Yoshiki Fukuyama
Encyclopedia
, born September 14, 1963, is a Japan
ese guitarist, singer and songwriter. He originally became known on an international level for his work in the anime Macross 7
where he was the singing voice and guitar of the show's main character, Basara Nekki
. Fukuyama is currently enjoying a successful career recording both solo and as a member of the anime music super-group, JAM Project
.
Fukuyama's family consists of himself, his wife, a daughter and a menagerie of various pets. He and his wife, Kyoko Fukuyama, generally work as a songwriting team. He composes the music while she writes most of the lyrics for his songs.
Fukuyama is an accomplished musician who plays several instruments. On his solo albums, he performs all of the instruments except drums (played by Shoichiro Aso) for most of the songs.
, which led to his interest in playing guitar. In high school, Fukuyama was a member of a Queen
tribute band called “他” (hoka), which means “other” in Japanese
. The band was reportedly so named because they were frequently listed as “other” on concert billings.
Also during college, Fukuyama played guitar and sang with the comic-rock band Kirenjaku. Although he occasionally sang lead with Kirenjaku, fellow band member, Takeshi Yamaguchi, performed most of the band's lead vocals. Kirenjaku recorded one four song EP.
Fukuyama and Furuya, along with several other friends formed the band Maps. By 1988, Maps had evolved into the band Humming Bird for which Fukuyama is often remembered.
or The Beatles
. Initially, Humming Bird had only two official members: Yoshiki Fukuyama on guitar and vocals and Toshiyuki Furuya on bass and vocals. Various friends also played. The final band roster was set in 1992 with the official addition of Shoichiro Aso on drums. Humming Bird enjoyed moderate success, having released nine albums before disbanding in May 2000.
, in the anime Macross 7
. Fukuyama, Chie Kajiura, Tomo Sakurai, and various studio musicians recorded several albums of songs that were used in the show. Most of the time, the work was merely credited to Fire Bomber
, although Fukuyama-san's name does appear in the songwriting credits of several songs. Also he and his band, Humming Bird, are both listed in the “Thank You” section of all the Fire Bomber album credits.
He also occasionally joins up with local performers from the general Yokohama-Kamakura area to form such bands as A-band (so named because all three members have type-A blood), Westcoast Doukoukai, San Sei's, and others.
.
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 guitarist, singer and songwriter. He originally became known on an international level for his work in the anime Macross 7
Macross 7
is an anime television series. It is a sequel to the show The Super Dimension Fortress Macross that takes place many years after the events of the first series following a cast of mostly new characters. The show ran from October 16, 1994 to September 24, 1995 at 11:00 AM, and 49 episodes were aired...
where he was the singing voice and guitar of the show's main character, Basara Nekki
Basara Nekki
' is a fictional character in the Macross universe, the lead singer and guitarist of the band Fire Bomber. He first appears in Macross 7, and also appears in the movie Macross 7: The Galaxy is Calling Me and the OVAs Macross 7 Encore and Macross Dynamite 7. He is voiced by Nobutoshi Kanna...
. Fukuyama is currently enjoying a successful career recording both solo and as a member of the anime music super-group, JAM Project
JAM Project
JAM Project is an anime music genre "supergroup" based in Japan, originally founded on July 19, 2000 by famous 1970s theme song artist Ichirou Mizuki...
.
Biographical Information
Yoshiki Fukuyama describes himself as being born in Tokyo and raised in Kamakura. Even in adulthood, he has continued to live in or near Kamakura.Fukuyama's family consists of himself, his wife, a daughter and a menagerie of various pets. He and his wife, Kyoko Fukuyama, generally work as a songwriting team. He composes the music while she writes most of the lyrics for his songs.
Fukuyama is an accomplished musician who plays several instruments. On his solo albums, he performs all of the instruments except drums (played by Shoichiro Aso) for most of the songs.
Early years
At age 5, Fukuyama began taking piano lessons. He and future band-mate, Toshiyuki Furuya, had the same piano teacher. In his early teen years, he discovered The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, which led to his interest in playing guitar. In high school, Fukuyama was a member of a Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
tribute band called “他” (hoka), which means “other” in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
. The band was reportedly so named because they were frequently listed as “other” on concert billings.
The early gigs: 1982 to 1988
In college, Yoshiki Fukuyama, Toshiyuki “Rocky” Furuya, and various friends formed the band Doolin Dalton (later changed to Dalton Kougyou), often performing songs by The Eagles and similar bands. Fukuyama played bass and shared the lead vocal position with Furuya.Also during college, Fukuyama played guitar and sang with the comic-rock band Kirenjaku. Although he occasionally sang lead with Kirenjaku, fellow band member, Takeshi Yamaguchi, performed most of the band's lead vocals. Kirenjaku recorded one four song EP.
