Spitz (band)
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese rock
band formed in 1987. They gained remarkable commercial success in the mid and late 1990s, and are known for their abstract and eccentric songs penned by primary singer-songwriter
and guitarist
Masamune Kusano.
In March 1991, they debuted with their self-titled album and a single "Hibari no Kokoro." Since the commercial success of their breakthrough single "Robinson" which was released in 1995, they have retained their popularity in Japan. To date, they have produced 14 number-one hits (nine albums and five singles) on the Japanese Oricon record charts.
As of November 2007, total sales of the band's albums and singles have been estimated more than 20 million units.
, using electric guitar played with arpeggio
, and a steady rhythm. Their simple melodies are influenced by popular songs and use Kusano’s soft voice.
The band's name was proposed by Kusano and means "sharp and pointed" in German. Kusano liked the "sp" sound (as in "special" or "crispy"). He had wanted to use this name since he was a high school student, but members of his band disagreed with him. Their fan club is named after the Norwegian island Spitsbergen
.
In 1995, the album Hachimitsu had sold more than one million copies and became very popular. After that the singles and have sold more than one million copies each.
Spitz's music is often seen as conventional pop ballads. However, the band initially started as a hard rock band. They love rock music and they view themselves as a rock band. They say that their music is "rock and popular music."
All of the members went to art school. Kusano and Tamura went to Tokyo Zokei University. Miwa and Sakiyama went to Bunka Fashion College
. Miwa and Tamura were classmates in junior high school.
Their connection with their audience is very important to them. Their policy is not to give a performance at a stage bigger than an ordinary concert hall. After becoming a famous band, Kusano said "We are not thinking of giving a performance at Nippon Budokan
." However, he also said "I didn’t say we won’t do it forever."
In spring 1986, Kusano met Tamura at Tokyo Zokei University and they formed a band, the "Cheetahs" with drummer Atsushi Ono. The band was heavily influenced by punk rock
, so they arranged as punk and played . The band eventually evolved into "The Spitz" with a new member Taku Nishiwaki. However, Kusano realized that The Blue Hearts
had already done the music that they wanted to do, so this incarnation of Spitz broke up.
In 1987, Kusano transferred from Tokyo Zokei University to Musashino Art College, but he continued to play Nintendo
with Tamura, so they stayed friends. In the meantime they planned to form a band again. Tamura invited Miwa from his junior high school, and Miwa invited Sakiyama who belonged to the same folk song club at Bunka Fashion College. These four members formed the new incarnation of Spitz and gave performances at venues such as Shinjuku Jam, Shibuya
La Mama, Shibuya Yaneura from that autumn. At first they were influenced by The Blue Hearts so greatly that the booking manager of Shibuya La Mama said to them, "You have no future." In addition, Kusano began to think his style wasn't suitable, so he started to play acoustic guitar. At that time, they composed or which they often perform even now. Spitz’s style was beginning to take shape.
In July 1989, they did a live show for the first time at Shinjuku Loft, which 300 people attended. In March 1990, they released a mini album, .
, and they made their "quiet debut," as they say. Indeed, the audience of their live concerts was small because it was time when the boom of band music had just passed, so they couldn’t catch people’s attention. But the music world didn’t miss their unique musical style. Rockin’on Japan introduced them as even "the new wave in 90s" and they became noteworthy artists in the press. But, originally not having admiration for major, the members repeated comments which can be taken jokingly and seriously, such as "We don’t have ambition," and "We’re a survivor of band music boom." Despite their major debut, they were free because the number of their live concerts was small. So they engaged in making albums and they spend many days in a studio. In that year, they released their second album .
In April 1992, they released an orchestra-arranged mini album with , who took charge of orchestra arranging in the recording of on Namae wo Tsuketeyaru. That day they performed a joint recital with string musicians.
