Subaru Shibutani
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese idol
, singer, actor and lyricist. He is also the lead singer of Japanese male idol group Kanjani Eight
, which debuted with modern enka
. Shibutani was already a singer in his own right before the group's debut, immensely popular among Johnny's Jr.
fans as the top Kansai Jr. of his time.
) after passing an audition. He did not hear from the agency until December 1996, when he was called to a second audition for a KinKi Kids
concert. It was there where he first met two other future fellow members Yu Yokoyama
and Shingo Murakami
.
Shibutani's singing talent first became apparent during the recording of an original Kansai Jr. song "Boys in the West Side", theme song for Kanjani Knights, a Kansai Jr. show that ran in 1998. He was a regular on the show together with Yokoyama and Murakami. The trio went on to appear on many Jr shows together, becoming close co-workers and dubbing themselves "3baka" ("the 3 idiots"). Together with Ryo Nishikido
, they were the four top Kansai Jrs. This meant increased exposure, with opportunities to appear in many Jr shows in Tokyo as well. Shibutani's big break was an outstanding solo performance on Music Station
which would see him move to live in Tokyo, followed shortly by Yokoyama and Murakami. At Tokyo, he received many singing jobs and the 3baka became a fixture in the Tokyo Jr TV programs; They went on to star in their own TV series, IkeIkeIkemen, and were regulars on Koichi Domoto
's show Pikaichi.
Around 2000 to 2001, work offers from the agency diminished greatly for the Kansai Jrs; Shibutani was the first among the top 4 to be affected. Out of work in Tokyo, they moved back to Osaka, and found part-time jobs to supplement their meager Jr. salaries. During this quiet period, Shibutani came close to quitting Johnny's for good, but persevered for the love of the stage and singing.
In 2002, Johnny Kitagawa had the Kansai Jrs put on an old play previously performed by their seniors, SMAP
and KinKi Kids
, called Another. This marked a revival of Kansai Jr activities but Kitagawa's strategy this time was to localize the Kansai Jrs' activities and keep them based in Kansai. Shibutani could finally return to the stage. He also appeared on TV regularly, on J3Kansai.
In 2003, Johnny Kitagawa formed Kanjani Eight using the top Kansai Jrs. He decided to have Shibutani sing enka and debut Kanjani Eight with him as lead singer. In August 2004, the group released its first single, Naniwa Iroha Bushi, an enka
song infused with rap. Sales were so good that the single made it to #8 on the Oricon singles chart despite its Kansai-limited release. This prompted a nationwide release the following month that shot Naniwa to the top of the chart. Shibutani and his fellow members famously learned about their official debut through the newspapers. Shibutani did not react negatively to the enka
-style debut - on the contrary, he was happy for the new challenge as a singer, and saw the unconventional debut as a greater chance for the group to make an impact, as opposed to debuting in the typical boyband pop-dance-and-song fashion. He proved his talent and versatility as a singer by easily taking on the enka-style of singing, becoming, in his own words, "Johnny's first Enka singer".
Kanjani Eight's songs encompass a wide range of styles besides enka
and pop
; rap, jazz
, funk
, rock-and-roll, blues
, dance
, ballad
, and disco
are among the other styles featured.
In addition, Shibutani is also the main vocalist for Kanjani Eight subgroups, SanKyoudai, an acoustic music group, and SubaruBand, a rock band. Switching effortlessly from one style to the next, Shibutani always retains his distinct identity, bringing his own flavour to each style. He also plays several instruments, the guitar, harmonica
and shamisen
. He played the piano from kindergarten to 5th grade.
Shibutani possesses a natural flair for writing lyrics. As a Jr., he wrote several original songs in collaboration with the guitarist of Jr. band FIVE, Nakaegawa Rikiya, who composed the melodies. These songs were performed by Shibutani with FIVE. Subaru also collaborates with Kanjani8 band member, Shota Yasuda. The two write the songs for their band, SubaruBand (ONE, High Position, DownUp). He regularly writes the lyrics for his concert solos as well.
