Tetsuya Komuro
Encyclopedia
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist
, guitarist
, singer, songwriter
and music producer
born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo
, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music
to the Japanese mainstream. He was also a former owner of the disco Velfarre
located in Roppongi
, Tokyo
.
He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop
throughout the 1990s.
In the Oricon
singles chart of April 15, 1996, he monopolized all the Top 5 positions as the songwriter and producer, a world record. In 1995 he monopolized all Top 3 positions of the copyright distribution rankings for the JASRAC
Award, a record in Japan's music history.
At his peak as a record producer the artists he predominantly produced for came to be known as TK Family and at one time included Namie Amuro
, hitomi
, TRF
, Tomomi Kahala
and Ami Suzuki
amongst others.
To date all in all records produced by him have sold more than 70 million in Japan alone.
with Takashi Utsunomiya and Naoto Kine. A year later, in 1985, his first solo work was the soundtrack Vampire Hunter D
for the anime Vampire Hunter D
, and his band, TM Network, did the closing credits
song "Your Song". He subsequently composed other soundtracks such as Heaven and Earth
and Seven Days War.
As a solo singer, Komuro released singles "Running to Horizon" and "Gravity of Love" in 1989. "Running to Horizon" topped the Oricon charts. "Gravity of Love" also topped the Oricon charts, beating out Seiko Matsuda
's "Precious Heart." In 1989 and 1990, Komuro collaborated with Warren Cuccurullo
.
TM Network released single "The Point of Lovers' Night" on July 7, 1990. The single also topped the Oricon weekly charts, beating out Wink's single "Yoru ni Hagurete (Where Were You Last Night)."
TM Network changed its name to TMN in 1990. In 1991, he collaborated with X Japan
's Yoshiki as V2. TMN once disbanded in 1994.
in Japan, and came to stardom in the 1990s as producer with a long string of hits with artists such as TRF
(TK Rave Factory), Tomomi Kahala
, Namie Amuro
, Ami Suzuki
, hitomi
, Ryoko Shinohara
and H Jungle with t. In 1994, he composed the musical score to the Japanese anime film Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
, based on the Capcom
video game. Ryoko Shinohara sang the theme song of the anime film, "Itoshisato Setsunasato Kokorozuyosato," with Tetsuya Komuro. The single of the theme song was released on July 21, 1994. In total, the single "Itoshisato Setsunasato Kokorozuyosato" sold over two million copies on the Oricon charts. This score was removed from the US release of the film.
He was mainly helped in this task by the mix engineers Pete Hammond and Dave Ford
. Both were working for PWL
, which was the home of the British producing team Stock Aitken Waterman
. Not only that, "TK" is also credited for the rise to fame of Daisuke Asakura
, a popular Japanese composer
, keyboardist
and music producer who began his major musical career as a backup keyboardist
for TM Network
. Asakura is reported to view Komuro as his "Sensei" or "Teacher".
In 1997, he started his overseas career with the remix of the theme music
for the Speed 2: Cruise Control Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
, which Japanaese MMA Legend Kazushi Sakuraba
later adopted as his entrance music
.
, Kiss Destination and Gaball. On December 31, 1998, his band Globe's song "Wanna Be A Dreammaker" received the grand prix award at the 40th edition
of Japan Record Award
. In 1999, Komuro, Utsunomiya and Kine reunited under their old name of TM Network, and remain active to this day.
Komuro worked in collaboration with French keyboardist Jean Michel Jarre
from 1998 to 2001. The duet wrote the theme song for the 1998 FIFA World Cup Together Now
as well as several other tracks and remixes. He and Jean-Michel also performed a concert on beaches in Okinawa on January 1, 2001.
, for taking ¥500,000,000 in exchange for a promise to sell the copyright to his songs, which he had already sold to somebody else. Reportedly, he planned to use the money to pay a portion of his ex-wife's alimony. He admitted the fraud at his trial in January 2009.
In March 2009 Matsuura Masato
, president of the Avex Group Holdings, recovered the losses for the plaintiff, paid him extra ¥100 million in compensation and a further ¥48 million in delay damages. Matsuura also stated that Komuro will work at Avex in a company position directly under his control.