In September, they released the rock taste third album in which they made use of echo in background which they got in the mini album. They started broadening their world of music and showed eagerness as a band in the second year after their debut. At that time they hadn’t released any works that placed among the top 100 of Oricon
Chart. Although the members originally weren’t conscious of the sales, they started feeling sorry for their office and recording company that overprotected their vision. In the following year they appointed a producer to make works that would sell much.
(TV Asahi
’s program) with "Kimi ga Omoide ni Naru Mae ni", in Pop Jam (NHK
’s program) with "Aoi Kuruma", in Count Down TV
(TBS
’s program) with "Spider".
In April of the following year they released the single which placed among the top 10 of Oricon Chart for the first time and the sales exceeded 1.6 million. It ranked in 9th overall in the year. It became a long time seller which had placed among top 10 for over 30 weeks. In July, the single also ranked 2nd when just released and its sales were 98,000. At first they couldn’t realize these great hits. It was not until they appeared Meet the World Beat '95 at the Expo
in Osaka
in July that the members realized they really became stars after hearing great cheers from the audience. In September, they released the 6th album which became a million seller. In October, they started the first long-term tour, and they performed over 40 concerts. In January, the following year, "Sora mo Toberu Hazu" was used as the theme song of Fuji TV network
's drama . It became a revival hit and ranked #1 in Oricon Chart for the first time as a single. More than 1.5 million copies were sold. (The members say this bewildered them.) In April, the single "Cherry" was also great hit with the sales of 1,610,000 copies. In October, they released the 7th album and started long term tour which has as many as 70 concerts.
In March 1999, they compiled some unreleased tracks and released a special album entitled with producer Ryomei Shirai (白井良明). In July of the same year, they appeared in Meet the World Beet in Osaka again. Although they didn’t have plans to release new single at that time, they recorded by themselves inside or outside Japan from September to October. They brought (already tracked down) and to the United States
. After recording and , they mixed them down in Miami and mastered them in Los Angeles
. Stephen Mackersen, who was in charge of mastering then, would become a necessary engineer for Spitz since 2000, except several singles.
While the members were in America, the recording company decided to sell a "greatest hits" compilation album. The members had no intention of releasing a "best of" album until after their break-up or retirement. However, despite their reluctance, the album Recycle: Greatest Hits of Spitz was released in December of that year. In the end, it became a very successful album with the sales of more than two million copies. However, officially, the band did not recognize the album and did not include the CD in their official discography.
In 2000, they hired as producer and started recording a new album in earnest. The members said it was a big stimulus to cooperate with a contemporary. In July of the year, they released 9th album , which is distinguished by its harder rock styling and changed their conventional image. They toured for one year with more than 100 performances.
. In September 2002, they released the 10th album , which recovered the melody peculiar to Spitz, along with the rock sound of the previous album.
Although they didn’t release any singles in 2003, was played on TV as the theme song of Ainori
from that autumn, and it was released in January 2004 to rank 1st in Oricon chart and get many fans. In March 2004, they gathered the songs which hadn’t appeared in any albums since 1999 and released special album . In January of the following year 2005, they also released the 11th album .
In March 2006, when 15 years had passed since their debut, they released official single collection album Cycle Hit Spitz Complete Single Collection. The following year 2007 marked their 20th anniversary of organization, and they held . They released the 12th album in October and went on an all-over-Japan tour from December onwards. A thirteenth Album,, was released in October, 2010.
, and songwriting. Born on December 21, 1967 in Fukuoka
, Fukuoka Prefecture
, Japan
. Graduated from Fukuoka Prefectural Jōnan High School, as well as from Musashino Art University
with a degree in Design., real name (same pronunciation). Guitar. Born on May 17, 1967 in Fujieda
, Shizuoka Prefecture
, Japan. Graduated from Fujieda Meisei High School and Bunka Fashion College
.. Bass guitar
, band leader. Born on May 31, 1967 in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Graduated from Shizuoka Prefectural Fujieda East High School. Attended Tokyo Zokei University
, but left before graduating.. Drum
s. Born on October 25, 1967 in Sano
, Tochigi Prefecture
, Japan. Graduated from Tochigi Prefectural Sano High School and Bunka Fashion College.
