Tokio

Tokio is a Japanese rock/pop band formed by Johnny & Associates that debuted in 1994.^[1] It is made up of five men who were signed with Sony Music Entertainment from 1994 to 2001, with Universal Music Japan from 2001 to 2008, and are now signed under J-Storm, a label owned by Johnny & Associates. In addition to their activities as a band, the members of Tokio also act in dozens of dramas and host variety programmes, both as a group and individually.

Unlike most other bands under Johnny and Associates, where all of the band members are usually only vocalists, Tokio only has one main vocalist, a drummer, a guitarist, a bassist, and a keyboardist. Subsequently, less choreography is used in concerts and promotional videos,^[2] and their music is often more rock-centric.^[1]

History

1989–1993: Pre-debut

Like the members of SMAP, the members of Tokio performed as background dancers for the idol group Hikaru Genji mainly in the form of the back-dancing group Heikeha, which also involved members of the band V6. In 1989, Shigeru Joshima and Tatsuya Yamaguchi discovered they both played instruments in their own bands and decided to form their own, practicing in private and unbeknownst to the jimusho, calling themselves Joshima Band, or "Joh Band" for short.^[3] At one point, they also called themselves 'JURIA', combining their names using Joshima's "J", "URI" from the melon-shape of Tatsuya's face, and current rhythm-guitarist member Asakura Takehito's "A". Eventually, Johnny accepted them as a band, giving them the name "Tokio Band". At this point, members included Joshima, Tatsuya, and new support member, rhythm guitarist Watanabe Kazuhisa.

In 1990, the original Tokio was formed when Joshima was put together with other Juniors Masahiro Matsuoka and Taichi Kokubun, both of whom had also joined Joshima and Tatsuya in a few of their practices prior.^[4] Rhythm-guitarist Hiromu Kojima joined soon after this. During this time, Joshima underwent negotiations with Johnny himself into allowing Tatsuya to join the band, and soon he became an official member as well. Nagase Tomoya, another Junior who had been making more and more headlines, began appearing with the newly-formed Tokio on occasion as a support member, which created a bit of odd tension as the group appeared in magazines and on the radio with five members, but on TV and live performances with six members. One of their first live tours included one with the band SAY・S and included all six members.

1994–1999: Debut and onward

In 1994, just before the release of the band's debut single, "Love You Only", the rhythm guitarist Hiromu Kojima suddenly left the band and was officially replaced by Tomoya Nagase.^[1] Their debut single was released on September 21, 1994. Two months later, on November 21, 1994, their debut and self-titled album, Tokio was released. Their very first performance was held on New Year's Eve at the 1994 NHK Kouhakutagassen.^[1]

Soon after the release of Tokio, the band's first remix album was released in 1995, titled Tokio Remix. In 1996, the band recorded the song "7 O'Clock News" to be used as the theme song for the anime version of Kodocha. Due to licensing issues however, the song was not used as the theme song for the North American release of the series. Also in 1996, the band's first compilation album was released, titled Best E.P Selection of Tokio.

Throughout the rest of the decade, Tokio released 18 more singles and four more studio albums, Bad Boys Bound, Blowing, Wild & Mild, and Graffiti. From 1997 and onwards, some of the band's singles were used as theme songs in television shows, specifically drama shows. In 1997, "Furarete Genki" was used as the theme song to Psychometrer Eiji a drama Masahiro Matsuoka starred in, and "Julia" was used as the theme song for Seiji No Mikata, a drama that starred Taichi Kokubun. In 1999, "Love & Peace" was used as the theme song to Love and Peace, another drama that Matsuoka starred in, and "Ai no Arashi" was used as the theme song for Psychometrer Eiji 2.

2000–2004: Rise in popularity

In early 2000, Tokio released the album Yesterday & Today. Following the release of the single "Doitsu Mo Koitsu Mo" in early 2001, Tokio switch recording labels from Sony Music Entertainment to UMG. From the following single, "Message" was the theme song for Tengoku ni Ichiban Chikai Otoko, a drama that starred Matsuoka, and "Hitoribotchino haburashi" was the theme song for Mukodono!, a drama starring Tomoya Nagase. From then on, the majority of subsequently released singles would be used as theme songs for dramas starring members of Tokio. In December of 2001, the first album under Universal Music, 5 Ahead, was released.