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
, singer, actor and lyricist. He is also the lead singer of Japanese male idol group Kanjani Eight
Kanjani Eight
is a seven-member Japanese boy band from Japan's Kansai region. They are managed by the multimedia talent agency, Johnny & Associates, and signed to Imperial Records. The group was formed in 2002 and made their CD debut in 2004 as "Johnny's modern enka group", though after the year 2006, their...
, which debuted with modern enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
. Shibutani was already a singer in his own right before the group's debut, immensely popular among Johnny's Jr.
Johnny's Jr.
is a part of Johnny & Associates that focuses only on boys who have not yet officially debuted either with a unit or as a solo act. The juniors are mostly younger than 30, with the exception of Sano Mizuki.- A.B.C-Z : is a part of Johnny & Associates that focuses only on boys who have not yet...
fans as the top Kansai Jr. of his time.
Career
Shibutani entered Johnny's in 1996 on his birthday, September 22 (along with future fellow Kanjani Eight member Ryūhei MaruyamaRyuhei Maruyama
, is a member of the popular Japanese boyband Kanjani8. He is also a morning show co-host on Kansai TV and a TV actor.- Biography :Maruyama's career as a Johnny's idol has interesting beginnings...
) after passing an audition. He did not hear from the agency until December 1996, when he was called to a second audition for a KinKi Kids
KinKi Kids
is a Japanese duo consisting of Koichi Domoto and Tsuyoshi Domoto under the talent agency Johnny & Associates. Although the members share the same surname, the only relation they have to each other is that they both hail from the Kinki region, hence the duo's name....
concert. It was there where he first met two other future fellow members Yu Yokoyama
Yu Yokoyama
is a Japanese idol, singer, actor, radio host and lyricist. Yokoyama is also a member of Kanjani Eight.-Career:Yokoyama entered Johnny's on Christmas 1996 where he met fellow members Subaru Shibutani and Shingo Murakami...
and Shingo Murakami
Shingo Murakami
, also known as Hina, is Japanese idol, singer, actor and radio host. He is also a member of Japanese boy band Kanjani Eight.-Discography:-Drama:*1999: Kowai Nichiyōbi*1999: Mamachari Detective*2001: Neverland*2004: Hagure Keiji Junjoha...
.
Shibutani's singing talent first became apparent during the recording of an original Kansai Jr. song "Boys in the West Side", theme song for Kanjani Knights, a Kansai Jr. show that ran in 1998. He was a regular on the show together with Yokoyama and Murakami. The trio went on to appear on many Jr shows together, becoming close co-workers and dubbing themselves "3baka" ("the 3 idiots"). Together with Ryo Nishikido
Ryo Nishikido
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is a member of the Johnny & Associates boy band Kanjani Eight and was a member of boy band NEWS.- Biography :Ryo Nishikido was born in Hyogo on November 3, 1984 and raised in Osaka. He made his major debut in 2004 as an actor and a singer. Nishkido belongs to two...
, they were the four top Kansai Jrs. This meant increased exposure, with opportunities to appear in many Jr shows in Tokyo as well. Shibutani's big break was an outstanding solo performance on Music Station
Music Station
is a Japanese music television program. It began broadcasting on October 24, 1986 and continues to be broadcast weekly in High-definition from 8PM-9PM on tv asahi...
which would see him move to live in Tokyo, followed shortly by Yokoyama and Murakami. At Tokyo, he received many singing jobs and the 3baka became a fixture in the Tokyo Jr TV programs; They went on to star in their own TV series, IkeIkeIkemen, and were regulars on Koichi Domoto
Koichi Domoto
is a Japanese idol, singer, singer-songwriter, composer, lyricist, television personality, seiyū and actor. Along with Tsuyoshi Domoto , he is a member of KinKi Kids, which is a Japanese duo under the management of Johnny & Associates.- Career :Born in Ashiya, Hyōgo, Japan, Domoto joined the...
's show Pikaichi.