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
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in 1987. They gained remarkable commercial success in the mid and late 1990s, and are known for their abstract and eccentric songs penned by primary singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and 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...
Masamune Kusano.
In March 1991, they debuted with their self-titled album and a single "Hibari no Kokoro." Since the commercial success of their breakthrough single "Robinson" which was released in 1995, they have retained their popularity in Japan. To date, they have produced 14 number-one hits (nine albums and five singles) on the Japanese Oricon record charts.
As of November 2007, total sales of the band's albums and singles have been estimated more than 20 million units.
About Spitz
Spitz’s musical style is influenced by DonovanDonovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
, using electric guitar played with arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
, and a steady rhythm. Their simple melodies are influenced by popular songs and use Kusano’s soft voice.
The band's name was proposed by Kusano and means "sharp and pointed" in German. Kusano liked the "sp" sound (as in "special" or "crispy"). He had wanted to use this name since he was a high school student, but members of his band disagreed with him. Their fan club is named after the Norwegian island Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
.
In 1995, the album Hachimitsu had sold more than one million copies and became very popular. After that the singles and have sold more than one million copies each.
Spitz's music is often seen as conventional pop ballads. However, the band initially started as a hard rock band. They love rock music and they view themselves as a rock band. They say that their music is "rock and popular music."
All of the members went to art school. Kusano and Tamura went to Tokyo Zokei University. Miwa and Sakiyama went to Bunka Fashion College
Bunka Fashion College
is a prestigious Japanese college specializing in the teaching of fashion design and related disciplines in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The College is known for its strict curriculum and heavy workload...
. Miwa and Tamura were classmates in junior high school.
Their connection with their audience is very important to them. Their policy is not to give a performance at a stage bigger than an ordinary concert hall. After becoming a famous band, Kusano said "We are not thinking of giving a performance at Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
." However, he also said "I didn’t say we won’t do it forever."
In spring 1986, Kusano met Tamura at Tokyo Zokei University and they formed a band, the "Cheetahs" with drummer Atsushi Ono. The band was heavily influenced by punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, so they arranged as punk and played . The band eventually evolved into "The Spitz" with a new member Taku Nishiwaki. However, Kusano realized that 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...
had already done the music that they wanted to do, so this incarnation of Spitz broke up.
In 1987, Kusano transferred from Tokyo Zokei University to Musashino Art College, but he continued to play Nintendo
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
with Tamura, so they stayed friends. In the meantime they planned to form a band again. Tamura invited Miwa from his junior high school, and Miwa invited Sakiyama who belonged to the same folk song club at Bunka Fashion College. These four members formed the new incarnation of Spitz and gave performances at venues such as Shinjuku Jam, Shibuya
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
La Mama, Shibuya Yaneura from that autumn. At first they were influenced by The Blue Hearts so greatly that the booking manager of Shibuya La Mama said to them, "You have no future." In addition, Kusano began to think his style wasn't suitable, so he started to play acoustic guitar. At that time, they composed or which they often perform even now. Spitz’s style was beginning to take shape.
In July 1989, they did a live show for the first time at Shinjuku Loft, which 300 people attended. In March 1990, they released a mini album, .
1991–1992
On March 25, 1991, they released the single and their first album Spitz simultaneously by Polydor RecordsPolydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, and they made their "quiet debut," as they say. Indeed, the audience of their live concerts was small because it was time when the boom of band music had just passed, so they couldn’t catch people’s attention. But the music world didn’t miss their unique musical style. Rockin’on Japan introduced them as even "the new wave in 90s" and they became noteworthy artists in the press. But, originally not having admiration for major, the members repeated comments which can be taken jokingly and seriously, such as "We don’t have ambition," and "We’re a survivor of band music boom." Despite their major debut, they were free because the number of their live concerts was small. So they engaged in making albums and they spend many days in a studio. In that year, they released their second album .
