Shikao Suga

Shikao Suga
Native name スガ シカオ
Born (1966-07-28) July 28, 1966
Hino, Tokyo, Japan
Genres J-pop, pop rock, funk rock, soul, smooth jazz
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, record producer, radio personality, actor
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active 1995–present
Labels Universal/Mercury/Kitty MME
(1997–2003)
Augusta/BMG Japan/Ariola Japan
(2003–2011)
Victor/Speedstar (2013–present)
Associated acts Fukumimi, Kokua
Website Shikao Suga Official Website

Shikao Suga (スガ シカオ, Suga Shikao, born July 28, 1966) is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter from Tokyo known for writing the theme songs for several anime, movies and commercial ads. His name in kanji is 菅 止戈男. He uses katakana as his professional name.

Prior to career

Suga went to Kosei Gakuen Male High School (佼成学園中学校・高等学校) in Suginami, Tokyo. After graduating from Tokyo Keizai University in 1989, he worked as a "salaryman" for four years in the advertisement industry.(スガシカオ)

Beginning and major debut

By 1993, at 27, he had set his mind on becoming a musician. He already had a number of lyrics written. He made his first indie single, "0101", which he released using his birth name in kanji.

After 2 years struggling to have a major recording label, by age 30, he was signed up by Office Augusta. His debut single ヒットチャートをかけぬけろ("Hit Chart o Kakenukero") opened up a world of possibilities. His EP album Clover, released in 1997, shows his J-Pop music has jazz, funk and soul influence. His work in Office Augusta began displaying his name as スガシカオ, in katakana, which continues today.

International artist

Yozora no Mukō, the song he wrote the lyrics to, and was sung by SMAP, has appeared in several Japanese music textbooks. Both SMAP's Yozora no Mukō (1998) and KAT-TUN's Real Face (2006) either debuted at or reached quickly the top spot in the Oricon charts, and sold over 1 million units each.[1] (夜空ノムコウ) (Japan Top Singles)

Suga Shikao Asia Circuit 2017 in Tokyo

Several of his songs have been used in anime television series and live action dramas and movies adapted from manga. Honey and Clover included songs from his album "Clover", like Hachigatsu no Serenade, Tsuki to Knife and Yubikiri. The song Manatsu no Yoru no Yume has appeared in the first Death Note live action movie as an insert song. His song Yūdachi was used as the closing theme for the movie Boogiepop and Others,[2] and as the opening theme for the 2000 anime series Boogiepop Phantom. Hajimari no Hi was used as the first opening theme to Letter Bee. After a year and three months, he released the opening for the Letter Bee sequel, Yakusoku. His songs have also been included in non-manga movies, like "Dark Water" ("Aozora") and "Sweet Little lies" ("Ame agari no asa ni"), as well as countless of TV ads, like those of insurance agency Sony Sompo, and some car brands and housing businesses.

He also did the theme songs to the XXXHOLiC anime series from CLAMP, including its movie xxxHOLiC: Manatsu no Yoru no Yume (Sanagi ~theme from xxxHOLiC the movie~), its first TV series season (Jūkyū-sai), and from xxxHOLiC Kei, its second season (Nobody Knows).Sofa was the song used in xxxHOLiC: Shunmuki in February 17, 2009. In February 2013, xxxHOLiC drama started on WOWOW, and Suga's Aitai was used as its opening theme song. In 2015, CLAMP made the drawings for the music video for あなたひとりだけ 幸せになることは 許されないのよ (Anata hitori dake shiawase ni naru koto wa yurusarenai no you ni, also known as "Anayuru"), including in it images from the character from XXXHOLiC, to celebrate his debut anniversary.[3][4]

His name has been mentioned on episode 115 of Gintama, and his song "Progress" has been included in a parody, in the series' "Shirogane no Tamashii" arc 2nd season's episode 9.