Around 2000 to 2001, work offers from the agency diminished greatly for the Kansai Jrs; Shibutani was the first among the top 4 to be affected. Out of work in Tokyo, they moved back to Osaka, and found part-time jobs to supplement their meager Jr. salaries. During this quiet period, Shibutani came close to quitting Johnny's for good, but persevered for the love of the stage and singing.
In 2002, Johnny Kitagawa had the Kansai Jrs put on an old play previously performed by their seniors, SMAP
SMAP
SMAP is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates. While originally consisting of six members, the current group members are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori...
and KinKi Kids
KinKi Kids
is a Japanese duo consisting of Koichi Domoto and Tsuyoshi Domoto under the talent agency Johnny & Associates. Although the members share the same surname, the only relation they have to each other is that they both hail from the Kinki region, hence the duo's name....
, called Another. This marked a revival of Kansai Jr activities but Kitagawa's strategy this time was to localize the Kansai Jrs' activities and keep them based in Kansai. Shibutani could finally return to the stage. He also appeared on TV regularly, on J3Kansai.
In 2003, Johnny Kitagawa formed Kanjani Eight using the top Kansai Jrs. He decided to have Shibutani sing enka and debut Kanjani Eight with him as lead singer. In August 2004, the group released its first single, Naniwa Iroha Bushi, an enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
song infused with rap. Sales were so good that the single made it to #8 on the Oricon singles chart despite its Kansai-limited release. This prompted a nationwide release the following month that shot Naniwa to the top of the chart. Shibutani and his fellow members famously learned about their official debut through the newspapers. Shibutani did not react negatively to the enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
-style debut - on the contrary, he was happy for the new challenge as a singer, and saw the unconventional debut as a greater chance for the group to make an impact, as opposed to debuting in the typical boyband pop-dance-and-song fashion. He proved his talent and versatility as a singer by easily taking on the enka-style of singing, becoming, in his own words, "Johnny's first Enka singer".
Kanjani Eight's songs encompass a wide range of styles besides enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
; rap, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, rock-and-roll, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, and disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
are among the other styles featured.
In addition, Shibutani is also the main vocalist for Kanjani Eight subgroups, SanKyoudai, an acoustic music group, and SubaruBand, a rock band. Switching effortlessly from one style to the next, Shibutani always retains his distinct identity, bringing his own flavour to each style. He also plays several instruments, the guitar, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
and shamisen
Shamisen
The , also called is a three-stringed, Japanese musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi. The Japanese pronunciation is usually "shamisen" but sometimes "jamisen" when used as a suffix . -Construction:The shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument...
. He played the piano from kindergarten to 5th grade.
Shibutani possesses a natural flair for writing lyrics. As a Jr., he wrote several original songs in collaboration with the guitarist of Jr. band FIVE, Nakaegawa Rikiya, who composed the melodies. These songs were performed by Shibutani with FIVE. Subaru also collaborates with Kanjani8 band member, Shota Yasuda. The two write the songs for their band, SubaruBand (ONE, High Position, DownUp). He regularly writes the lyrics for his concert solos as well.
Discography
Solo concerts
- Shibutani Subaru with Ohkura-Band (August 29, 2006 – September 17, 2006)
- Five Flat Flowers (September 4–7, 2008 in Osaka, September 23, 2008 – October 6, 2008 in Tokyo)
Drama
- 1999: Shichinin no Samurai J ke no Hanran
- 1999: Kowai Nichiyōbi
- 1999: Abunai Hōkago
- 2001: Worst Dates in History
- 2001: Platonic Sex
- 2006: Double
- 2008: Arigatō, Okan
Stage
- 1997: Kyo To Kyo
- 1998: Mask
- 1998: Kyo To Kyo
- 2000: Millennium Shock
- 2002: Another
- 2003: Dōton Boys
- 2004: Summer Storm
- 2005: Never Gonna Dance
- 2005: Hey! Say! Dream Boy
- 2005: Magical Summer
- 2005: Dream Boys
- 2006: Another's Another
- 2006: Dream Boys
- 2009: Dream Boys