The Checkers
Encyclopedia
The Checkers was a Japan
ese pop/rock band famous in the 1980s. The band was formed by Toru Takeuchi, the leader and the guitarist, who asked Fumiya Fujii
to start a band with him. They made a debut on 21 September 1983 and split up on 31 December 1992. All of their single releases entered top 10 in Japanese charts, many of them making it to No 1. Fumiya Fujii
, who was the lead singer and the main lyricist, went on to pursue a successful solo career.
Although it was a band which produced their own songs, they were frequently regarded as just male aidoru
by Japanese rock fans because of their early marketing promotion
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese pop/rock band famous in the 1980s. The band was formed by Toru Takeuchi, the leader and the guitarist, who asked Fumiya Fujii
Fumiya Fujii
is a male Japanese popular music artist. He is a part of Sony Music Japan.After leaving his job in Japanese National Railways, he started his music career in the 1980s as the vocalist of the immensely popular group The Checkers and started on his solo project after they split up.Naoyuki Fujii, his...
to start a band with him. They made a debut on 21 September 1983 and split up on 31 December 1992. All of their single releases entered top 10 in Japanese charts, many of them making it to No 1. Fumiya Fujii
Fumiya Fujii
is a male Japanese popular music artist. He is a part of Sony Music Japan.After leaving his job in Japanese National Railways, he started his music career in the 1980s as the vocalist of the immensely popular group The Checkers and started on his solo project after they split up.Naoyuki Fujii, his...
, who was the lead singer and the main lyricist, went on to pursue a successful solo career.
Although it was a band which produced their own songs, they were frequently regarded as just male aidoru
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...
by Japanese rock fans because of their early marketing promotion
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
.
Singles
- Gizagiza Heart no Komoriuta (ギザギザハートの子守唄) (21 September 1983)
- Namida no Request (涙のリクエスト) (21 January 1984)
- Kanashikute Jealousy (哀しくてジェラシー) (1 May 1984)
- Hoshikuzu no Stage (星屑のステージ) (23 August 1984)
- Julia ni Shōshin (ジュリアに傷心) (21 November 1984)
- Ano Ko to Scandal (あの娘とスキャンダル) (21 March 1985)
- Oretachi no Rockabilly Night (俺たちのロカビリーナイト) (5 July 1985)
- Heart of Rainbow: Ai no Niji o Watatte/Blue Pacific (Heart of Rainbow～愛の虹を渡って～/ブルー・パシフィック) (21 September 1985)
- Kamisama Help! (神様ヘルプ!) (1 November 1985)
- Oh!!Popstar (21 February 1986)
- Song for U.S.A. (5 June 1986)
- Nana (5 October 1986)
- I Love You, Sayonara (5 March 1987)
- Wanderer (8 July 1987)
- Blue Rain (6 November 1987)
- Nanatsu no Umi no Chikyūgi (7つの海の地球儀) (6 November 1987)
- One Night Gigolo (21 March 1988)
- Jim&Jane no Densetsu (Jim&Janeの伝説) (29 June 1988)
- Sunao ni I'm Sorry (素直にI'm Sorry) (21 October 1988)
- Room (21 March 1989)
- Cherie (5 July 1989)
- Friends and Dream (6 December 1989)
- Sadame (運命) (21 March 1990)
- Yoake no Bless (夜明けのブレス) (21 June 1990)
- Sayonara o Mō Ichido (さよならをもう一度) (21 November 1990)
- Love '91 (21 March 1991)
- Mrs. Mermaid (4 September 1991)
- Furetegoran: Please Touch Your Heart (ふれてごらん~Please Touch Your Heart~) (4 December 1991)
- Konya no Namida wa Saikō (今夜の涙は最高) (21 March 1992)
- Blue Moon Stone (21 May 1992)
- Present For You (20 November 1992)
Original albums
- Without Fail Checkers/Zettai Checkers/絶対チェッカーズ (21 July 1984)
- More! Checkers/Motto Checkers/もっと!チェッカーズ (5 December 1984)
- Everyday!! Checkers 毎日!!チェッカーズ (21 August 1985)
- Flower (20 March 1986)
- Go (2 May 1987)
- Screw (21 July 1988)
- Seven Heaven (19 July 1989)
- Oops! (8 August 1990)
- I Have a Dream (21 June 1991)
- Blue Moon Stone (19 June 1992)
Best albums
- BEST The CHECKERS (21 July 1987)
- Checkers The BEST (15 December 1991)
- The CHECKERS (6 December 1992)
- The OTHER SIDE (16 December 1992)
- Early Singles (19 August 1994, Pony CanyonPony Canyonis a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
ポニーキャニオンPony Canyonis a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
) - Ballade Selection (1 February 1999)
- Ballade SelectionII (17 March 1999)
- ALL Songs REQUEST (5 March 2003)
- COMPLETE The CHECKERS～all singles collection (17 March 2004)
- COMPLETE The CHECKERS all singles collection REVERSE (14 July 2004)
- All Ballads Request (16 March 2005)