Amazarashi

amazarashi
Also known as STAR ISSUE, あまざらし
Origin Mutsu, Aomori
Genres
Years active 2007-Present
Labels

Sony Music Entertainment Japan (2010-Present)

Rainbow Entertainment (2009-2010)
Website amazarashi.com
Members Akita Hiromu (Vocals, Guitar)
Toyokawa Manami (Keyboard, Vocals)

amazarashi (Japanese: アマザラシ; "weather beaten") is a Japanese rock music group from Aomori, currently signed to Sony Music Japan. Its members are Hiromu Akita (lead vocals, guitar, songwriter) and Manami Toyokawa (keyboard). They have released four singles which have all reached the top 20 of the Oricon charts.

The group's most notable songs are "Speed to Masatsu", the opening theme for the anime Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace; "Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku", the ending theme for Tokyo Ghoul √A; and "Sora ni Utaeba", the third opening of My Hero Academia.

Biography

2007-2009: STAR ISSUE and あまざらし Era

In January 2007, STAR ISSUE was formed. The name origin is said to be "We want to make songs with hope and 'light', just like periodic magazines and newspapers". On January 26, an event for amateur bands was held in Aomori, called "Glucon Vol. 17: Aomori ~JOKER STYLE SUMMIT~" , all under Roland Corporation, in which STAR ISSUE was the winner band.

Later, the band would call themselves あまざらし ("amazarashi", written in hiragana). In 2008, the band entered the Rainbow Entertainment Label (subsidiary of A&R), to promote the band. During radio programs, they let the songs play in the background of the local, which became a trigger to get attention from the label and form a contract. Also, around the time of debut, Akita was not being very social, and had the intention of displaying a very linguistic world view; without showing his face publicly, he expressed his world view through words, and the CD Jacket Design's specification was around this concept, and poetry was enclosed in the CD. The promotion around the CD was based on the internet, and the band began real activities.

On February 18, 2009, the EP Hikari, Saikou (光、再考; "Light, Reconsideration") was released, exclusively within the prefecture of Aomori, being the band's indie debut.

On June 24, an album inspired by the movie Kanikousen, titled Counterattack ~Kanikosen Movie Inspire Album~ (反撃。〜映画「蟹工船」インスパイア・アルバム〜), in which the band was featured with the song "Yami no Naka: Yuki Teka Heranu" (闇の中 〜ゆきてかへらぬ〜; "In The Darkness: I Will Not Hesitate").

On December 9, the band released the EP 0., with only 500 copies of the CD being released in Aomori. For the release, the digital artist YKBX (Masaki Yokobe, also known as Yokoboxxx) handled the design of the Visual Mascot as an Art Director. The character, amazarashi-kun, was designed based on a Teru Teru Bouzu, a spirit believed to bring rain and a good harvest.

2010–2011: From 0.6 to Sennen Koufukuron

On February 10, 2010, the band changed its name from あまざらし to amazarashi, and, with a bonus remix of "Hikari, Saikou" as an extra track, the album 0. was re-released as 0.6.

On April 29, they moved to the Sony Music Associated Records label, the same label as Ling Tosite Sigure, and on June 9 the band released the EP Bakudan no Tsukurikata (爆弾の作り方; "How To Make a Bomb") as their major label debut.

On November 24, they released the EP One-Room Jojishi (ワンルーム叙事詩; "One Room Epic").

On January 8, 2011, it was announced that the theme song for the TBS drama show Heaven's Flower The Legend Of Arcana (ヘブンズ・フラワー The Legend of ARCANA) was going to be a song titled "Anomie" (アノミー) by the band. On March 16 of the same year, the band released the EP of the same title, Anomie.

On January 18, the band participated on a compilation album, distributed by Crown Tokuma, titled 36.5ºC with the song "Mudai" (無題; "Untitled").

On June 17, the band performed their first official live, "amazarashi 1st live: Kono Machi de Ikiteiru" (amazarashi 1st live この街で生きている; "amazarashi 1st live: I'm Living in this City"), held at Shibuya WWW. According to Akita, in order to transmit the message of the songs properly, they performed behind a screen which images and the song lyrics were projected on to. This was done such in a way such that the crowd wouldn't be able to see their bodies. The band has kept the same performance style since.

On November 16, the album Sennen Koufukuron (千年幸福論; "A Millenarian Happiness Theorem") was released.

2012: Love Song

On January 28 they performed a one-band live at the Shibuya Public Hall.

On March 11, as a tribute to the victims of the Tohoku Earthquake that happened the previous year, they released the song "Inori" (祈り; "Prayer") (based on a poem of the same name which was released by the band immediately after the event), and a site dedicated to the song and event.