His name has also been included in Haruki Murakami's After dark, with reference to his song Bakudan juice.(バクダン・ジュース)

He is involved in the poster campaign for Chica Umino's seinen manga series, March Comes in Like a Lion with Anne Watanabe. His song "Kizashi" was used in the commercial ad for the manga, and has appeared in it, as requested by Umino herself.[5]

As for his trips, in 2009 he made his first trip overseas, to London. It was to be the first time he appeared before a non-Japanese audience.[6][7]
September 2017 he made his official first appearance in the American Continent, participating on the Greenroom Festival in Hawaii, which he repeated the next year[8][9]
December 2017 he made his first trip within Asia, visiting Singapore on the 8th and Taiwan on the 17th, under the tour named "Suga Shikao Asia Circuit 2017". On the 26th of December he ends the tour in the city of Tokyo.[10]

Other activities

Suga is also a music producer, DJ, and radio personality. His radio stint began shortly after his debut.

In 1997 he headed FM NORTHWAVE's "スガシカオのヒットチャートをかけぬけろ" (Suga Shikao no Hitto Chaato wo Kakenukero"). From October 3, 2005, until March 27, 2006, he was hosting a radio program called Night Stories Monday on J-Wave radio station, which was downloadable as a podcast.[11] Other stations where he worked at are BayFM and FM802. He often appears as special navigator.

In 2017 he celebrates 20 years of career with a musical festival that he has named "Sugafes", which had the participation of renowned artists like Dohatsuten, Pornografitti and Mr. Children and others.[12] Sugafes was made in collaboration with Atsushi Shikano, from Viva la Rock Festival, as an added special.[13][14][15]

On August 12, 2017, he makes his acting debut on the WOWOW drama Plage (プラージュ (小説))[16]

Collaborations

As a songwriter for other artist

He has provided work to other artists:

  • Kyoko: Ijimete Mitai (music, lyrics), Happy Birthday (music, lyrics)
  • Smap: Koko ni Iru Koto (music, lyrics, arrangement), Yozora no Mukō (lyrics), Ringo Juice (lyrics)
  • Chisato Moritaka: Tanpopo no Tane (music, arrangement), Mahiru no Hoshi (music)
  • KAT-TUN: Real Face, Real Face #2[17][18] (lyrics)
  • Arashi: Aozora Pedal (music, lyrics)
  • Kamenashi Kazuya: Ai ni Tsuite (music, lyrics)
  • JUJU: "Hoshizukiyo" (music, lyrics)
  • Sayaka Yamamoto: "Melody" (music, lyrics)
  • Little Glee Monster: "Hikaru kakera" (music, lyrics)

As member of groups and special units

He was a member of Fukumimi, a band formed by artists from the same label (Office Augusta); it consisted of Shikao Suga, Masayoshi Yamazaki, Kyoko (杏子), and later on Chitose Hajime, COIL, Araki Yuko (mi-gu), Sukima Switch and others.

During his years at Office Augusta, he toured around the country with a back up band called Shikao and the Family Sugar. The members were Suga Shikao (Vocal & Rhythm Guitar, Lyrics & Composition), Mori Toshiyuki (Keyboard & Band Master, Arrangement), Numazawa Takashi (Drums), Matsubara Hideki (Base), Mamiya Takumi (Lead Guitar), Otaki Yuko and Saito Kumi (chorus). Activities stopped in 2007 , just after the celebration of his 10th debut anniversary.

In 2006 he was part of a group of singers all born in 1966. The unit was called Roots 66. And they had a special event called [ROOTS 66 DON'T TRUST OVER 40] on the 2nd of April.[19] Ten years later, in 2016, they reunited again for an event called [ROOTS 66 -Naughty50-].[20][21][22] In 2017, they lent their voices for the ending theme of the second season of the anime Osomatsu san, called レッツゴー!ムッツゴー!～6色の虹～ ("Let's go! Muttsu go! ~ Rokushoku no niji").[23]

In 2006 he was involved in another group, Kokua, for which he has served as vocalist and songwriter. Their first involvement was for the theme song Progress for NHK's program プロフェッショナル 仕事の流儀(Professional Shigoto no Ryūgi, known overseas as The Professionals). In 2016, the members reunited for their 1st official album and tour.

