Luke Takamura (Japanese: ルーク篁, Hepburn: Rūku Takamura; born April 12, 1964) is a Japanese musician, singer, and…Luke Takamura (Japanese: ルーク篁, Hepburn: Rūku Takamura; born April 12, 1964) is a Japanese musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as guitarist of the heavy metal band Seikima-II from 1987 to 1999, and for various temporary reunions since. From 2002 to 2020, he was the lead singer and guitarist of the rock trio Canta. Luke was voted the tenth greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2019 poll held by goo. He has cited Yuji Adachi, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen and Kazumi Watanabe as guitar influences. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Takamura the fifth best guitarist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election".
Eiji Oguma (小熊 英二, Oguma Eiji) (born September 6, 1962) is a Japanese historical sociologist, a professor at Keio…Eiji Oguma (小熊 英二, Oguma Eiji) (born September 6, 1962) is a Japanese historical sociologist, a professor at Keio University, a documentary filmmaker, and a guitarist. Born in Akishima in Tokyo Metropolis in 1962, Oguma received his PhD from Tokyo University in 1998. Since 1997, he has been on the faculty at Keio University, where he was named a full professor in 2007. Oguma has written extensively on postwar social and political history, and issues of Japanese nationalism. Recently, he has turned to documentary filmmaking, directing a documentary on Japanese protests against nuclear power in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, entitled "Tell the Prime Minister" (2015).
Masatoshi Mashima (真島 昌利, Mashima Masatoshi; born February 20, 1962) is a Japanese guitarist who has performed with…Masatoshi Mashima (真島 昌利, Mashima Masatoshi; born February 20, 1962) is a Japanese guitarist who has performed with Japanese rock bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons. He was born in Hino and raised in Kodaira in Tokyo, Japan. His nickname while playing was "Mashi."
Takahiro Matsumoto (松本 孝弘, Matsumoto Takahiro; born March 27, 1961, in Toyonaka, Osaka) is a Japanese musician…Takahiro Matsumoto (松本 孝弘, Matsumoto Takahiro; born March 27, 1961, in Toyonaka, Osaka) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist and main composer of the rock duo B'z, the best-selling music act in their native Japan by certifications. He also has a successful solo career where, in addition to winning several Japan Gold Disc Awards, he won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Take Your Pick (2010), which he made in collaboration with Larry Carlton. Matsumoto is only the fifth guitarist in the world to have his own Gibson signature model guitar.
Tsuyoshi Ujiki (氏木 毅（うじき つよし）, Ujiki Tsuyoshi; born September 18, 1957, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese…Tsuyoshi Ujiki (氏木 毅（うじき つよし）, Ujiki Tsuyoshi; born September 18, 1957, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese entertainer, actor, musician, and singer who is represented by the talent agencies Heart Cleaning Company, then Flos. His nicknamed Jick (stylized as JICK) from his surname. Along with Seiji Katsu, he was a member of Kodomo Band.
Issei Noro (野呂 一生, Noro Issei; born 1 January 1957) is a Japanese guitarist, songwriter, producer, and composer, best…Issei Noro (野呂 一生, Noro Issei; born 1 January 1957) is a Japanese guitarist, songwriter, producer, and composer, best known as a founding member of the jazz fusion band Casiopea. Noro began his musical career in 1976 with Casiopea, serving as the group's guitarist. Casiopea made its recording debut in 1979 with their self-titled album, and Noro remained with his band until 2006, when activities were suspended. He returned when Casiopea restarted in 2012 following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear disaster, and continues to perform with his group. Outside Casiopea, Noro formed the band Inspirits in 2008 and has collaborated with other jazz fusion musicians. He is an endorsed artist of Yamaha, which has provided him with custom-made guitars, and is noted for his guitar-playing techniques.
Hisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人; born on June 16, 1955 in Togoshi, Shinagawa), known professionally as Char, is a Japanese…Hisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人; born on June 16, 1955 in Togoshi, Shinagawa), known professionally as Char, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is considered one of Japan's greatest guitar players. In 2003, Char was ranked by HMV at number 38 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. Rolling Stone Japan ranked his album Psyche number 36 on their 2007 list of the greatest Japanese rock albums of all time. Char came in third in a 2011 goo poll on who the Japanese people thought was the best guitarist to represent the country. Char was named the greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2017 list by Guitar Magazine, as voted on by professional musicians, and in a 2019 public poll held by goo. His song "A Fair Wind" was named the 34th best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019. Char endorses Fender, with whom he has signature model guitars. He also has signature models with ESP.
Take Yokouchi (横内 タケ, Yokouchi Take), born 22 February 1954 in Tokyo, is a musician best known for his work with the…Take Yokouchi (横内 タケ, Yokouchi Take), born 22 February 1954 in Tokyo, is a musician best known for his work with the Japanese glam rock band Vodka Collins. Take (pronounced Ta-kay, real name Takehiro) was originally a live touring guitar player for the popular teen idol band The Four Leaves. When he was approached to join the new band Vodka Collins in 1971, it was on bass guitar. Yokouchi played bass on the 1973 Vodka Collins singles "Sands Of Time" and "Automatic Pilot" from the "Tokyo - New York" album released on the Toshiba-EMI Express label in November 1973.
Kazumi Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺 香津美, Hepburn: Watanabe Kazumi; born October 14, 1953 in Tokyo) is a Japanese guitarist.…Kazumi Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺 香津美, Hepburn: Watanabe Kazumi; born October 14, 1953 in Tokyo) is a Japanese guitarist. Other guitarists such as Luke Takamura and Sugizo have cited him as an influence.
Masayoshi Takanaka (born March 27, 1953) is a Japanese musician and record producer. Known for his virtuosic guitar…Masayoshi Takanaka (born March 27, 1953) is a Japanese musician and record producer. Known for his virtuosic guitar playing and skilled musicianship, Takanaka rose to fame and achieved commercial success during the 1970s and 1980s. He composes and performs across various different music genres. In a career spanning over 50 years, Takanaka has released more than 20 albums and continues to perform.
Shigeru Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 茂, Hepburn: Suzuki Shigeru; born December 20, 1951) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and…Shigeru Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 茂, Hepburn: Suzuki Shigeru; born December 20, 1951) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and guitarist. He first became known as a member of the influential rock band Happy End in the early 1970s, before starting a solo career and becoming a prolific session musician. As of 2006, Suzuki had contributed to 588 recordings. In 2019, Suzuki's high school band Skye reunited and released their first album.
Yasunori Shimura (志村 康徳, Shimura Yasunori; February 20, 1950 – March 29, 2020), known professionally as Ken Shimura (志村…Yasunori Shimura (志村 康徳, Shimura Yasunori; February 20, 1950 – March 29, 2020), known professionally as Ken Shimura (志村 けん, Shimura Ken), was a Japanese comedian. He was born in Higashimurayama, Tokyo. He started his career as an assistant to the comedy band The Drifters, led by Chōsuke Ikariya. In 1974, He joined the group, replacing Chū Arai. He appeared as members of the group on popular comedy shows that gained massive popularity from the 1970s to the 1980s. Hachiji-dayo! Zen'in-shūgō achieved the highest viewership rating of 50.5%, and The Drifters Daibakushō (ドリフ大爆笑) reached 40.4% viewership. These shows made him nationally popular. After the end of Hachiji-dayo! in 1985, he began to work independently as well. He appeared on shows like Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen TV (加トちゃんケンちゃんごきげんテレビ), with Cha Katō, a fellow member of the group, Shimura Ken no Daijōbu-dā (志村けんのだいじょうぶだぁ)," and Shimura Ken no Baka Tono-sama (志村けんのバカ殿様), portraying characters like Baka Tono-sama (バカ殿様, Stupid Lord) and Hen na Oji-san (変なおじさん, Strange Older Man). These characters became highly popular. Shimura's comedic work was inspired in part by that of Jerry Lewis.
