Anzen Chitai

Anzen Chitai (安全地帯, literally "Safety Zone") is a Japanese rock band, formed in 1973 by five musicians in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan. It debuted in 1982 in Tokyo, Japan. They became one of Japan's most successful rock bands in the 1980s.[1][2]

Anzen Chitai
OriginAsahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan
GenresRock
Years active1973–1988, 1990–1992, 2002–2003, 2009–present
LabelsSony Music Entertainment Japan, Kitty Records, Universal Music Group
Associated actsYōsui Inoue
Website
MembersKoji Tamaki (玉置浩二)
Yutaka Takezawa(武沢豊)
Wataru Yahagi(矢萩渉)
Haruyoshi Rokudo(六土開正)
Yuji Tanaka(田中裕二)
Past membersToshiya Takezawa
Takahiro Miyashita
Kazuyoshi Tamaki
Ichiji Ohira

Members
  • Koji Tamaki (玉置浩二, Tamaki Kōji) - Vocals, Guitars & Percussion (1973–present)
  • Yutaka Takezawa (武沢豊, Takezawa Yutaka) - Guitars (1973–present)
  • Wataru Yahagi (矢萩渉, Yahagi Wataru) - Guitars (1977–present)
  • Haruyoshi Rokudo (六土開正, Rokudō Haruyoshi) Bass, Piano & Keyboards (1977–present)
  • Yuji Tanaka (田中裕二, Tanaka Yūji) - Drums (1977–1978, 1982–present)

Past members
  • Toshiya Takezawa (武沢俊也, Takezawa Toshiya) - Guitars, Keyboards (1973–1981)
  • Takahiro Miyashita (宮下隆宏, Miyashita Takahiro) - Bass (1973–1978)
  • Kazuyoshi Tamaki (玉置一芳, Tamaki Kazuyoshi) - Drums (1973–1977)
  • Ichiji Ohira (大平市治, Ōhira Ichiji) - Drums (1977–1982)

History

1970s: Beginnings

Formed in 1973 as the high-school garage band Invader in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, its original members included vocalist Koji Tamaki, guitarist Yutaka Takezawa and guitarist/keyboardist Toshiya Takezawa, who is also Yutaka's brother. Later, in late 1973, Koji's brother and drummer, Kazuyoshi Tamaki and bassist Takahiro Miyashita joined. In 1977, the band changed its name to Anzen Chitai ("Safety Zone"), and Kazuyoshi Tamaki left the group to be replaced by Ichiji Ohira. By December 1977, Anzen Chitai merged with another band, the Haruyoshi Rokudo Band (六土開正バンド, Rokudō Haruyoshi Bando), and added three more members: bassist Haruyoshi Rokudo, guitarist Wataru Yahagi, and drummer Yuji Tanaka. By this point, they had expanded to an eight-member group. Within the next three years, Toshiya Takezawa and Takahiro Miyashita left. Yuji Tanaka also left at this point.

1980s: Commercial success

In 1981, they began work as a backup band for singer-songwriter Yōsui Inoue, and released their debut single, "Moegi Iro no Snap" (萠黄色のスナップ, Moegi Iro no Sunappu) under the Kitty Records in February 1982. However, the final personnel change occurred as Ichiji Ohira left, and Yuji Tanaka returned in his place, establishing the current lineup.

Under the guidance of their producer and co-arranger Masaru Hoshi (星 勝, Hoshi Masaru), lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock group The Mops, the band continued to refine their craft in the studio. Their status as a backup band soon changed: in 1984, "Wine Red no Kokoro" (ワインレッドの心, Wain Reddo No Kokoro, lit. Wine Red Heart) reached No. 1 on the Oricon charts, to be followed by among others, "Kanashimi ni Sayonara" (悲しみにさよなら) and "Suki Sa" (好きさ) (featured on the popular Rumiko Takahashi anime series Maison Ikkoku). "Wine Red no Kokoro" was composed by Koji Tamaki with lyrics by Yōsui Inoue. Koji Tamaki was credited as the sole composer in virtually all of Anzen Chitai's music, with Gorō Matsui being the lyricist frequently. Their popularity in the 1980s culminated in a five-day soldout concert tour at the Nippon Budokan in 1987, which had a total attendance of 60,000.

1990s and 2000s: Frequent hiatuses

Despite a couple of hiatuses for the sake of solo careers (July 1988-March 1990, 1993–2001), Anzen Chitai continued to record and tour. A new studio album was released in October 2003, titled Anzen Chitai X (their tenth studio album). After their Japanese concert tour in support of the "Anzen Chitai X" album, the band announced at the end of 2003 that they are taking yet another indefinite hiatus.

As of 2006, Koji Tamaki remains active as a solo performer and television actor, with Wataru Yahagi performing in both his solo albums and concerts. Yutaka Takezawa is also active in the music business as a composer, producer, arranger and session guitarist.

On April 28, 2008, fan club members were notified that Tamaki has announced his retirement from music, as well as the closing of the official Koji Tamaki & Anzenchitai fan club, Star. Illness that requires long-term treatment was cited for his decision.

During the second half of 2009, the band held secret meetings and decided to regroup. Similar to their amateur days, band members lodged together to practise and compose music.