In April 1992, they released an orchestra-arranged mini album with , who took charge of orchestra arranging in the recording of on Namae wo Tsuketeyaru. That day they performed a joint recital with string musicians.
In September, they released the rock taste third album in which they made use of echo in background which they got in the mini album. They started broadening their world of music and showed eagerness as a band in the second year after their debut. At that time they hadn’t released any works that placed among the top 100 of 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...
Chart. Although the members originally weren’t conscious of the sales, they started feeling sorry for their office and recording company that overprotected their vision. In the following year they appointed a producer to make works that would sell much.
1993–1996
In 1993, they took on Masanori Sasaji as an outside producer, and were busy recording in the studio. In addition, they performed a monthly live concert from March to August at Shibuya On Air (currently known as Shibuya O-East). The concerts were favorably received. As a result of these concerts, they released the pop-arranged 4th album Crispy! in September. The album didn’t sell as well as they hoped, and Kusano lost confidence in his voice and his ability to write songs. However, the single from that album ranked in Oricon chart for the first time. Gradually, they started attracting people’s attention. In April and July 1994, with as producer, the singles "Sora mo Toberuhazu" and were released and became smash hits. In September, when they installed Sasaji as producer again, they released the 5th album , which ranked 14th when just released. By the way, this year they appeared in Music StationMusic 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...
(TV Asahi
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
’s program) with "Kimi ga Omoide ni Naru Mae ni", in Pop Jam (NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
’s program) with "Aoi Kuruma", in Count Down TV
Count Down TV
is a Japanese late night music television show, originally broadcast on TBS from 1993 onwards. The program is shown weekly, and features a Japanese music video hit chart countdown, live performances from musicians and music information...
(TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
’s program) with "Spider".
In April of the following year they released the single which placed among the top 10 of Oricon Chart for the first time and the sales exceeded 1.6 million. It ranked in 9th overall in the year. It became a long time seller which had placed among top 10 for over 30 weeks. In July, the single also ranked 2nd when just released and its sales were 98,000. At first they couldn’t realize these great hits. It was not until they appeared Meet the World Beat '95 at the Expo
Expo '70
was a World's Fair held in Suita, Osaka, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970. The theme of the Expo was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind." In Japanese Expo '70 is often referred to as Ōsaka Banpaku...
in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
in July that the members realized they really became stars after hearing great cheers from the audience. In September, they released the 6th album which became a million seller. In October, they started the first long-term tour, and they performed over 40 concerts. In January, the following year, "Sora mo Toberu Hazu" was used as the theme song of Fuji TV network
Fuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
's drama . It became a revival hit and ranked #1 in Oricon Chart for the first time as a single. More than 1.5 million copies were sold. (The members say this bewildered them.) In April, the single "Cherry" was also great hit with the sales of 1,610,000 copies. In October, they released the 7th album and started long term tour which has as many as 70 concerts.
1997–2000
By 1997 (their 10th anniversary) Sasaji withdrew as their producer and all the members were in their thirties. Since they felt they couldn’t depend on keeping their producers forever, they determined to stand on their own feet. They began to wonder if they should change the band's course. The band disliked the fact that they had taken on a conventional, orthodox image. So, they held in Osaka, which became an annual event. They performed a secret live concert at Shinjuku Loft where they mainly played their amateur days’ songs. In March 1998, joined them as a co-arranger, and they released their self-produced 8th album . In May 1998, , the keyboardist, joined the all-over-Japan concert tours, and came to be an essential supporting member of their tours since then. During the tour, in August, they recorded , and with Kuji, which were collected in the album 99ep.In March 1999, they compiled some unreleased tracks and released a special album entitled with producer Ryomei Shirai (白井良明). In July of the same year, they appeared in Meet the World Beet in Osaka again. Although they didn’t have plans to release new single at that time, they recorded by themselves inside or outside Japan from September to October. They brought (already tracked down) and to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After recording and , they mixed them down in Miami and mastered them in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Stephen Mackersen, who was in charge of mastering then, would become a necessary engineer for Spitz since 2000, except several singles.