Fukuyama and Furuya, along with several other friends formed the band Maps. By 1988, Maps had evolved into the band Humming Bird for which Fukuyama is often remembered.
1988 to 2000
Humming Bird played a blend of rock and folk with roots in the hard rock and roll of the 1960s to 1980s, such as QueenQueen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
or The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Initially, Humming Bird had only two official members: Yoshiki Fukuyama on guitar and vocals and Toshiyuki Furuya on bass and vocals. Various friends also played. The final band roster was set in 1992 with the official addition of Shoichiro Aso on drums. Humming Bird enjoyed moderate success, having released nine albums before disbanding in May 2000.
1994 to 1998
Yoshiki Fukuyama was the singing voice and guitarist for the main character, Basara NekkiBasara Nekki
' is a fictional character in the Macross universe, the lead singer and guitarist of the band Fire Bomber. He first appears in Macross 7, and also appears in the movie Macross 7: The Galaxy is Calling Me and the OVAs Macross 7 Encore and Macross Dynamite 7. He is voiced by Nobutoshi Kanna...
, in the anime Macross 7
Macross 7
is an anime television series. It is a sequel to the show The Super Dimension Fortress Macross that takes place many years after the events of the first series following a cast of mostly new characters. The show ran from October 16, 1994 to September 24, 1995 at 11:00 AM, and 49 episodes were aired...
. Fukuyama, Chie Kajiura, Tomo Sakurai, and various studio musicians recorded several albums of songs that were used in the show. Most of the time, the work was merely credited to Fire Bomber
Fire Bomber
Fire Bomber is a fictional rock band from the anime series Macross 7...
, although Fukuyama-san's name does appear in the songwriting credits of several songs. Also he and his band, Humming Bird, are both listed in the “Thank You” section of all the Fire Bomber album credits.
Mid-1990s to 2003
Fukuyama teams up on occasion with Masato Ushijima to form the folk/rock duo, Wild Vox. They are mostly a live band, but they did record one album, “Yasei no Kaze”, that was released in April 2002.He also occasionally joins up with local performers from the general Yokohama-Kamakura area to form such bands as A-band (so named because all three members have type-A blood), Westcoast Doukoukai, San Sei's, and others.
February 2003
Fukuyama formed his current band, Fukuyama Yoshiki Band (also known as "F-Band"), with members: Tetsuro Morita on bass, former Humming Bird member Shoichiro Aso on drums, and Jun Imai on keyboards. After Imai-san left to pursue other projects in 2005, Hidetoshi "HIDE" Suzuki joined them on keyboards for the "Fire Bomber 2005" tour. The band's current keyboardist is Akira "PONchan" Yokota.March 2003
Yoshiki Fukuyama and Masami Okui, both performers who have sung several anime and video game themes, joined and continue to perform regularly with the anime music super-group, JAM ProjectJAM Project
JAM Project is an anime music genre "supergroup" based in Japan, originally founded on July 19, 2000 by famous 1970s theme song artist Ichirou Mizuki...
.
November 2006
Yoshiki Fukuyama releases his smash hit single "Makka Na Chikai" (真赤な誓い)The song peaked at #33 on the Oricon weekly chart and charted for 12 weeks. It is his best selling solo single to date.August 2007 to present
Following a Macross 25th anniversary concert, Fukuyama and actor Nobutoshi Canna joined forces to perform a number of concerts together. Since during the production of Macross 7, the two men had worked together portraying the character, Basara Nekki - Canna acted and Fukuyama sang and played guitar - they had considered the name "Basaras" for their duo, but decided instead on "Fukujin" which was created by combining the first kanji of their respective surnames. From time to time, as their busy careers permit, they sing together onstage and create a series of internet radio broadcasts called "Fukujin tsuke". On November 23, 2008, Fukujin performed it's first international concert in Taipei, Taiwan.Discography
- SYNAPSE
- Released 4/6/11
- Party<
- 俺は今日から宇宙人
- Dawn
- こだわりハリー
- 昨日見た未来
- 雪の日に
- 逃避行
- 透明人間
- 境界線
- 混沌の中をさ迷って
External links
- Yoshiki Fukuyama Official Website
- JAM Project Official Site
- Fukujin Official Blog
- Rocky's World (The official Humming Bird Site)
- three nine entertainment
- Lantis
- Macross Official Home Page