In May of 2001, Tokio released their second compilation album, titled Best EP Selection of Tokio II. Since the release of the single "Ding-Dong" in late 2002, the promotional videos for Tokio songs are directed by Masahiro Matsuoka. 2003 saw the release of the seventh studio album, Glider in February. In 2003, "Ambitious Japan" was used as the theme song for JR Central's nozomi train services.^[1]

In 2004, Taichi Kokubun took a leave from Tokio to form the temporary music unit Toraji Haiji with KinKi Kids member Tsuyoshi Domoto.^[1] Together they recorded the theme song for the movie Fantastipo, in which they starred in. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of their debut, Tokio released their first cover album, TOK10 in September 2004.^[1]

2005–present

In February 2005, the tenth full-length album (not including compilation albums), Act II was released. In 2005, Tokio was selected to be the host for the Johnny's Countdown 2005-2006 concert, a yearly event that counts down to the new year. In 2006, Tokio released the single "Sorafune", which sold over 400,000 copies and charted for over four months. The Tokio single "Get Your Dream!" was used as the theme song in Japan for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.^[1] Later in 2006, the group released their longest studio album to date, Harvest, containing seventeen tracks and two remix tracks.

In 2008, Tokio's shortest album was released, titled Sugar. The seven-track album contains the three singles released 2007. Also in 2008, the band changed recording labels for the second time, switching to J-Storm, a label owned by Johnny & Associates. Subsequently, all albums, singles, and other releases previously released under Universal Music were re-released on June 24, 2009.^[5]

Their first release under the new label was the four-track single "Amagasa / Akirerukurai bokura ha negaou". Most recently, Tokio released another four-track single titled "Taiyō to Sabaku no Bara / Subeki Koto" on August 19, 2009.

Members

• Shigeru Joshima (城島 茂, Jōshima Shigeru^?) is the guitarist and leader of Tokio. He was the original member, having founded the band in 1989.
• Tomoya Nagase (長瀬 智也, Nagase Tomoya^?) is the lead vocalist and guitarist. He is occasionally known for being the youngest member of the band. He is also an actor and has starred in numerous dramas, such as My Boss My Hero. Nagase was the last member to join Tokio, joining in 1994, but having made appearances with them before that.
• Masahiro Matsuoka (松岡 昌宏, Matsuoka Masahiro^?) is the drummer for the band, having joined in 1990.
• Taichi Kokubun (国分 太一, Kokubun Taichi^?) plays the keyboard. He joined in 1990.
• Tatsuya Yamaguchi (山口 達也, Yamaguchi Tatsuya^?) is the bassist for Tokio, who also joined in 1989.

Former members

• Hiromu Kojima, like most of the other band members, joined in 1990, but left the band in 1994, just prior to their debut. He was the rhythm guitarist and was replaced by Tomoya Nagase.

Name

"Tokio" is the old English romanization for Japan's capital, Tokyo, and remains the current transliteration in several European languages.

Discography

Studio albums

• 1994: Tokio
• 1995: Bad Boys Bound
• 1996: Blowing
• 1997: Wild & Mild
• 1998: Graffiti
• 2000: Yesterday & Today
• 2001: 5 Ahead
• 2003: Glider
• 2004: Act II
• 2006: Harvest
• 2008: Sugar

Videography

DVD

• Tokio 1999 Live In Nihon Budokan (Tokio 1999 Live In 日本武道館) (29 March 2000)
• Tokio Video Clips 2000 (29 March 2000)
• 5 Round (22 May 2002)
• Tokio Live Tour 2002 5 Ahead In Nihon Budokan (Tokio Live Tour 2002 5 Ahead In 日本武道館) (7 August 2002)
• 5 Round II (19 May 2004)
• Tokio 10th Anniversary Live 2004 (12 January 2005)
• Boku no Renai Jijo to Daidokoro Jijo (僕の恋愛事情と台所事情) (16 November 2005)
• Tokio Special GIGs 2006: Get Your Dream (22 November 2006)
• 5 Round III (31 January 2007)

VHS

• Tokio First Live Video: Bad Boys Bound 95 (23 November 1995)
• Tokio Live 1997 + Special Bonus Track 1998 (1 April 1998)
• Tokio 1999 Live In Nihon Budokan (Tokio 1999 Live In 日本武道館) (6 October 1999)
• Tokio Video Clips 2000 (29 March 2000)
• 5 Round (22 May 2002)
• Tokio Live Tour 2002 5 Ahead In Nihon Budokan (Tokio Live Tour 2002 5 Ahead In 日本武道館) (7 August 2002)
• 5 Round II (19 May 2004)
• Tokio 10th Anniversary Live 2004 (17 January 2005)