On May 11, 2009, Komuro received a suspended three-year prison sentence. According to the sentencing judge, Komuro's acceptance of responsibility and the fact that restitution had been made greatly influenced the final sentence, and further went on to state that no good to society would come from Komuro's imprisonment.
and his wife Keiko.
Komuro composed AAA
's double A-side single "Aitai Riyū/Dream After Dream (Yume Kara Sameta Yume)
." The single was released on May 5, 2010.
He composed almost all the songs on the 2010 album of Japanese pop-star Ayumi Hamasaki
, called Love Songs
.
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo
Fuchu, Tokyo
is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 255,394 and a population density of 8,700 persons per km². The total area was 29.34 km²...
, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
to the Japanese mainstream. He was also a former owner of the disco Velfarre
Velfarre
was a disco located in the Roppongi district of Tokyo, Japan. Velfarre was the self-professed "largest disco in Asia" with a capacity of 1,500 people, with three floors above ground and three floors below; owned by Komuro Tetsuya and Avex Trax. Velfarre was, and still is, known for Trance,...
located in Roppongi
Roppongi
is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, famous as home to the rich Roppongi Hills area and an active night club scene. Many foreign embassies are located in Roppongi, and the night life is popular with locals and foreigners alike...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 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...
throughout the 1990s.
In the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
singles chart of April 15, 1996, he monopolized all the Top 5 positions as the songwriter and producer, a world record. In 1995 he monopolized all Top 3 positions of the copyright distribution rankings for the JASRAC
Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers
, often referred to as the is a Japanese copyright collection society. It was founded in 1939 as a non-profit making organization, and is the largest musical copyright administration society in Japan....
Award, a record in Japan's music history.
At his peak as a record producer the artists he predominantly produced for came to be known as TK Family and at one time included Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro
is a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
, hitomi
Hitomi
better known by her stagename , is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She began her career as model, and after meeting Tetsuya Komuro he began managing her career as a pop singer...
, TRF
TRF (band)
TRF is a Japanese pop/dance group. Its members are rapper DJ Koo, lead vocalist Yu-ki, and dancers Chiharu, Etsu, and Sam.-History:...
, Tomomi Kahala
Tomomi Kahala
born on August 17, 1974 in Tokyo), is a Japanese J-pop singer. She is famous for working with Tetsuya Komuro who gave her much success in the 1990s, which led to her deep dip in popularity after 1999, the year in which she released her first non-TK produced album, One Fine Day...
and Ami Suzuki
Ami Suzuki
is a female singer, songwriter, actress and DJ from Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.Having been discovered at the talent TV show Asayan, Suzuki was one of the most popular female singers as an idol in the late 1990s....
amongst others.
To date all in all records produced by him have sold more than 70 million in Japan alone.
1979–1994: Early career and TM Network
His career started as a keyboardist for Speedway in 1979. In 1984, he build up TM NetworkTM Network
TM Network is a Japanese pop/rock musical band. The members are Tetsuya Komuro , Takashi Utsunomiya and Naoto Kine...
with Takashi Utsunomiya and Naoto Kine. A year later, in 1985, his first solo work was the soundtrack Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D (soundtrack)
Vampire Hunter D is a soundtrack album for the film of the same name. This was Tetsuya Komuro's first solo work.-Track listing:- References :* . . Accessed on July 24, 2005....
for the anime Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D
is a series of Japanese novels written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano since 1983.To date, twenty-two novels have been published in the main series, with some novels comprising as many as four volumes...
, and his band, TM Network, did the closing credits
Closing credits
Closing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
song "Your Song". He subsequently composed other soundtracks such as Heaven and Earth
Heaven and Earth (1990 film)
Heaven and Earth is a 1990 film directed by Haruki Kadokawa starring Enoki Takaaki, Tsugawa Masahiko, Asano Atsuko, Zaizen Naomi and Nomura Hironobu.-Plot summary:...
and Seven Days War.