While the members were in America, the recording company decided to sell a "greatest hits" compilation album. The members had no intention of releasing a "best of" album until after their break-up or retirement. However, despite their reluctance, the album Recycle: Greatest Hits of Spitz was released in December of that year. In the end, it became a very successful album with the sales of more than two million copies. However, officially, the band did not recognize the album and did not include the CD in their official discography.
In 2000, they hired as producer and started recording a new album in earnest. The members said it was a big stimulus to cooperate with a contemporary. In July of the year, they released 9th album , which is distinguished by its harder rock styling and changed their conventional image. They toured for one year with more than 100 performances.
2001–present
After Sasaji’s withdrawal, their producer varied with their work, but they installed Seiji Kameda as producer, who is known as a producer of Ringo Shiina since 2001 and himself is a bassist in Tokyo JihenTokyo Jihen
is a Japanese band started by , after leaving her solo career. The band's debut single Gunjo Biyori was released in September 2004.- Origins:...
. In September 2002, they released the 10th album , which recovered the melody peculiar to Spitz, along with the rock sound of the previous album.
Although they didn’t release any singles in 2003, was played on TV as the theme song of Ainori
Ainori
', literally "Ride together", or "Car pool" but can also be read as "love ride", is a popular television program that runs Monday evenings from 11 pm in Japan on Fuji TV. It debuted on October 11, 1999...
from that autumn, and it was released in January 2004 to rank 1st in Oricon chart and get many fans. In March 2004, they gathered the songs which hadn’t appeared in any albums since 1999 and released special album . In January of the following year 2005, they also released the 11th album .
In March 2006, when 15 years had passed since their debut, they released official single collection album Cycle Hit Spitz Complete Single Collection. The following year 2007 marked their 20th anniversary of organization, and they held . They released the 12th album in October and went on an all-over-Japan tour from December onwards. A thirteenth Album,, was released in October, 2010.
Band members
, real name (same pronunciation). Vocals, guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and songwriting. Born on December 21, 1967 in Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
, Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
, Japan
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...
. Graduated from Fukuoka Prefectural Jōnan High School, as well as from Musashino Art University
Musashino Art University
is a university in Kodaira, western Tokyo founded in 1962 and has roots going back to 1929.Teikoku Art School was founded in 1929; in 1948 it became Musashino Art School , and in 1962 it became Musashino Art University...
with a degree in Design., real name (same pronunciation). Guitar. Born on May 17, 1967 in Fujieda
Fujieda, Shizuoka
is a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. The modern city was founded on March 31, 1954. As of February 2009, the town has an estimated population of 142,023 and a density of 732 persons per km². The total area is 194.03 km².-Geography:...
, Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, Japan. Graduated from Fujieda Meisei High School and Bunka Fashion College
Bunka Fashion College
is a prestigious Japanese college specializing in the teaching of fashion design and related disciplines in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The College is known for its strict curriculum and heavy workload...
.. Bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, band leader. Born on May 31, 1967 in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Graduated from Shizuoka Prefectural Fujieda East High School. Attended Tokyo Zokei University
Tokyo Zokei University
is a private university in Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1966 by Japanese female art educator, fashion designer and design journalist, Yoko Kuwasawa . It is a four-year art college offering both bachelor's and master's degrees in studio arts....
, but left before graduating.. Drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s. Born on October 25, 1967 in Sano
Sano, Tochigi
is a city located in Tochigi, Japan.The city took its current form on February 28, 2005 when the old city of Sano merged with the towns of Kuzu and Tanuma from Aso District to form the new city of Sano.The city is known for its Outlet Mall and ramen....
, Tochigi Prefecture
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
, Japan. Graduated from Tochigi Prefectural Sano High School and Bunka Fashion College.