On March 13 the EP Love Song (ラブソング) was released.

On March 16, the band announced that they would go on a tour titled "Gomen'nasai, Chanto Ieru Kana" (ごめんなさい、ちゃんといえるかな; "I'm sorry. Can I speak such words correctly?") from June 30 to July 8.

On November 14, the band aired the mobile site "APOLOGIES", in which fans could see posts from Akita's blog along with other exclusive content.

On November 28, the band released a DVD recorded during the Zepp DiverCity performance of the live tour "Gomen'nasai, Chanto Ieru Kana" titled 0.7.

On November 30, the band held their second one-band live at the Shibuya Public Hall. The band titled the show "Amazarashi Live 0.7". The band adopted a surround-sound system and installed a speaker outside the venue before conducting their performance.

On December 3, Akita started his own column for the culture site Katayabu Riina, called "Geemu, Saikou" (ゲーム、再考; "Game, Rethink", a reference to the song "Hikari, Saikou").[1]

2013-2014: From Nee Mama Anata no Iutoori to Yuuhi Shinkou Higashizumu

On April 10 of 2013 the band released their 5th post-debut EP, titled Nee Mama Anata no Iutoori (ねえままあなたの言うとおり; "Hey Mom, It's Just as you Said"). The single Juvenile (ジュブナイル) from the EP was pre-sold the on iTunes Store and Recochoku.

From May 31 to June 9, the band went on a tour titled "amazarashi TOUR 2013: Nee Mama Anata no Iutoori" (amazarashi TOUR 2013「ねぇママ あなたの言うとおり」).

On August 16 the band participated in the "RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2013 in EZO", the first festival they've participated in since changing their name.

On August 28 Mika Nakashima's single "Boku ga Shinou to Omotta no wa" (僕が死のうと思ったのは; "The Reason Why I Thought I'd Die"), composed and written by Hiromu Akita was released. Akita received the proposal from Nakashima herself, and accepted it.

On September 30 the band performed at LIQUIDROOM ebisu, along with the frontman from Ling Tosite Sigure, Toru Kitajima.

On November 21 the band released their 6th post-debut EP, titled Anta e (あんたへ; "For You").

On January 6, 2014, Toyokawa Manami stopped activities due to her bad health and physical condition. Five days later, on January 6, the band began a tour, and otonamode's keyboardist, Yamamoto Kenta, acted as the support member for the band.

On March 26, the band released a DVD containing a collection of music videos, titled anthology 1386.

On May 23, the band announced that they would soon return to their indie name stylization, あまざらし, on September 9. Alongside this announcement, a new website was opened, containing the novel Starlight (スターライト), written by Akita Hiromu and illustrated by YKBX.

On June 7, the band participated in a second rock festival that took place in Kanazawa City of the Ishikawa Prefecture. It was titled "Hyakuman Ishi Ongaku-sai 2014 ~Mirion Rokku Fesutibaru~" (百万石音楽祭2014 〜ミリオンロックフェスティバル〜; "A Million Stones Music Festival ~Million Rock Festival~").

On September 9, they held an acoustic concert titled "Amazarashi Premium Live - Senbun no Ichiya Monogatari: Starlight" (あまざらし プレミアムライブ 千分の一夜物語『スターライト』; "Amazarashi Premium Live - The Story of a Thousandth of a Night: Starlight").

On August 29, the band released their second full-length album, called "Yuuhi Shinkou Higashizumu" (夕日信仰ヒガシズム; "Sunset Belief: The Sun Goes Down")

On November 1, the band started a live tour titled "amazarashi LIVE TOUR 2014 Yuuhi Shinkou Higashizumu" (amazarashi LIVE TOUR 2014 夕日信仰ヒガシズム). This tour had the most installations yet, with a total of eight.

2015-2016: Sekai Shuusoku Ni Ichi Ichi Roku

On February 18 of 2015, the band released the maxi-single Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku (季節は次々死んでいく; The Seasons Die One After Another). The title track was used as the ending theme song of the anime Tokyo Ghoul√A.

On March 28, the band performed for the first time overseas at a Music Festival in Taiwan titled T-Fest 2015 Míngrì yīnyuè jì (明日音樂祭; Tomorrow's Music Festival) along with envy, TURTLE ISLAND, and MONKEY MAJIK.

On August 13, Amazarashi - Senbun no Ichiya Monogatari: Starlight (あまざらし 千分の一夜物語 スターライト; "Amazarashi - The Story of a Thousandth of a Night: Starlight") was released. The album consisted of studio recordings that the band had recorded using the arrangements from their previous acoustic concert. It was accompanied by the novel Starlight.