In 2009 he was part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of radio station FM802. He was involved in the FM802 x Docomo campaign collaboration song Oh! Radio, written by Kiyoshiro Imawano (which was to be his last), as part of the special unit called Radio Soul 20.[24] The group consisted of musicians Mao Abe, HY, Shigeru Kishida (Quruli), Suga Shikao, Bonnie Pink, Daisuke Yamamori (ROCK'A'TRENCH), Wada Sho (TRICERATOPS). The song aired April that year.

In 2015 he was part of the FM802 X Tsutaya Access! spring campaign, writing the song that was to be the campaign song, 「Music Train 春の魔術師」(Music Train ~ Haru no Majutsushi).[25] Sugar & The Radio Fire is the special unit made to sing the song, and it consists of musicians Suga Shikao, Ohara Sakurako, Kawakami Yohei, (Alexandros), Saito Kosuke (UNISON SQUARE GARDEN), Taniguchi Maguro (KANA-BOON), Haruna (SCANDAL), Mitsumura Tatsuya (NICO Touches the Walls), Yamamura Ryota (flumpool). Song aired in march 1 to may 31 that year.

In 2018, he returns as part of the FM802 x Tsutaya Access! Spring campaign as a singer, this time as part of the special unit Radio Bestsellers, with the song 「栞」(Shiori), written by Ozaki Sekaikan (CreepHyp).[26] Radio Bestsellers is made up by musicians Ai Myon, Ozaki Sekaikan (CreepHyp), Kataoka Kenta (sumika), GEN (04 Limited Sazabys), Saito Kosuke (UNISON SQUARE GARDEN), Suga Shikao.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Clover (September 7, 1997)
  • Family (June 24, 1998)
  • Sweet (September 8, 1999)
  • 4Flusher (October 25, 2000)
  • Smile (May 7, 2003)
  • Time (November 17, 2004)
  • Parade (September 6, 2006)
  • FUNKAHOLiC (September 10, 2008)
  • FUNKASTiC (May 12, 2010)
  • Acoustic Soul (January 15, 2014)
  • The Last (January 20, 2016)

Mini album

Live, compilation & best albums

  • Sugarless (October 3, 2001)
  • The Best Hits of Live Recordings -Thank You- (November 5, 2003)
  • All Singles Best (January 24, 2007)
  • All Lives Best (October 10, 2007)
  • Sugarless II (August 10, 2011)
  • Best Hit Suga Shikao ~ 1997 - 2002 (Universal) (February 27, 2013)
  • Best Hit Suga Shikao ~ 2003 - 2011 (Sony) (February 27, 2013)
  • Live Bootleg (February 23, 2015)
  • The Best (-1997 - 2011 -) (January 20, 2016)
  • Live Bootleg 2: The Last (September 10, 2016)
  • Live Bootleg 3: Hitori Sugar Tour 2018 (February 26, 2018)