Performances

Variety

• 5LDK (ごLDK) - Tokio
• Mentore G (メントレG) - Tokio
• The Tetsuwan Dash (ザ!鉄腕!DASH!!) - Tokio
• Ai No Apron (愛のエプロン) - Shigeru Joshima
• Leaders's How To Book (リーダー'S ハウ トゥ Book) - Shigeru Joshima
• OneeMANS （おネエMANS） － Tatsuya Yamaguchi
• R30 - Taichi Kokubun
• The Shounen Club Premium (ザ少年倶楽部プレミアム) - Taichi Kokubun
• Kaitai-Shin Show (解体新ショー) - Taichi Kokubun
• Aura no Izumi (オーラの泉) - Taichi Kokubun

Drama

Tomoya Nagase

Masahiro Matsuoka

Taichi Kokubun

• Dandori (ダンドリ)
• Hiroshima Showa 20 Nen 8 Gatsu Muika (広島・昭和２０年８月６日)
• Tokio~Chichi E No Dengon~ (トキオ ~父への伝言～)
• Otousan (おとうさん)
• Omae No Yukichi Ga Naiteiru (お前の諭吉が泣いている)
• Bus Stop (バスストップ)
• Shin Oretachi No Tabi
• Yonigeya Honpo (夜逃げ屋本舗)
• Oshigoto Desu!
• Kenshui Nanako
• Kin No Tamago (金のたまご)
• Seigi No Mikata
• Garasu No Kakeratachi
• Chef (ザシェフ)
• Yagamikun No Katei No Jijou
• Otousan Wa Shinpaisho
• Dousoukai (同窓会)
• Engimono: America (演技者：アメリカ)

Tatsuya Yamaguchi

• Juken no Kamisama (受験の神様）
• Ue Wo Muite Arukou~Sakamoto Kyu Monogatari (上を向いて歩こう~坂本九物語)
• Hikari To Tomo Ni (光とともに)
• Friends
• Kizu Darake No Onna (傷だらけの女)
• Bancha Mo Debana (番茶も出花)
• D & D (Dangerous Angel X Death Hunter)
• Speeches
• Chonan No Yome 2: Jikka Tengoku (長男の嫁２~実家天国)
• Natsu! Depart Monogatari (夏！デパート物語)
• Uchi Ni Oideyo (部屋においでよ)
• Yoru Ni Dakarete (夜に抱かれて)
• Chonan No Yome ~ The Daughter-In-Law (長男の嫁)
• Dousoukai (同窓会)
• Engimono: Black Handkerchief (演技者：黒いハンカチーフ)

Shigeru Joshima

• Guests of Room 0 (0号室の客）
• Ketsuekikata-betsu Onna ga Kekkon Suru Hoho (血液型別 女が結婚する方法)
• Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari 2007 Fall Special: Jihanki Otoko (世にも奇妙な物語:自販機男)
• Engimono: Black Handkerchief (演技者：黒いハンカチーフ)
• Shin Oretachi No Tabi (新俺達の旅)
• Tenshi No Oshigoto (天使のお仕事)
• Makasete Darling (まかせてダーリン)
• D x D (Dangerous Angel X Death Hunter)

Radio

• Tokio the Ride - Taichi Kokubun
• Tokio Walker - Tatsuya Yamaguchi
• Kokubun Taichi Radio Box - Taichi Kokubun
• Gotcha-maze! - Shigeru Joshima
• Tokio Night Club tko.tom - Tomoya Nagase
• Tokio Night Club mabo - Masahiro Matsuoka

Movies

• Hercules (1997) - Masahiro Matsuoka (dub version)
• Seoul (2002) - Tomoya Nagase
• Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) - Masahiro Matsuoka
• Fantastipo (2005) - Taichi Kokubun
• Mayonaka no Yaji-san Kita-san (2005) - Tomoya Nagase
• Shaberedomo Shaberedomo (2007) - Taichi Kokubun
• Kung Fu Panda (2008) - Tatsuya Yamaguchi (dub voice)
• Heaven's Door (2009) - Tomoya Nagase

References

External links

• J-Storm TOKIO official website
• Johnny's Entertainment TOKIO official website
• Universal Music Japan official website
• Sony Music Japan official site
• Dance Drill official website
• 5LDK