As a solo singer, Komuro released singles "Running to Horizon" and "Gravity of Love" in 1989. "Running to Horizon" topped the Oricon charts. "Gravity of Love" also topped the Oricon charts, beating out Seiko Matsuda
Seiko Matsuda
is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal idol" by the Japanese media.- Biography :...
's "Precious Heart." In 1989 and 1990, Komuro collaborated with Warren Cuccurullo
Warren Cuccurullo
Warren Bruce Cuccurullo in Brooklyn, New York is an American rock musician who worked with Frank Zappa, was a founding member of Missing Persons, and has been a long term member of Duran Duran. He also has some notoriety in the porn industry after making nude appearances in a magazine and...
.
TM Network released single "The Point of Lovers' Night" on July 7, 1990. The single also topped the Oricon weekly charts, beating out Wink's single "Yoru ni Hagurete (Where Were You Last Night)."
TM Network changed its name to TMN in 1990. In 1991, he collaborated with X Japan
X Japan
is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
's Yoshiki as V2. TMN once disbanded in 1994.
1994–1997: Komuro boom as a record producer
By the early 1990s, Komuro was spending much of his time writing songs for and producing many other musicians and bands. He was also an early pioneer of dance musicDance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
in Japan, and came to stardom in the 1990s as producer with a long string of hits with artists such as TRF
TRF (band)
TRF is a Japanese pop/dance group. Its members are rapper DJ Koo, lead vocalist Yu-ki, and dancers Chiharu, Etsu, and Sam.-History:...
(TK Rave Factory), Tomomi Kahala
Tomomi Kahala
born on August 17, 1974 in Tokyo), is a Japanese J-pop singer. She is famous for working with Tetsuya Komuro who gave her much success in the 1990s, which led to her deep dip in popularity after 1999, the year in which she released her first non-TK produced album, One Fine Day...
, Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro
is a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
, Ami Suzuki
Ami Suzuki
is a female singer, songwriter, actress and DJ from Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.Having been discovered at the talent TV show Asayan, Suzuki was one of the most popular female singers as an idol in the late 1990s....
, hitomi
Hitomi
better known by her stagename , is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She began her career as model, and after meeting Tetsuya Komuro he began managing her career as a pop singer...
, Ryoko Shinohara
Ryoko Shinohara
Ryoko Shinohara is a Japanese singer and actress. She began her career as a singer in the Japanese female pop band Tokyo Performance Doll, and after its break-up, began a solo singing career with producer Tetsuya Komuro...
and H Jungle with t. In 1994, he composed the musical score to the Japanese anime film Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, known as in Japan and Australia, is a 1994 Japanese animated film adaptation of the Street Fighter II fighting games written by Kenichi Imai, directed by Gisaburō Sugii and animated by Group TAC. The film, originally released in Japan on August 8, 1994, has...
, based on the Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
video game. Ryoko Shinohara sang the theme song of the anime film, "Itoshisato Setsunasato Kokorozuyosato," with Tetsuya Komuro. The single of the theme song was released on July 21, 1994. In total, the single "Itoshisato Setsunasato Kokorozuyosato" sold over two million copies on the Oricon charts. This score was removed from the US release of the film.
He was mainly helped in this task by the mix engineers Pete Hammond and Dave Ford
David Ford (musician)
David James Ford is a British singer-songwriter, currently living in Eastbourne, East Sussex. He first achieved prominence with the indie rock group Easyworld, who released an independent mini-album, ...Better Ways to Self Destruct and two full-length albums on Jive Records before disbanding in...
. Both were working for PWL
PWL
Pete Waterman Entertainment is the production company one-time pop and dance record label owned by pop mogul Pete Waterman. The label, originally PWL, is most famous for being the home of hit record producers Stock Aitken Waterman....
, which was the home of the British producing team Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
. Not only that, "TK" is also credited for the rise to fame of Daisuke Asakura
Daisuke Asakura
is a male Japanese pop artist.His childhood consisted of electronic organ lessons and the expectations to follow the family trade of plumbing.Asakura began his career with landing a job at Yamaha right after high school. While under Yamaha, Asakura worked on the EOS synthesizer; he was also...