Singles

  • "Hit Chart o Kakenukero" (ヒットチャートをかけぬけろ) (February 26, 1997)
  • "Ōgon no Tsuki" (黄金の月) (May 28, 1997)
  • "Dokidoki Shichau" (ドキドキしちゃう) (July 30, 1997)
  • "Ai ni Tsuite" (愛について) (November 21, 1997)
  • "Story" (ストーリー) (May 27, 1998)
  • "Bokutachi no Hibi" (ぼくたちの日々) (November 18, 1998)
  • "Yoake Mae" (夜明けまえ) (June 23, 1999)
  • "Amai Kajitsu" (あまい果実) (August 18, 1999)
  • "Spirit" (SPIRIT) (August 2, 2000)
  • "Affair" (AFFAIR) (October 12, 2000)
  • "Hachigatsu no Serenade" (8月のセレナーデ) (August 1, 2001)
  • "Aozora/Cloudy" (青空／Cloudy) (January 17, 2002)
  • "Asymmetry" (アシンメトリー) (May 29, 2002)
  • "Sayonara/Kimagure" (サヨナラ/気まぐれ) (February 26, 2003)
  • "Himitsu" (秘密) (May 12, 2004)
  • "Climax" (クライマックス) (August 25, 2004)
  • "Hikari no Kawa" (光の川) (October 27, 2004)
  • "Kiseki/Natsukage/Sanagi" (奇跡/夏陰/サナギ) (August 10, 2005)
  • "Jūkyū-sai" (19才) (April 26, 2006)
  • "Manatsu no Yoru no Yume" (真夏の夜のユメ) (June 21, 2006)
  • "Gogo no Parade" (午後のパレード) (September 6, 2006)
  • "Phonoscope" (フォノスコープ) (June 13, 2007)
  • "Nobody Knows" (NOBODY KNOWS) (May 14, 2008)
  • "Kono Yubi Tomare" (コノユビトマレ) (September 3, 2008)
  • "Party People" (July 15, 2009) #7 . 1st week sales - 14,639 . Total sales - 17,326
  • "Hajimari no Hi feat. Mummy-D" (はじまりの日 feat. Mummy-D) (November 25, 2009)
  • "Ame Agari no Asa ni" (雨あがりの朝に) (March 17, 2010) Digital single
  • "Sayonara Homerun" (サヨナラホームラン) (April 28, 2010)
  • "Yakusoku" (約束) (February 23, 2011)
  • "Re:you" (June 27, 2012)
  • "Festival" (October 25, 2012)
  • "Aitai" (アイタイ) (April 10, 2013)
  • "Miagete goran yoru no hoshi wo feat. Daniel Ho" (見上げてごらん夜の星を feat. Daniel Ho) (March 10, 2013) Charity Relief song
  • "Akai mi" (赤い実) (September 18, 2013)
  • "Akai mi remix" (赤い実 remix) (December 4, 2013)
  • "Life" (July 5, 2014)
  • "Monaural Sekai" (モノラルセカイ) (October 22, 2014)
  • "Anata hitori dake shiawase ni naru koto wa yurusarenai no yo ~ Anayuru" (あなたひとりだけ 幸せになることは 許されないのよ ~ あなゆる) (December 7, 2015
  • "Ame nochi hare" (雨ノチ晴レ) (May 6, 2017)
  • "Happy Strike" (ハッピーストライク) (May 6, 2017)
  • "Twilight Twilight" (トワイライト★トワイライト) (Dec 26, 2017)

BluRays and DVDs

  • +731 (February 26, 2002)
  • 1095 (February 26, 2002)
  • 20 Music Clips of Suga Shikao (May 12, 2004)
  • Shikao & The Family Sugar ~FAN-KEY PARADE07~ in Nippon Budokan (Shikao & The Family Sugar ~FAN-KEY PARADE '07~ in 日本武道館) (June 13, 2007)
  • Jounetsu Tairiku x Suga Shikao (情熱大陸 x スガシカオ) (July 25, 2008) (Documentary)
  • Suga Shikao FKT-Meeting ~Haru no Utage~ (スガシカオ FKT-Meeting ~春の宴~) (Fan Club Only)
  • The Best Music Clips of Suga Shikao 2004-2011 (August 10, 2011)
  • Live DVD "Japan - UK circuit 2009 - 2010" (March 21, 2012)
  • The Last ~ Encore ~ Live Tour 2016 at Toyosu Pit) (October 21, 2016)
  • Live Films ~ 2015 - 2016 ~ 20th Anniversary Limited Edition (April 26, 2017)
  • Sugafes! 20th Anniversary Edition (November 28, 2018)

Other

  • Physical (BRADBERRY ORCHESTRA feat. Suga Shikao, Crystal Kay and Salyu) (July 27, 2012)
  • Fireball (Fire Horns feat Suga Shikao) (June 4, 2014)
  • AsianLover (Duran feat. Suga Shikao, album "Face") (July 11, 2018) [27]
  • Smells (Yoshito Tanaka feat. Suga Shikao, album "Smells like 44 Spirit") (Self-promotion) (August 4, 2018) [28][29]

Demos

  • Demo Tracks (1997)[30]