On June 9, the band held a concert to commemorate the 5th anniversary of their debut. On the same day, the band streamed the concert live via APOLOGIES, their mobile app, to a limited number of just 400 fans. As a succession, on August 16, the band held a concert using 3D animation called "amazarashi 5th anniversary live 3D edition"

On August 19, the band released their second maxi-single, titled Supiido to Masatsu (スピードと摩擦; "Speed and Friction"). The title track was used as the opening theme for the Fuji Television original anime series, Ranpo Kitan: Game Of Laplace.

On October 22, they were guest artists at "JFL presents LIVE FOR THE NEXT supported by ELECOM", an event supported by JAPAN FM LEAGUE, the event had other bands such as YEN TOWN BAND, flower in the basement, Lily-Chou-Chou, and other artists.

On December 29, the band participated in COUNTDOWN JAPAN 15/16, on the GALAXY STAGE.

On January 17 of 2016, the band went on an eight-installment tour: "Sekai Bunki Ni Rei Ichi Roku" (世界分岐二〇一六; "World Divergence 2016").

On February 9, Akita Hiromu submitted 5 poems and 1 essay to the March edition of Bungeishunju, published by Bungeishunju Ltd.. "Aomori Song", one of the five poems, was made available for free on music.jp. The renowmed Sci-Fi Author, Miyauchi Yuusuke (宮内悠介) commented on the poem saying "While it seemed like it was presenting the prefecture and city, it didn't really define it, seeming like a Machida Kou's mindset work".

On February 24, the band released its 3rd full-length, Sekai Shuusoku Ni Ichi Ichi Roku (世界収束二一一六; "World Convergence 2116").

On the same day, the Mika Nakashima tribute album, MIKA NAKASHIMA TRIBUTE, performed by various artists, was released. It featured a self-cover of "Boku ga Shinou to Omotta no wa" (僕が死のうと思ったのは; "The Reason Why I Thought I'd Die"), the song that Akita previously composed for her.

On June 22, the band released the DVD of the live shows from their tour "Sekai Bunki Ni Rei Ichi Roku".

On October 12, the band released their 7th post-debut EP, titled Kyomubyou (虚無病; "Nihility Disease").

On October 15, the band held the one-band concert "amazarashi LIVE 360° 'Kyomubyou'" (amazarashi LIVE 360°「虚無病」) at Makuhari Messe Event Hall. The concert featured a reading of Kyomubyou, the novel that came with the EP of the same title. For the concert, the band performed on a four-sided stage with large digital screens covering them from all sides so that the audience surrounded the band, hence the title "LIVE 360°".

On December 28, the band participated in COUNTDOWN JAPAN 16/17.

2017-Present: Chihou Toshi no Memento Mori

On February 22 of 2017, the band released their third maxi-single, Inochi ni Fusawashii (命にふさわしい; "Deserving of Life"), which was a tie-up with the famous video-game writer, director and designer, Yoko Taro, and his game NieR:Automata. The music video of the title track was also made in collaboration with the game.

From March 26 to October 19, the band held a live tour called "Amazarashi Live Tour Message Bottle". It was the first live tour that featured a show in the band's hometown, Aomori.

On March 29, the band released a Compilation Album titled Message Bottle (written as "メッセジボトル" when necessary), which featured tie-up track "Hero" (ヒーロー), a remade version of the song "Tsujitsuma Awase ni Umareta Bokura" (つじつま合わせに生まれた僕等; "We Were Born Because It Was Logical"), and the あまざらし-era album Hikari, Saikou (光、再考; "Light, Reconsidered").

On the same day, the band ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION released their 20th year commemorative tribute album, AKG TRIBUTE, in which amazarashi was featured, covering Natsu no Hi, Zanzou (夏の日、残像; "Summer Day, Afterimage").

On June 21, the band released a DVD of their previous concert, "amazarashi LIVE 360° 'Kyomubyou'".

On August 19, the band participated on SUMMER SONIC 2017, performing on Rainbow Stage.

On September 6, the band released their 4th Maxi Single, Sora ni Utaeba (空に歌えば; "Singin' to the Sky"), which was featured as the 3rd opening of the shounen anime series My Hero Academia.

On December 6 and 7, Hiromu Akita's solo concert, "Riron Busou Kaijyo" (理論武装解除 "Disarmament Theory") was held.

On December 13, the band released its 4th full-length album, Chihou Toshi no Memento Mori (地方都市のメメントモリ; "The Memento Mori of the Local City").