, a popular Japanese composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
and music producer who began his major musical career as a backup keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
for TM Network
TM Network
TM Network is a Japanese pop/rock musical band. The members are Tetsuya Komuro , Takashi Utsunomiya and Naoto Kine...
. Asakura is reported to view Komuro as his "Sensei" or "Teacher".
In 1997, he started his overseas career with the remix of the theme music
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
for the Speed 2: Cruise Control Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Speed 2: Cruise Control Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Speed 2: Cruise Control Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 1997 action thriller film Speed 2: Cruise Control. The album was released in May 1997, almost one month prior to the release of the film...
, which Japanaese MMA Legend Kazushi Sakuraba
Kazushi Sakuraba
is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He has competed in pro-wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling. He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, K-1 Hero's and Dream...
later adopted as his entrance music
Entrance music
Entrance music is a musical piece or song that is played for sports persons or celebrities when they enter the ring or the playing field.-Wrestling:...
.
1998–2007: Following career
Komuro also released albums as a solo singer or musician and was involved in the bands GlobeGlobe (band)
Globe is a dance-oriented Japanese pop band, formed in 1995 by producer and songwriter Tetsuya Komuro. Originally consisting of Komuro, Keiko Yamada and Marc Panther, the group's singles consistently hit the charts...
, Kiss Destination and Gaball. On December 31, 1998, his band Globe's song "Wanna Be A Dreammaker" received the grand prix award at the 40th edition
40th Japan Record Awards
The 40th Annual Japan Record Awards took place on December 31, 1998, starting at 6:30PM JST. The primary ceremonies were televised in Japan on TBS.- Award winners :*Japan Record Award:**Tetsuya Komuro & globe for "Wanna Be A Dreammaker"...
of Japan Record Award
Japan Record Award
for outstanding achievements in the Japan Composer's Association, is major music awards show held annually in Japan.- Categories :The Japan Record Award are four awards which are not restricted by genre....
. In 1999, Komuro, Utsunomiya and Kine reunited under their old name of TM Network, and remain active to this day.
Komuro worked in collaboration with French keyboardist Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
from 1998 to 2001. The duet wrote the theme song for the 1998 FIFA World Cup Together Now
Together Now
"Together Now" is a collaboration between French composer/producer Jean Michel Jarre, and the Japanese composer/producer Tetsuya Komuro. It was the France 1998 FIFA World Cup theme song. Olivia was the vocalist and the lyricist for this song. Together Now also features as Track 15 for "Music Of The...
as well as several other tracks and remixes. He and Jean-Michel also performed a concert on beaches in Okinawa on January 1, 2001.
2008: Fraud
On November 4, 2008, Komuro was arrested and charged with fraudFraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, for taking ¥500,000,000 in exchange for a promise to sell the copyright to his songs, which he had already sold to somebody else. Reportedly, he planned to use the money to pay a portion of his ex-wife's alimony. He admitted the fraud at his trial in January 2009.
In March 2009 Matsuura Masato
Max Matsuura
, better known as Max Matsuura, is a record producer and president of one of the largest music labels in Japan, Avex Group. He is known mainly for discovering and developing new artists and converting them into big stars. Ayumi Hamasaki is the most famous example of Matsuura's work...
, president of the Avex Group Holdings, recovered the losses for the plaintiff, paid him extra ¥100 million in compensation and a further ¥48 million in delay damages. Matsuura also stated that Komuro will work at Avex in a company position directly under his control.
On May 11, 2009, Komuro received a suspended three-year prison sentence. According to the sentencing judge, Komuro's acceptance of responsibility and the fact that restitution had been made greatly influenced the final sentence, and further went on to state that no good to society would come from Komuro's imprisonment.