References

  1. ↑ "夜空ノムコウSMAP". Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  2. ↑ Boogiepop wa Warawanai: Boogiepop and Others. IMDb.com, Inc. Accessed March 26, 2008.
  3. ↑ "スガシカオの新曲がマンガ「xxxHOLiC」特別編に". Natalie.mu. December 7, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Clamp_news official Twitter with link to music video". Twitter and YouTube links. February 26, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  5. ↑ "スガシカオが「3月のライオン」1日限定放送CMに楽曲提供". Natalie.mu. April 8, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Suga Shikao – ICA". Freaky Trigger. December 17, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Suga Shikao Single and UK Performance". JaME World. September 26, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  8. ↑ "GREENROOM FESTIVAL Hawaii'17". beachculture.net (in Japanese). June 24, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ "GREENROOM FESTIVAL Hawaii ʼ18". hawaii-event.com. April 2, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ "スガシカオ、12月に初のアジアツアー開催 - 音楽ナタリー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  11. ↑ Night Stories Monday (Shikao Suga) Archived 2006-04-15 at the Wayback Machine.. (in Japanese) J-Wave, Inc. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Mr.Childrenが『スガフェス！』出演　スガシカオ「Mr.Childrenに入れて」". cinra.net. February 18, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  13. ↑ "2017年5月3日・4日・5日｜VIVA LA ROCK 2017 - さいたまスーパーアリーナ". musicfes.wp-x.jp. October 16, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ "スガ シカオ、来年開催「スガフェス！」のスペシャルサイトをオープン". meetia.net. September 16, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  15. ↑ "VIVA LA ROCK EXTRA ビバラポップ！鹿野淳氏インタビュー". Natalie.mu. 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  16. ↑ WOWOW's Plage Drama official page (in Japanese) Accessed May 25, 2017.
  17. ↑ "KATTUN Discography". j-storm, KATTUN's official site. New Single "Ask Yourself". Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  18. ↑ "KAT-TUN、再始動後初イベント「KAT-TUN 2018 FIRST IMPRESSION – Ask Yourself」開催！「Real Face#2」も初披露!!". T Site News. 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  19. ↑ "ROOTS66 DON'T TRUST OVER 40 ＠ 大阪城ホール (大阪府) (2006.02.04) | ライブ・セットリスト情報サービス【 LiveFans (ライブファンズ) 】". livefans.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  20. ↑ "ROOTS 66 -Naughty 50- ＠ 仙台サンプラザ ホール (宮城県) (2016.03.25) | ライブ・セットリスト情報サービス【 LiveFans (ライブファンズ) 】". livefans.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  21. ↑ "ROOTS 66 -Naughty 50- ＠ 日本武道館 (東京都) (2016.03.27) | ライブ・セットリスト情報サービス【 LiveFans (ライブファンズ) 】". livefans.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  22. ↑ "ROOTS 66 -Naughty 50- ＠ 大阪城ホール (大阪府) (2016.04.03) | ライブ・セットリスト情報サービス【 LiveFans (ライブファンズ) 】". livefans.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  23. ↑ "TVアニメ「おそ松さん」公式サイト". TVアニメ「おそ松さん」公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  24. ↑ "FM 802 x Docomo Access! 2009 campaign website screenshot". FM 802 x Docomo Access! 2009 campaign website screenshot. March 22, 2009.
  25. ↑ "FM802春ソングはスガシカオ！アレキ川上、大原櫻子ら豪華ゲストも". Natalie music (in Japanese). March 19, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  26. ↑ "FM802×TSUTAYA ACCESS！ 尾崎世界観 作詞・作曲オリジナルキャンペーンソング 、フォーリミ GEN、USG 斎藤宏介、あいみょん、スガ シカオら決定！". Tsutaya T-Site News (in Japanese). March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  27. ↑ "ギタリストDURAN初ソロアルバムにスガシカオ、清春、Katsuma参加". natalie.mu (in Japanese). June 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  28. ↑ ""Smells Like 44 Spirit" Album back cover or insert". Instagram (in Japanese). July 26, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  29. ↑ ""Smells Like 44 Spirit" iTunes page". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  30. ↑ "プロモ盤CD「スガシカオ/demo tracks」プロモーション用6曲入". Yahoo Auctions. CD and cover images. Archived from the original on 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2018-04-24.

Official sites

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