Sophia (rock band)
Encyclopedia
SOPHIA is a Japanese rock band formed in 1994 by vocalist Mitsuru Matsuoka, guitarist Kazutaka Toyota, bassist Yoshio Kuroyanagi, drummer Yoshitomo Akamatsu and keyboardist Keiichi Miyako. They made their major debut in 1995.
Currently signed on Avex Trax
since 2011, their first record label was with Toy's Factory
. They changed over to Toshiba EMI in 2004, and Universal Music Japan in 2009.
One of their singles, "-Boku wa Koko ni Iru-", was used as the 2nd ending theme for the anime Kaleido Star
. The group was a guest of honor at the 2010 Anime Expo
, in Los Angeles, California, July 1–4.
Sophia's song "Machi" was covered by Doremidan
on the compilation Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-, which was released on January 26, 2011 and features current visual kei
bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement. Their song "Gokigen Tori ~Crawler is Crazy~" will be covered by Annie's Black on its sequel, Crush! 2 -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-, that will be released on November 23, 2011.
Currently signed on Avex Trax
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...
since 2011, their first record label was with Toy's Factory
Toy's Factory
is a Japanese record label founded in 1990 as a VAP subsidiary, based in Japan. It has since become an independent company.-Sub-Labels:* bellissima!* Carnage* Deep Blue* Idyllic* Kimi* Meme Tokyo* -Artists:*Aobozu*Armageddon*Bump of Chicken...
. They changed over to Toshiba EMI in 2004, and Universal Music Japan in 2009.
One of their singles, "-Boku wa Koko ni Iru-", was used as the 2nd ending theme for the anime Kaleido Star
Kaleido Star
is an anime series produced by Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation Holding. The series was created by Junichi Sato, who also directed the first season, and written by Reiko Yoshida...
. The group was a guest of honor at the 2010 Anime Expo
Anime Expo
Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
, in Los Angeles, California, July 1–4.
Sophia's song "Machi" was covered by Doremidan
Doremidan
is a Japanese visual kei band, formed on January 1, 2002 by the singer Makoto and drummer Reika. The band is currently signed to Akatsuki label. The bands musical influence includes music genres like jazz, swing, blues, tango and rock'n'roll....
on the compilation Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-, which was released on January 26, 2011 and features current visual kei
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement. Their song "Gokigen Tori ~Crawler is Crazy~" will be covered by Annie's Black on its sequel, Crush! 2 -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-, that will be released on November 23, 2011.
Singles
- (1996.04.22) 「ヒマワリ」 (Himawari / Sunflower)
- (1996.05.21) 「Early summer rain」
- (1996.11.11) 「Believe」
- (1997.02.19) 「little cloud」
- (1997.07.09) 「街」 (Machi / Town)
- (1997.11.27) 「君と揺れていたい」 (Kimi to yurete itai / I Want to be Swaying With You)
- (1998.04.22) 「ゴキゲン鳥 ～crawler is crazy～」 (Gokigen tori ~crawler is crazy~ / High-spirited Bird)
- (1998.11.26) 「黒いブーツ～oh my friend～」 (Kuroi Boots ~oh my friend~ / Black Boots)
- (1999.03.25) 「ビューティフル」 (beautiful)
- (1999.08.04) 「Place～」
- (1999.12.15) 「OAR」
- (2000.02.02) 「ミサイル」 (Missile)
- (2000.10.18) 「walk」
- (2001.01.17) 「進化論 ～GOOD MORNING!-HELLO! 21st-CENTURY～」 (Shinkaron ~GOOD MORNING!-HELLO! 21st-CENTURY~ / Theory of Evolution)
- (2001.06.13) 「KURU KURU」
- (2001.09.05) 「STRAWBERRY & LION」
- (2001.11.21) 「Thank you」
- (2002.02.27) 「HARD WORKER」
- (2002.06.19) 「ROCK STAR」
- (2002.10.09) 「未だ見ぬ景色」 (Mada minu keshiki / As Yet Unseen Landscape)
- (2003.01.01) 「理由なきNewDays」 (Wake naki New Days / No Reason New Days)(+Separate limited edition version)
- (2003.07.30) 「-僕はここにいる-」 (-Boku wa koko ni iru- / I'm Here)
- (2004.05.12) 「旅の途中」 (Tabi no tochuu / On a Trip) (Limited)
- (2004.05.19) 「please,please」 (Limited)
- (2004.05.26) 「花は枯れて また咲く」 (Hana wa karete mata saku / A Flower Withers Then Later Blooms) (Limited)
- (2004.08.04) 「青い季節」 (Aoi kisetsu / Blue Season)
- (2005.04.27) 「ANSWER ～イチバンタダシイコタエ～」 (ANSWER ~ichiban tadashii kotae~ / Answer ~Most Correct Answer~)
- (2005.07.06) 「one summer day」
- (2006.02.22) 「エンドロール」 / 「brother & sister」 (Endroll) (+Separate limited edition version)
- (2006.10.18) 「stain」
- (2007.03.21) 「君と月の光」 (Kimi to Tsuki no Hikari / You and the Moonlight) (+Separate limited edition version)
- (2007.07.18) 「星」 (Hoshi / Star)
- (2007.09.12) 「青空の破片」 (Aozora no kakera / Piece of Blue Sky)
- (2009.05.06) 「Baby Smile」
- (2011.07.27) 「cod-E ~Eの暗号~」 (cod-E ~E no angou~ / cod-E ~The code of E~)
Albums
- (1995.03.21) 「SOPHIA」 (2nd Press released in 1995.06.01)
- (1995.10.02) 「BOYS」
- (1995.11.01) 「GIRLS」
- (1996.07.01) 「Kiss the Future」
- (1997.04.23) 「little circus」
- (1998.05.20) 「ALIVE」
- (1999.04.14) 「マテリアル」 (Material)
- (2000.01.01) 「1999」
- (2001.03.07) 「進化論」 (Shinkaron / Theory of Evolution)
- (2001.12.19) 「THE SHORT HAND ～SINGLES COLLECTION」
- (2001.12.19) 「THE LONG HAND ～MEMBERS' SELECTION 」 (Limited)
- (2003.09.25) 「夢」 (Yume / Dream)
- (2004.09.15) 「EVERBLUE」
- (2005.11.02) 「10th ANNIVERSARY BEST」 (+Separate limited edition version)
- (2006.03.23) 「We」 (+Separate limited edition version)
- (2007.10.10) 「2007」 (+Separate limited edition version)
- (2009.06.24) 「BAND AGE」 (+Separate limited edition version)
- (2010.01.20) 「15」
- (2011.01.19) 「ALL SINGLES「A」」
- (2011.01.19) 「ALL B-SIDE「B」」
- (2011.01.19) 「ALL 1995〜2010」