2010–present: Returning from hiatus

On January 8, 2010, the band announced the resumption of their career along with making appearance on the television program Tokudane!. Switching back to Universal Music Japan (which has absorbed their former label Kitty Records and is the distributor of their pre-Sony Music Japan catalog) as their record label, a music video for their new single "Aoi Bara" was released.

Their double A-side single "Aoi Bara/Wine Red no Kokoro (2010 version)" was released on March 3, 2010. Tamaki wrote the lyrics and music of "Aoi Bara." The single debuted at #9 on Oricon weekly charts, becoming their first Top 10 single in 21 years 6 months since their single "Hohoemi ni Kanpai" in 1988.[3]

On May 26, 2010, Anzen Chitai released their first album in nearly 7 years, Anzenchitai 11 Starts "Mata ne. . .". Alongside this new album, they released Anzen Chitai Hits on June 30, 2010. This album encapsulated the rerecorded versions of their singles throughout the 1980s.

Discography

Singles

Title Japanese Date
Moegi'iro no Snap 萠黄色のスナップ 25/02/1982
On My Way オン・マイ・ウェイ 25/10/1982
Las Vegas Typhoon ラスベガス・タイフーン 01/04/1983
Wine Red no Kokoro ワインレッドの心 25/11/1983
Mayonaka Sugi no Koi 真夜中すぎの恋 16/04/1984
Masquerade マスカレード 25/07/1984
Koi no Yokan 恋の予感 25/10/1984
Nesshisen 熱視線 25/01/1985
Kanashimi ni Sayonara 悲しみにさよなら 25/06/1985
Aoi Hitomi no Eris 碧い瞳のエリス 01/10/1985
Prussian Blue no Shouzou プルシアンブルーの肖像 01/07/1986
Natsu no Owari no Harmony (w/ Inoue Yosui) 夏の終りのハーモニー 25/09/1986
Friend 21/10/1986
Suki sa 好きさ 03/12/1986
Jirettai じれったい 21/04/1987
Juliet 02/12/1987
Tsuki ni Nureta Futari 月に濡れたふたり 10/03/1988
I Love You Kara Hajimeyou I Love You からはじめよう 21/06/1988
Hohoemi ni Kanpai 微笑みに乾杯 25/08/1988
Jounetsu 情熱 07/11/1990
Itsumo Kimi no Soba ni いつも君のそばに 06/11/1991
Ano Koro e あの頃へ 02/12/1992
Hitoribocchi no Yell ひとりぼっちのエール 10/02/1993
Deai 出逢い 10/07/2002
Hansei / Ano Koro e 反省 / あの頃へ 04/12/2002
Ame Nochi Hare / Chocolate 雨のち晴れ / ショコラ 18/09/2003
Aoi Bara / Wine Red no Kokoro (2010 Version) 蒼いバラ / ワインレッドの心 (2010ヴァージョン) 03/03/2010
Orange / Koi no Yokan (2010 Version) オレンジ / 恋の予感 (2010ヴァージョン) 05/05/2010
Kekkai / Denen 結界 / 田園 24/08/2011

Albums

Title Japanese Date
Anzen Chitai I Remember to Remember 安全地帯 I Remember to Remember 25/01/1983
Anzen Chitai II 安全地帯 II 01/05/1984
Anzen Chitai III ~Dakishimetai 安全地帯 III 〜抱きしめたい 01/12/1984
Anzen Chitai IV 安全地帯 IV 24/11/1985
Anzen Chitai V 安全地帯 V 14/12/1986
Anzen Chitai VI ~Tsuki ni Nureta Futari 安全地帯 VI 〜月に濡れたふたり 10/04/1988
Anzen Chitai VII ~Yume no Miyako 安全地帯 VII 〜夢の都 25/07/1990
Anzen Chitai VIII ~Taiyou 安全地帯 VIII 〜太陽 11/12/1991
Anzen Chitai IX 安全地帯 IX 07/08/2002
Anzen Chitai X ~Ame Nochi Hare~ 安全地帯 X 〜雨のち晴れ〜 22/10/2003
Anzen Chitai XI ☆STARTS☆ "Mata ne...." 安全地帯 XI ☆STARTS☆「またね…。」 26/05/2010
Anzen Chitai XII 安全地帯 XII 14/09/2011
Anzen Chitai XIII Junk 安全地帯 XIII Junk 16/11/2011
Anzen Chitai XIV -The Saltmoderate Show- 安全地帯 XIV The Saltmoderate Show 06/03/2013
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References
  1. "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists - No.47" (in Japanese). HMV Japan. 2003-10-15. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  2. Mark Schilling The Encyclopedia of Japanese pop culture 1997 0834803801 p.230 "In the latter half of the 1980s rock bands like Rebecca, Checkers, Hound Dog, Tube, Anzen Chitai, Bakufu Slump, and Kome Kome Club began to take center stage on the pop scene. Unlike earlier bands, who played Western-style rock for hard-core fans, these groups had a more Japanized sound that ordinary kids could relate to. Also, taking a hint from New Music queen YUMINC, who mounted spectacular stage shows.."
  3. "7年ぶり活動再開の安全地帯、21年半ぶりのTOP10入りでラッツ＆スター以来の歴代記録" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2010-03-09. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
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