Da Pump
Encyclopedia
is an Okinawan male idol group comprising lead vocalist, Issa and MCs Ken, Yukinari, and Shinobu. The group formed as students at Okinawa Actors School in 1996. They made their debut on Avex Trax
subsidiary
, avex tune, under the guidance of producer Akio Togashi on June 11, 1997 with "Feelin' Good -It's Paradise." As one of the few male groups unassociated with Johnny's Entertainment, they were the first to gain major popularity reaching their peak in 2001 with the release of Da Best of Da Pump. On April 7, 2006, Shinobu
formally left the group following a hiatus due to a drunk driving incident in 2005. The group went on an unofficial hiatus at the end of 2006.
On December 18, 2008, it was announced that Yukinari was leaving the group and that Ken and Issa were actively looking for his replacement. Within hours, their management company announced a brand new Da Pump with seven new members and a new concept as a multimedia entertainment group. The group will start their official comeback on July 15, 2009 with the new single, "Summer Rider
" and a tour in the fall. It was announed on December 5, 2009 that Ken Okumoto has left Da Pump to pursue a solo career, leaving Issa the only original member left.
). The group originally came from Okinawa Actors School but are now part of the Avex Network
and are produced by Akio Togashi. Their songs tend to have a quick tempo and often include elements of rap
. Da Pump often appears in TV shows, movie
s, and magazine
s throughout Japan.
Issa has stated that he is a fan of the long running Kamen Rider Series
tokusatsu
programs, and has contributed to the soundtracks of Kamen Rider 555
with its opening theme "Justiφ's" and its film's theme "Justiφ's -Accel Mix-" as well as the theme for the film Kamen Rider The Next
, "Chosen Soldier". As a group, Da Pump had performed the theme to the film Kamen Rider The First
, "Bright! our Future", and Issa played the role of a Shocker commander in the film
Following a DUI
arrest in 2005, Shinbou temporarily suspended all activities from the group. However, on 7 April 2006, he officially announced that he has left the group. The remaining members of Da Pump will continue on as three. During his leave, he returned to Okinawa and in a letter posted on his management company's website he explained that during his time there he felt an urge to perform the music of the prefecture and with those sentiments decided to leave the group. At this time, it has been decided that Shinobu will go solo although no concrete plans have been made.
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
, avex tune, under the guidance of producer Akio Togashi on June 11, 1997 with "Feelin' Good -It's Paradise." As one of the few male groups unassociated with Johnny's Entertainment, they were the first to gain major popularity reaching their peak in 2001 with the release of Da Best of Da Pump. On April 7, 2006, Shinobu
Shinobu
is a Japanese verb meaning or . It is a Japanese given name used by either sex. Shinobu is also the dictionary form of shinobi which can be combined with mono to make shinobi no mono , an alternative name of ninja.-Possible writings:...
formally left the group following a hiatus due to a drunk driving incident in 2005. The group went on an unofficial hiatus at the end of 2006.
On December 18, 2008, it was announced that Yukinari was leaving the group and that Ken and Issa were actively looking for his replacement. Within hours, their management company announced a brand new Da Pump with seven new members and a new concept as a multimedia entertainment group. The group will start their official comeback on July 15, 2009 with the new single, "Summer Rider
Summer Rider
"Summer Rider" is Da Pump's 26th single on the avex tune label. It is the group's first single in three years and their first as a nine-member unit. It was released on July 15, 2009, in two formats, CD and CD+DVD. The single will contain three original songs including the title track, a dancable...
" and a tour in the fall. It was announed on December 5, 2009 that Ken Okumoto has left Da Pump to pursue a solo career, leaving Issa the only original member left.
Current members
[Born: December 9, 1978 / Since 1997] [Born: December 4, 1988 / Since 2008] [Born: March 6, 1984 / Since 2008] [Born: January 21, 1985 / Since 2008]- TOMO [Born: February 2, 1981 / Since 2008]
- KIMI [Born: April 14, 1983 / Since 2008]
- YORI [Born: February 9, 1980 / Since 2008] [Born: September 17, 1983 / Since 2008]
Former members
[Born: February 15, 1980; Left DA PUMP in 2005] [Born: November 5, 1978; Left DA PUMP in 2008] [Born: December 17, 1979; Left DA PUMP in 2009]Biography
Famed for their ability in both dancing and singing, Da Pump's debut came in 1997, with the song "Feelin Good - It's Paradise" and breaking through with "Rhapsody in Blue" (and using the song as their entry on the "white" team during the 1998 Kōhaku Uta GassenKohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
). The group originally came from Okinawa Actors School but are now part of the Avex Network
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
and are produced by Akio Togashi. Their songs tend to have a quick tempo and often include elements of rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
. Da Pump often appears in TV shows, movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, and magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
s throughout Japan.
Issa has stated that he is a fan of the long running Kamen Rider Series
Kamen Rider Series
The is a metaseries of manga and tokusatsu television programs and films created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The various Kamen Rider media generally feature a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains often referred to as...
tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
programs, and has contributed to the soundtracks of Kamen Rider 555
Kamen Rider 555
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the 13th installment in the Kamen Rider Series. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and was broadcast on TV Asahi from January 26, 2003 to January 18, 2004...
with its opening theme "Justiφ's" and its film's theme "Justiφ's -Accel Mix-" as well as the theme for the film Kamen Rider The Next
Kamen Rider The Next
is a 2007 Japanese tokusatsu film directed by Ryuta Tasaki and written by Toshiki Inoue. The film was released on October 27, 2007. The film borrows elements from the Kamen Rider V3 television series and is a sequel to the Kamen Rider The First movie...