Independent
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Hibari no Kokoro
|
Studio
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Spitz Spitz (album) is the studio album by Japanese band Spitz, released in March 1991 under the Polydor Records. It was their first album which was released under the major-label....
|
| Namae wo Tsukete Yaru
|
|
| 1992 | Hoshi no Kakera
|
| 1993 | Crispy!
|
| 1994 | Sora no Tobikata
|
| 1995 | Hachimitsu
|
| 1996 | Indigo Chiheisen
|
| 1998 | Fake Fur
|
| 2000 | Hayabusa
|
| 2002 | Mikazuki Rock
|
| 2005 | Souvenir
|
| 2007 | SazanamiCD SazanamiCD is the studio album by Japanese rock band Spitz, released in October 2007.The album includes a smash hit "Mahou no Kotoba", released as a single in 2006... |
| 2010 | Togemaru
|
Other
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Aurora ni Narenakatta Hito no Tame ni
|
| 1999 | 99ep
|
| Ka Chō Fū Getsu
|
|
| 2004 | Iro Iro Goromo
|
Best of
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Recycle Greatest Hits of Spitz
|
| 2006 | Cycle Hit 1991–1997: Spitz Complete Single Collection
|
| Cycle Hit 1997–2005: Spitz Complete Single Collection
|
Singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1991 | "Hibari no Kokoro" |
| "Natsu no Mamono" | |
| "Majo Tabi ni Deru" | |
| 1992 | "Hoshi no Kakera" |
| "Hinata no Mado ni Akogarete" | |
| 1993 | "Hadaka no Mama de" |
| "Kimi ga Omoide ni Naru Mae ni" | |
| 1994 | "Sora mo Toberuhazu" |
| "Aoi Kuruma" | |
| "Spider" | |
| 1995 | "Robinson" |
| "Namida ga Kirari" | |
| 1996 | "Cherry" |
| "Nagisa" | |
| 1997 | "Scarlet" |
| "Yume Janai" | |
| "Unmei no Hito" | |
| 1998 | "Tsumetai Hoho/Xie Xie!" |
| "Kaede/Supika" | |
| 1999 | "Nagareboshi" |
| 2000 | "Hotaru" |
| "Memories/Hōrō Kamome wa Doko made mo" | |
| 2001 | "Haruka" |
| "Yume Oi Mushi" | |
| "Sawatte, Kawatte" | |
| 2002 | "Hanemono" |
| "Mizuiro no Machi" | |
| 2004 | "Stargazer" |
| "Masayume" | |
| 2005 | "Haru no Uta/Teku Teku" |
| 2006 | "Mahō no Kotoba" |
| 2007 | "Looking For" |
| "Gunjō" | |
| 2008 | "Wakaba" |
| 2009 | "Kimi wa Taiyō" |
| 2010 | "Tsugumi" |
| "Shirokuma/Beginner" |
Tie-ins
- "Aoi Kuruma" (ending theme for the TV AsahiTV Asahi, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
show Oh! L Club) - "Hachimitsu" (insert song for Fuji TV anime series Honey and CloverHoney and Cloveris a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Chika Umino. It is also known as and H&C. It is published by Shueisha, initially serialized from June 2000 to July 2006 in the magazines CUTiEcomic, Young YOU, and Chorus, and collected in ten bound volumes...
) - "Je T'aime?" (insert song for Fuji TV anime series Honey and CloverHoney and Cloveris a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Chika Umino. It is also known as and H&C. It is published by Shueisha, initially serialized from June 2000 to July 2006 in the magazines CUTiEcomic, Young YOU, and Chorus, and collected in ten bound volumes...
) - "Hanemono" (commercial song for CalpisCalpisis a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by , headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo.The beverage has a light, somewhat milky, and slightly acidic flavor, similar to plain or vanilla-flavored yogurt or Yakult...