2009–present: Comeback
At the Avex Group Holdings' concert tour a-nation 2009, Komuro made a surprise appearance on August 22, 2009. He played a medly of his hit songs at the piano and later reunited on stage with his fellow members of the J-pop group globe, Marc PantherMarc Panther
, real name , is a French-Japanese rapper, singer, and co-producer born on February 27, 1970 in Marseille, France. His father is French and his mother is Okinawan, and he goes by Marc Jule Pinsonnat in France. He is a member of the pop group globe and 245...
and his wife Keiko.
Komuro composed AAA
AAA (band)
, and also known as Attack All Around, is a Japanese pop band signed to the label Avex Trax which debuted in September 2005. The group originally consisted of five young men and three young women who had all acted in commercials and had been dancers for other Japanese stars, such as Ayumi Hamasaki...
's double A-side single "Aitai Riyū/Dream After Dream (Yume Kara Sameta Yume)
Aitai Riyū/Dream After Dream (Yume Kara Sameta Yume)
-Charts:-Release history:...
." The single was released on May 5, 2010.
He composed almost all the songs on the 2010 album of Japanese pop-star Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
, called Love Songs
Love Songs (Ayumi Hamasaki album)
- JacketA :CD+DVD* Limited Edition includes the access card on which the serial number for premium digital contents for mobile phone was printed.* Bonus Track: Live at Yoyogi on Oct.11.2010 , Original version - JacketB :...
.
Collaborations
Tetsuya Komuro worked with the following musicians.- AAAAAA (band), and also known as Attack All Around, is a Japanese pop band signed to the label Avex Trax which debuted in September 2005. The group originally consisted of five young men and three young women who had all acted in commercials and had been dancers for other Japanese stars, such as Ayumi Hamasaki...
- Namie AmuroNamie Amurois a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
- Backstreet BoysBackstreet BoysThe Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
- BananaramaBananaramaBananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
- Blaque IvoryBlaqueBlaque is an American Urban-R&B group that had a string of hits in the late 90’s. The group's name stands for Believing, Life, Achieving, Quest, Unity, Everything. Their debut album sold more than 1.5 million copies and was certified Platinum...
- BoABoABoa Kwon , commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States and sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Korean Pop Music"....
- CommonCommon (rapper)Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
- Cuiling
- Dannii MinogueDannii MinogueDanielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
- DiVADiVA (band)Diva is a sub-unit of the all-female Japanese pop group AKB48.-Debut:The formation of Diva was announced to Sayaka Akimoto and Sae Miyazawa on January 10, 2011, and disclosed to public by the all Diva members at AKB48 Theater on February 27, 2011, on the same day Akimoto finished the Tokyo...
from AKB48AKB48AKB48 is a Japanese female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto.The group has achieved enormous popularity in Japan. Its ten latest consecutive singles topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart... - DJ KrushDJ Krush, better known as DJ Krush, is a producer and DJ. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from nature and extensive use of jazz and soul samples.-Biography:...
- Eriko ImaiEriko Imaiis a Japanese pop artist. She made her debut in the early 1990s as part of the group Speed which disbanded in March 2000. Eriko began her work away from Speed during 1998, performing "Tsumetaku Shinai de", under the stage name "Eriko with Crunch", on the Speed single "All My True Love"...
- Gaball
- Geisha Girls
- GlobeGlobe (band)Globe is a dance-oriented Japanese pop band, formed in 1995 by producer and songwriter Tetsuya Komuro. Originally consisting of Komuro, Keiko Yamada and Marc Panther, the group's singles consistently hit the charts...
- H Jungle with T
- HitomiHitomibetter known by her stagename , is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She began her career as model, and after meeting Tetsuya Komuro he began managing her career as a pop singer...
- Ayumi HamasakiAyumi Hamasakiis a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
- Tamaki Nami
- Jean Michel JarreJean Michel JarreJean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
- Olivia Lufkin
- Tomomi KahalaTomomi Kahalaborn on August 17, 1974 in Tokyo), is a Japanese J-pop singer. She is famous for working with Tetsuya Komuro who gave her much success in the 1990s, which led to her deep dip in popularity after 1999, the year in which she released her first non-TK produced album, One Fine Day...