On Jun 6th, 2018, the DVD of "Riron Busou Kaijyo" was released.

Members

Support members

  • Dewa Yoshiaki (出羽良彰) - guitar, programming, arrangements
  • Makoto Hashiyada (橋谷田真 Hashiyada Makoto) - percussion
  • Takefumi Nakamura (中村武文 Nakamura Takefumi) - bass
  • Yamamoto Kenta (山本健太) - keyboard during the period Manami had bad physical condition

"Amazarashi - Senbun no Ichiya Monogatari: Starlight" Support members

  • Koshikawa Masayuki - bass
  • Kimura Masayuki - bass
  • Murata Yasuko - viola
  • Suhara Anzu - violin
  • Suma Wasei - violin
  • Yano Sayuri - violin

Discography

Albums

DateTitleOricon peak
2011-11-16 Sennen Koufukuron (千年幸福論) 12
2014-10-29 Yuuhi Shinkou Higashizumu (夕日信仰ヒガシズム) 12
2016-2-24 Sekai Shuusoku Ni Ichi Ichi Roku (世界収束二一一六) 4
2017-12-13 Chihou Toshi no Memento Mori (地方都市のメメント・モリ) 6

Mini albums

DateTitleOricon peak
2009-2-18 Hikari, Saikou (光、再考) n/a
2009-12-9 (limited release)
2010-2-10 (national release)
0.
0.6
n/a
2010-6-9 Bakudan no Tsukurikata (爆弾の作り方) 76
2010-11-24 One Room Jojishi (ワンルーム叙事詩) 82
2011-3-16 Anomie (アノミー) 41
2012-6-13 Love Song (ラブソング) 14
2013-4-10 Nee Mama Anata no Iutoori (ねえママ あなたの言うとおり) 8
2013-11-20 Anta e (あんたへ) 11
2016-10-12 Kyomubyou (虚無病) 6

Other albums

Date Title Oricon peak
2015-5-13 Amazarashi - Senbun no Ichiya Monogatari: Starlight (あまざらし 千分の一夜物語 スターライト) n/a
2017-3-29 Message Bottle (メッセージボトル) (Best-of Compilation) 3

Singles

DateTitleOricon peak
2015-2-18 Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku (季節は次々死んでいく) 11
2015-8-19 Speed to Masatsu (スピードと摩擦) 14
2017-2-22 Inochi ni Fusawashii (命にふさわしい) 5
2017-9-6 Sora ni Utaeba (空に歌えば) 13

Video works

Date Title Format Oricon peak
2012-11-28 0.7 DVD+CD
DVD
10
2014-3-26 anthology 1386 DVD
Blu-ray
58 (DVD)
54 (Blu-ray)
2015-5-13 Amazarashi - Senbun no Ichiya Monogatari: Starlight (あまざらし 千分の一夜物語 スターライト) DVD+CD

DVD

56 (DVD)

10 (DVD+CD)

2016-6-22 amazarashi Live Tour 2016 Sekai Bunki Ni Rei Ichi Roku (amazarashi Live Tour 2016 世界分岐二〇一六) DVD
Blu-ray
17 (DVD)
23 (Blu-ray)
2017-6-21 amazarashi 360° LIVE "Kyomubyou" (amazarashi 360° LIVE「虚無病」) DVD
Blu-ray
20 (DVD)
18 (Blu-ray)
2018-6-6 amazarashi LIVE "Riron Busou Kaijyo" (amazarashi LIVE「理論武装解除」) DVD+CD