) - "Haruka" (theme song for TBS drama Love Story)
- "Haru no Uta" (commercial song for AquariusAquarius (sports drink)Aquarius is a mineral sports drink manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company. It originated in, and was first introduced in 1983 in Japan as a grapefruit-flavored sports drink, as a response to a competitor's brand of sports drink called Pocari Sweat. It was introduced to Spain and Portugal in 1991,...
) - "Kaede" (opening theme for TBS show Count Down TV)
- "Kimi ga Omoide ni Naru Mae ni" (commercial song for AjinomotoAjinomotoAjinomoto Co. Inc. , is a Japanese food and chemical corporation which produces seasonings, cooking oils, TV dinners, sweeteners, amino acids and pharmaceuticals...
Gift) - "Mahō no Kotoba" (theme song for live action movie Honey and CloverHoney and Cloveris a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Chika Umino. It is also known as and H&C. It is published by Shueisha, initially serialized from June 2000 to July 2006 in the magazines CUTiEcomic, Young YOU, and Chorus, and collected in ten bound volumes...
) - "Masayume" (theme song for Fuji TV show Medaka; commercial song for FujifilmFujifilmis a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
) - "Misoka" (commercial song for Aquarius)
- "Nagisa" (commercial for the GlicoEzaki Glicois a Japanese confectionery company headquartered in Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka.The company manufactures the traditional Glico caramel candy, as well as Pocky and many others. The company name, Glico, is derived from a shortening of the word glycogen. The first candy produced by the company was known...
snack food PockyPockyis a Japanese snack food produced by the Ezaki Glico Company of Japan.-History:Pocky was first sold in 1966, and consists of a biscuit stick coated with chocolate. It was named after the Japanese onomatopoetic word for the sound Pocky makes when bitten, pokkin . The original was followed by...
) - "Namida ga Kirari ☆" (opening theme for TBSTokyo Broadcasting System, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
show Count Down TV) - "Robinson" (theme song for the Fuji TV show Imada Kōji no Shibuya-kei Ura Ringo)
- "Sakana" (insert song for Fuji TV anime series Honey and Clover)
- "Scarlet" (theme for TBS drama Melody)
- "Sora mo Toberuhazu" (theme song for the Fuji TVFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
drama Hakusen Nagashi) - "Stargazer" (theme song for Fuji TV show Ainori)
- "Supika" (commercial song for the Japan AirlinesJapan Airlinesis an airline headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flag carrier of Japan and its main hubs are Tokyo's Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport , as well as Nagoya's Chūbu Centrair International Airport and Osaka's Kansai International Airport...
Resotcha campaign; insert song for Fuji TV anime series Honey and Clover) - "Tamagawa" (insert song for Fuji TV anime series Honey and Clover)
- "Tsuki ni Kaeru" (insert song for Fuji TV anime series Honey and Clover)
- "Tsumetai Hoho" (commercial song for the KonicaKonicawas a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Revio) - "Umi o mi ni ikou" (commercial song for Japan Rail)
- "Unmei no Hito" (theme song for the movie gekko no sasayaki)
- "Y" (insert song for Fuji TV anime series Honey and Clover)
- "Yoru wo Kakeru" (insert song for Fuji TV anime series Honey and Clover)
- "Yume Janai" (theme for TV Asahi show Futari: Wherever You Are)
- "Yume Oi Mushi" (theme for the TohoTohois a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
movie and Fuji TV drama Platonic Sex)
Videography
- Sora to Video (1995, POVH-1046)
- Jamboree 1 (1996, POVH-1052)
- Sora to Video 2 (1997, POVH-1057)
- Jamboree 2 (1999, POVH-1076)
- Sora to Video 3 (2000, UPVH-1001 (VHS), UPBH-1009 (DVD))
- Sora to Video Custom (2001, UPBH-1025)
- Jamboree Deluxe (2001, UPBH-1026)
- Hōrō Hayabusa Junjō Sugoroku (2003, UPBH-9135/6)
- Sora to Video 4 (2005, UPBH-1170)
External links
- Spitz at Universal Music Japan