, "Chosen Soldier". As a group, Da Pump had performed the theme to the film Kamen Rider The First
Kamen Rider the First
is a 2005 Japanese tokusatsu film. The film is an adaptation of the television series Kamen Rider, though there are many differences between the film and the original programme; some of these, however, are due to a closer reliance on the original Kamen Rider manga by Shotaro Ishinomori...
, "Bright! our Future", and Issa played the role of a Shocker commander in the film
Following a DUI
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
arrest in 2005, Shinbou temporarily suspended all activities from the group. However, on 7 April 2006, he officially announced that he has left the group. The remaining members of Da Pump will continue on as three. During his leave, he returned to Okinawa and in a letter posted on his management company's website he explained that during his time there he felt an urge to perform the music of the prefecture and with those sentiments decided to leave the group. At this time, it has been decided that Shinobu will go solo although no concrete plans have been made.
Studio albums
- 1998: Expression
- 1999: Higher and Higher!
- 2000: Beat BallBeat BallBeat Ball is a freeware breakout clone game PC that was created by Stefan Persson, also known under the alias Imphenzia Games, using the Game Maker software. The player controls a paddle at the bottom of the screen and the objective, as with any breakout clone, is to use a bouncing ball to remove...
- 2002: The Next Exit
- 2004: Shippuu Ranbu -Episode II-
- 2005: Lequios
Other albums
- 2001: Da Best of Da Pump
- 2001: Da Best Remix of Da Pump
- 2003: Da Best of Da Pump Japan Tour 2003 Reborn
- 2006: Da Best of Da Pump 2+4
Notable singles
- 1997: "Feelin' Good -It's Paradise-"
- 1999: "We Can't Stop The Music"
- 2000: "If..."
- 2009: "Summer RiderSummer Rider"Summer Rider" is Da Pump's 26th single on the avex tune label. It is the group's first single in three years and their first as a nine-member unit. It was released on July 15, 2009, in two formats, CD and CD+DVD. The single will contain three original songs including the title track, a dancable...
"
Singles
- "Justiφ's" (12 March 2003) - Opening for the series, Kamen Rider 555Kamen Rider 555is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the 13th installment in the Kamen Rider Series. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and was broadcast on TV Asahi from January 26, 2003 to January 18, 2004...
. - "Play, This, Satisfy" (23 April 2003)
- "Chosen Soldier" (17 October 2007) - Theme for Kamen Rider The NextKamen Rider The Nextis a 2007 Japanese tokusatsu film directed by Ryuta Tasaki and written by Toshiki Inoue. The film was released on October 27, 2007. The film borrows elements from the Kamen Rider V3 television series and is a sequel to the Kamen Rider The First movie...
- "Breathe" (22 September 2010, ISSA × SoulJaSouljaSoulja or Souljah may be a corruption of "soldier" and allude to "soul" and "Jah". It is sometimes used as a moniker, for example by these music artists:*Sister Souljah*SoulJa, Japanese rapper known for 2007/2008 hits Koko ni Iru yo/Soba ni Iru ne....
) - "4 chords" (9 March 2011, ISSA × SoulJa)
Collaborative releases
- MAXMAX (band)MAX whose name is an acronym for "Musical Active eXperience" is an Okinawan vocal group popular in Japan. The original members of MAX made their musical debut as members of the Super Monkey's along with lead vocalist, Namie Amuro...
/ "Emotional History" (14 March 2001)- "But My Love feat. ISSA"
- Album Christmas Harmony: Vision Factory Presents! (21 November 2007)
- "Shiroi Yuki"
Collaborative releases
- HiroHiroko ShimabukuroHiroko Shimabukuro , best known mononymously as hiro, is a Japanese singer. She debuted as a member of the popular girl group Speed in 1996. In 1998, hiro released her first solo song "Mitsumete Itai" as a B-side to Speed's single "All My True Love"...
/ Naked and True (7 August 2002)- "Crazy feat. Ken"
- Viewtiful JoeViewtiful Joeis a video game developed by Capcom's Production Studio 4 for the Nintendo GameCube. It was originally released in 2003 as a part of the Capcom Five under director Hideki Kamiya and producer Atsushi Inaba. Viewtiful Joe was later ported to the Sony PlayStation 2 by the same design team under the...
(SotaroSotaroknown as is an American actor and model in Japan. He was born in Newport Beach, California. He is best known for his portrayal of Ken Hisatsu/GekiChopper in the 2007 Super Sentai series Juken Sentai Gekiranger.-Biography:...
feat. Ken) (3 July 2003) Theme of Viewtiful JoeViewtiful Joeis a video game developed by Capcom's Production Studio 4 for the Nintendo GameCube. It was originally released in 2003 as a part of the Capcom Five under director Hideki Kamiya and producer Atsushi Inaba. Viewtiful Joe was later ported to the Sony PlayStation 2 by the same design team under the...
- "Viewtiful World"
- ZZZZ (band)- Members :* Sotaro * Erichi * Matsuura * Kohsuke * Kyama - Albums :* Definitive Energy Flow * Universal ZZ * A to ZZ - Complete Single Collection...
/ ZZB (14 December 2005)- "Walk into the light feat. Ken"
- Tamaki Nami / Don't Stay (23 April 2008)
- "Gokigendaze!: Nothing but Something feat. Ken"