Blu-ray+CD

DVD

Blu-ray

TBA

Music Videos

Director(s) Song Name
Kenji Kawasaki あんたへ (Anta E; To You)
Kanchiku Yuri 性善説 (Seizensetsu; Theory of Fundamental Kindness)
stubble 空っぽの空に潰される(Karappo no Sora ni Tsubusareru; Crushed by the Empty Sky) from 0.7 at ZEPP DIVERCITY TOKYO
3LDK この街で生きている[2] (Kono Machi de Ikiteiru; We Live in This City), カルマ (Karma Live at Shibuya WWW 06.19.2011)
Ryo Sekiwa 空っぽの空に潰される (Karappo no Sora ni Tsubusareru; Crushed by the Empty Sky)
Ton Makino 名前[3] (Namae; Name)
Keiichi Motoyama, Asai Noritomo and Daisuke Hashimoto エンディングテーマ[4] (Ending Theme)
Keiichi Motoyama and Yoshihito Mori スピードと摩擦[5] (Supiido to Masatsu; Speed and Friction)
Daiki Ohno and Keiichi Motoyama 穴を掘っている[6] (Ana wo Hotteiru; Digging Holes)
Ukyo Inaba and Keiichi Motoyama 季節は次々死んでいく[7] (Kisetsu wa Tsugi Tsugi Shindeiku; Seasons Die One After Another), 自虐家のアリー[8] (Jigyakuka no Arii; Masochistic Ally) and 命にふさわしい[9] (Inochi ni Fuswashii; Deserving of Life)
Hakomori Keisuke and Keiichi Motoyama つじつま合わせに生まれた僕等[10] (Tsujitsuma Awase Ni Umareta Bokura; We were Born Because It was Logical)
YKBX 光、再考 (Hikari, Saikou; Light, Rethink), 夏を待っていました[11] (Natsu wo Matteimashita; I've been Waiting for Summer), クリスマス[12] (Christmas) アノミー[13] (Anomie), ジュブナイル (Juvenile), ラブソング (Love Song), ナモナキヒト (Namonaki Hito; Nameless One), スターライト[14] (Starlight), ヒーロー[15] (Hero), もう一度[16] (Mou Ichido; Once More), 古いSF映画 (Furui SF Eiga; Old Sci-Fi Movie), 虚無病[17] (Kyomubyou; Nihilistic Disease), 無題[18] (Mudai; Untitled) and 多数決[19] (Tasuuketsu; Majority Rule)
Okuyama Yuuta and Inaba Ukyou フィロソフィー (Firosofii; Philosophy)
Yutaro Kubo たられば (Tarareba; What if)

Tie-ups

Song Title Tie-Up Year
爆弾の作り方 (Bakudan no Tsukurikata; How to Make a Bomb) WeMade Online's Online FPS Game "Sting" Promotional Song 2010
アノミー (Anomii; Anomie) "Heaven's Flower: The Legend Of Arcana" TBS TV Drama theme song 2011
夜の歌 (Yoru no Uta; Night's Song) Fuji Television "Keshouden" Ending Theme
ナモナキヒト (Namonaki Hito; Nameless Human) Nippon Television "Onryuumon MUSIC DRAGON GATE" Ending Theme 6th month 2012
KBC Television "V3" Ending Theme 6th Month
ジュブナイル (Jubunairu; Juvenile) TV Tokyo "Rock Kyoudai" Ending Theme 3rd month 2013
性善説 (Seizensetsu; Fundamental Good Theory) Kansai Television "On'emon" POWER PUSH 4th month
Kansai Television "Mujack" 4th month ending theme
季節は次々死んでいく (Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku; Seasons Die One After Another) Anime "Tokyo Ghoul Root A" Ending Theme 2015
スピードと摩擦 (Supiido To Masatsu; Speed And Friction) Fuji Television anime "Ranpo Kitan: Game Of Laplace" Opening Theme
多数決 (Tasuuketsu; Majority Rule) Space Shower TV Collaboration Station ID Used Song 2016
ヒーロー (Hiiroo; Hero) TV Tokyo Drama Series "Gin to Kin" 2017
命にふさわしい (Inochi ni Fusawashii; Deserving of Life) Square Enix's Game "NieR:Automata" Collaboration Song
空に歌えば (Sora ni Utaeba; If I Sing to the Sky) Yomiuri Television anime "My Hero Academia" 3rd Opening Song
フィロソフィー (Firosofii; Philosophy) Dydo Drinks "DydoBlend Coffee" commercial "Tomorrow Try"

References

  1. "型破リヰナ". 型破リヰナ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  2. "amazarashi 『この街で生きている』". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  3. "amazarashi 『名前』Short Version". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  4. "amazarashi 『エンディングテーマ』Real Time Face Mapping Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  5. "amazarashi 『スピードと摩擦』"Speed and Friction" |「乱歩奇譚 Game of Laplace」OP曲". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  6. "amazarashi『穴を掘っている』"Digging Holes"". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  7. "amazarashi 『季節は次々死んでいく』 "Seasons die one after another" "東京喰種トーキョーグール√A"ED". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  8. "amazarashi 『自虐家のアリー』". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  9. "NieR: Automata meets amazarashi 『命にふさわしい』Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  10. "amazarashi 誦読『つじつま合わせに生まれた僕等 (2017)』 Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  11. "amazarashi 『夏を待っていました』". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  12. "amazarashi 『クリスマス』". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  13. "amazarashi 『アノミー』". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  14. "amazarashi 『スターライト』". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  15. "amazarashi 『ヒーロー』Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  16. "amazarashi 『もう一度』". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  17. "amazarashi 『虚無病』Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  18. "amazarashi 『無題』". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  19. "amazarashi 『多数決』Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.