- Keiko
- KimeruKimeruKimeru Kimeru Kimeru (most often written either in Romaji (Kimeru) or with Katakana (キメル), but has been written as きめる (Hiragana) and (決める) (Kanji), (June 17, 1980) is a Japanese pop musician, singer, and stage actor. He is most famous for his work with The Prince of Tennis...
- Kiss Destination
- Krayzie BoneKrayzie BoneAnthony Henderson better known as Krayzie Bone, is an American rapper and is a former member of the rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.-Solo career:Krayzie Bone recorded his solo debut, Thug Mentality 1999, in 1998...
- Kumi KodaKumi Koda, better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. Having debuted in 2000 with the single "Take Back", Koda gained fame for her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", the songs of which were used as themes for the video game...
- Seiko MatsudaSeiko Matsudais a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal idol" by the Japanese media.- Biography :...
- Tak MatsumotoTak Matsumotois a Grammy Award-winning Japanese guitarist, producer, arranger, composer, singer and songwriter. In addition to guitarist and lead composer for the hard rock band B'z, he has also had a successful solo career.-Background:...
(B'z) - Reika Miku
- Rie MiyazawaRie Miyazawais a Japanese actress and former model.- Life and career :Rie Miyazawa was born in Tokyo and raised by her mother. Since her debut at age 11 in an advertisement for Kit Kat, she has many films, television shows, commercials, stage appearances and photo books to her credit. She starred in the...
- Arisa MizukiArisa Mizukiis a Japanese actress, singer, and model. Mizuki is represented by the talent agency Vision Factory. Born in Nerima, Tokyo to a Japanese father and Japanese-American mother, Mizuki began modelling for magazines and appearing in commercials at the age of 4. She first appeared in television series in...
- Kaori MochidaKaori Mochidais the female lead singer of Japanese pop group Every Little Thing.- Biography :Kaori Mochida was a child actress, appearing in children's magazines and TV spots. Using the stage name of she sang with a girl band called , a group similar to Morning Musume. They changed their name to...
(Every Little Thing) - Mike DierickxMike DierickxMike Dierickx , formerly known as Dirk Dierickx, and most commonly recognized under the aliases M.I.K.E., Push or Plastic Boy, is a Belgian DJ. Best known for the song "Universal Nation", he has also released other singles including "The Legacy" and "Strange World"...
- R9
- Ring
- Akina NakamoriAkina Nakamoriis a Japanese pop singer and actress. She was one of the most popular singers of the 1980s in Japan. She is known for her deep, power-house voice....
- Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
- Ryuichi SakamotoRyuichi SakamotoAfter working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
- Ryoko ShinoharaRyoko ShinoharaRyoko Shinohara is a Japanese singer and actress. She began her career as a singer in the Japanese female pop band Tokyo Performance Doll, and after its break-up, began a solo singing career with producer Tetsuya Komuro...
- Ami SuzukiAmi Suzukiis a female singer, songwriter, actress and DJ from Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.Having been discovered at the talent TV show Asayan, Suzuki was one of the most popular female singers as an idol in the late 1990s....
- Tohko
- Joe Lynn TurnerJoe Lynn TurnerJoe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
- TM NetworkTM NetworkTM Network is a Japanese pop/rock musical band. The members are Tetsuya Komuro , Takashi Utsunomiya and Naoto Kine...
(TMN) - Takashi Utsunomiya
- Toshihiko Takamizawa
- TRFTRF (band)TRF is a Japanese pop/dance group. Its members are rapper DJ Koo, lead vocalist Yu-ki, and dancers Chiharu, Etsu, and Sam.-History:...
- Yuki UchidaYuki Uchidais a Japanese actress, and a popular 1990s Japanese idol, model and singer.-Biography:She practiced fencing in high school, and ranked 3rd in a tournament in Tokyo in 1991....
- Misato WatanabeMisato Watanabeis a female Japanese popular music artist.- Singles :* 'I'm Free' * 'Growin' Up' * 'Shinderu mitai ni Ikitaku nai ' * 'My Revolution'...
- Y.U.M
- Yoshiki (X Japan)