Aobozu (band)
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese rock band, signed to Toy's Factory
. They debuted in 2003, with the album Aobozu.
. In 1999, they formed a band in called in 1999, that was a cover band for Japanese punk band The Blue Hearts
. In 2000, they changed the band's name to aobōzu
(藍坊主) - the name of a mythical yōkai
(Japanese folk legend ghost), however with a different kanji for ao (藍 instead of 青). In 2001, Yūichi Tanaka (a friend of Fujimoris since kindergarten) joined the band as its guitarist. The band then centred their live activities in their hometown, as well as around the Tokyo areas of Hachiōji
and Shimokitazawa
.
In 2002, the band produced their first self-published CD: . The following year, the band independently released their debut album Aobozu through Buddy Records, and had their songs featured on many punk compilation albums.
In 2004, the band's drummer Kamei left, and was replaced by a classmate of Tanakas, Takurō Watanabe, as a session drummer. The band then made their major debut under Toy's Factory
, Hiroshige Blue, which reached the top 30 on the Oricon albums charts.
Since then, the band has toured exclusively, gradually gaining more fame. Their 2010 album Mizukane reached the top 10 on Oricon.
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 rock band, signed to 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 debuted in 2003, with the album Aobozu.
Biography
Hozzy, Kamei and Fujimori were originally childhood friends, all coming from Odawara, KanagawaOdawara, Kanagawa
is a city located in western Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 198,466 with a population density of 1,740 persons per km² . The total area was .-Geography:...
. In 1999, they formed a band in called in 1999, that was a cover band for Japanese punk band The Blue Hearts
The Blue Hearts
was a popular Japanese punk rock band that performed from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s. In 2003, they were ranked by HMV Japan as number 19 on their list of 100 most important Japanese pop acts...
. In 2000, they changed the band's name to aobōzu
Aobōzu
are a type of Japanese yōkai that appear in 18th century artist Toriyama Sekien's book Gazu Hyakki Yakō.The aobōzu is depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yakō as a one-eyed buddhist priest standing next to a thatched hut, however as there is no explanation of the image, the aobōzu's specific...
(藍坊主) - the name of a mythical yōkai
Yōkai
are a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird". Yōkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them...
(Japanese folk legend ghost), however with a different kanji for ao (藍 instead of 青). In 2001, Yūichi Tanaka (a friend of Fujimoris since kindergarten) joined the band as its guitarist. The band then centred their live activities in their hometown, as well as around the Tokyo areas of Hachiōji
Hachioji, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and a population density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the...
and Shimokitazawa
Shimokitazawa
is a neighborhood in Setagaya, Tokyo. It consists of the neighborhood immediately surrounding Shimo-Kitazawa Station, where the Odakyū and Keiō Inokashira Lines intersect. Also known as "Shimokita", the district is a center for stage theater and live music venues. It is home to the historic Honda...
.
In 2002, the band produced their first self-published CD: . The following year, the band independently released their debut album Aobozu through Buddy Records, and had their songs featured on many punk compilation albums.
In 2004, the band's drummer Kamei left, and was replaced by a classmate of Tanakas, Takurō Watanabe, as a session drummer. The band then made their major debut under 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...
, Hiroshige Blue, which reached the top 30 on the Oricon albums charts.
Since then, the band has toured exclusively, gradually gaining more fame. Their 2010 album Mizukane reached the top 10 on Oricon.
Albums
| Year | Album Information | 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... albums chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
|
125 |
| 2004 |
|
30 |
| 2005 |
|
29 |
| 2006 |
|
26 |
| 2008 |
|
15 |
| 2010 |
|
10 |
Singles
| Release | Title | Notes | Oricon Singles charts |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Released under Buddy Records. | 52 | Hiroshige Blue | |
| Sole release under Hills Records. | 66 | |||
| 2005 | First major label single. | 35 | Soda | |
| 40 | Hanamidori | |||
| 2006 | 28 | |||
| 19 | Forestone | |||
| 2007 | 24 | |||
| 30 | ||||
| 2008 | 29 | |||
| 28 | Mizukane | |||
| 2009 | 32 | |||
| 2010 | 21 |