Kobukuro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kobukuro | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Osaka, Japan |
| Genres | J-Pop Folk rock |
| Years active | 1998 - current |
| Labels | Minosuke Records (1999-2000) Warner Music Japan (2001-current) |
| Website | http://www.kobukuro.com |
| Members | |
| Kentarō Kobuchi (guitars and vocals) Shunsuke Kuroda (vocals) |
|
Kobukuro (コブクロ) is a Japanese band, which formed in 1998 and made its major label debut in 2001. The name is a portmanteau of the two members' family names, Kentarō Kobuchi and Shunsuke Kuroda.
Contents |
[edit] Members
- Kentarō Kobuchi (小渕健太郎 Kobuchi Kentarō, b. March 13, 1977); guitar, vocals, various other instruments)
- Shunsuke Kuroda (黒田俊介 Kuroda Shunsuke, b. March 18, 1977); main vocals)
The band's visual appearance is unusual; they have only two members, and Kuroda stands over 193 cm (6'4") tall.
[edit] History
In 1998, Kobuchi and Kuroda met each other in Sakai and formed Kobukuro. Kobukuro received moderately successful ratings for their first three indie albums - Saturday 8:PM (July 1999), Root of My Mind (March 2001), and ANSWER (December 2000). Kobukuro signed with Warner Music Japan in 2001, and made their debut with the hit single, Yell which reached #4 on the Oricon Charts. Their song "Tsubomi" won the coveted "Grand Prix" awards in December 2007 at the 49th Japan Record Awards.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
| Original Japanese Title | Romanized Name | Translation of Title | Release Date | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yell ~エール~ / Bell | - | Yell / Bell | 22 March 2001 | 245,390 |
| 轍 | Wadachi | Rut | 20 June 2001 | 53,430 |
| You / Miss You | - | - | 21 November 2001 | 22,360 |
| 風 | Kaze | Wind | 14 February 2002 | 120,000 |
| 願いの詩 / 太陽 | Negai no Uta / Taiyō | Poem of Wish / The Sun | 10 July 2002 | 37,620 |
| 雪の降らない街 | Yuki no Furanai Machi | The Town Without Snow | 13 November 2002 | 27,988 |
| 宝島 | Takarajima | Treasure Island | 9 April 2003 | 24,482 |
| Blue Blue | - | - | 27 August 2003 | 16,134 |
| Door | - | - | 12 May 2004 | 20,083 |
| 永遠にともに / Million Films / ここから | Towa ni Tomo ni / Million Films / Koko kara | Forever with You / Million Films / From Here | 14 October 2004 | 146,265 |
| ここにしか咲かない花 | Koko ni Shika Sakanai Hana | A flower that only blooms here | 11 May 2005 | 407,200 |
| 桜 | Sakura | Cherry Blossoms | 2 November 2005 | 430,943 |
| 君という名の翼 | Kimi to Iu Na no Tsubasa | Wings That Are Named You | 26 July 2006 | 106,957 |
| 蕾 | Tsubomi | Flower Bud | 21 March 2007 | 461,062 |
| 蒼く 優しく | Aoku Yasashiku | Bluer, Gentler | 7 November 2007 | 211,309 |
| 時の足音 | Toki no Ashioto | Footsteps of Time | 29 October 2008 | 40,925 |
| 虹 | Niji | Rainbow | 15 April 2009 | 102,577 |
| Stay | - | - | 15 July 2009 | 85,691 |
[edit] Albums
| Released | Title | Peak | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 21, 1999 | Saturday 8PM | #294 | - |
| March 4, 2000 | Root of My Mind | #197 | - |
| December 19, 2000 | Answer | - | - |
| August 29, 2001 | Roadmade | #6 | 105,000 |
| August 28, 2002 | Grapefruits | #4 | 100,000 |
| November 6, 2003 | Straight | #10 | 46,000 |
| November 3, 2004 | Music Man Ship | #3 | 250,000 |
| December 21, 2005 | Nameless World! | #1 | 866,000 |
| September 27, 2006 | All Singles Best | #1 | 2,979,338 |
| December 19, 2007 | 5296 | #1 | 1,404,000 |
| August 5, 2009 | Calling | #1 | 463,933 | Certification - Double Platinum |
[edit] External links
- (Japanese) Official Web Site of Kobukuro
- (Japanese) Official Web Site by Warner Music Japan
