Gentouki

Gentouki (ゲントウキ) is a Japanese band and solo performing name of singer-songwriter and producer Jun Tanaka. Gentouki has released 6 major singles and 5 major albums in the band's history.
Most recent album Tanjoubi was released on September 21, 2016.[1]

Jun Tanaka
Also known asGentouki
Born (1977-01-12) January 12, 1977
Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
GenresJ-pop, Rock,
Alternative, Bossa,
Jazz, R&B, Urban
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, singer, composer, arranger
music producer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active1995–present
LabelsVictor Entertainment
WebsiteGentouki Official Web Site

Members

Jun Tanaka (田中潤) is the founder, vocalist and songwriter of Gentouki. Tanaka continues Gentouki as a solo project with live support members.

Past members
  • Mori Takashi (森敬)
From Okayama prefecture. Bassist. (1995–2001)
  • Hiroyuki Yoshida (吉田裕之)
From Nara prefecture. Drummer. (1995–2000)
  • Kenta Itou (伊藤健太)
From Hirakata, Osaka prefecture
Nicknamed Itoken. Bassist. (Official member 2001–2006)
  • Kyosuke Sasai (笹井 享介)
From Nagano Prefecture. Drummer. (Live support 2000–2002. Official member 2002–2006)

Support members
  • Kenta Itou (伊藤健太) (ex Gentouki)
Bassist. (Live support 2008 – )
From Kawanishi, Hyogo prefecture. Drummer.
  • Daisuke Shimaoka (嶌岡大祐) (ex SG Honeoka)
From Osaka prefecture. Piano.
  • NELO (ネロ) (THE ORANGES)
From Tokyo prefecture. Guitar.

History

Early life

Jun Tanaka grew up with the influence of music his parents listened to, such as American pop music from A&M Records, The Beatles and classic Japanese pop and folk music.
He is deeply influenced by Brazilian artists including Elis Regina, Joyce Moreno, Doris Monteiro, Tom Jobim, and João Gilberto.

Gentouki formation (1995–2000)

The band formed in Osaka 1995 under the name 'Everyday Flowers' and eventually changed the band name to Gentouki, meaning magic lantern after manga artist Oji Suzuki's Toumei Tsuushin.[2]
Tanaka was attending university at the time and enlisted Hiroyuki Yoshida on drums and Takashi Mori on bass, with Jun Tanaka on vocals, guitar and keyboard. After a number of live shows, Gentouki completed a 6-song cassette demo tape.[3]

Indies debut (2000–2003)

The band made their indies debut at the label CHILDISH SOUP with the mini-album Omae no Ashiato. During this time, the band attracted interest from musicians like Keiichi Sokabe and Yoshihiko Inohara. Gentouki was considered a rival band of Kirinji. They performed at the Udagawa-cho Rock Festival and venues across Tokyo. In 2001, the band would release their first single Haikara. and album Minami no Hankyuu.through DAIZAWA RECORDS, with member Kenta Itou joining on bass, and officially becoming a 2-man band. After moving from Osaka to Tokyo in 2002, Gentouki recorded the cover of Aoi Kuruma for Spitz tribute album Ichigo Ichie Sweets for my SPITZ. Support drummer Kyosuke Sasai would also become the third official member in November 2002. Illustrations of the band's work during this period was done by a mutual close friend.

Major debut (2003–2006)

Gentouki had their major debut in February 2003 with the single Niibiro no Kisetsu released through label Teenage Symphony. This song was featured in heavy rotation broadcasts on FM802. September 2003 saw the release of first major album Itsumo no You ni.

On April 15, 2005, Gentouki performed their single Hajimari no Kisetsu on NHK PopJam (1993–2007) which has since become with Music Japan. 2 months later, the single Tsuioku no Rainy Day was released and was featured as the song for the Tsuioku no Rainy Road campaign, which led to an in-store live tour, and heralded the release of second major album Kanjou no Tamago in August 2005. 2006 started off with the release of mini album Romen Densha to Cheese Cake which was themed after Matsumushi street in Nishinari, Osaka, where Tanaka lived in his early twenties. The album was featured on heavy rotation in famous cheese cake shops around Osaka.[4]

Dissolution and solo (2006–2016)

In December 2006, Itou and Sasai left the band over irreconcilable differences of the band's direction. This led Tanaka to continue the band as a solo project. Gentouki went on to release a best-of album titled Gentou Meisaku Gekijou in February 2007. From 2008, Tanaka started activity as a producer and arranger for popular artists like SMAP, May J., Koda Kumi, Satomi Takasugi and others. Tanaka has continued to perform live shows under the Gentouki moniker with ex bassist Itou has rejoined Gentouki as a live support member, as well as drummer Nobuyuki Mori, a founding member of legendary band Quruli fame.[5]

Comeback (2016–)

Gentouki provided the commercial song for retailer Marui's Sparkling Sale campaign for Winter 2016.[6] In Spring 2016, Tanaka announced that Gentouki would be releasing a new major album under Victor Entertainment with the album Tanjoubi released September 21, 2016.[7] This launched Gentouki's bilingual efforts, as the album features English translations of the song lyrics, as well as providing English on the official homepage and social media posts.

Yusuke Nakamura involvement

The 2003 Niibiro no Kisetsu single and Itsumo no You ni releases marked the involvement of illustrator Yusuke Nakamura.
Being a big fan of Gentouki and being impressed by their live performance, Nakamura personally requested the band to let him do illustrations for their CDs.[8] This resulted in Nakamura's first professional illustration job, illustrating the artwork of 2003 single Nibiiro no kisetsu. Illustrator Yusuke Nakamura is still closely related to Gentouki and has provided most of their CD artwork. Nakamura continues to be a close friend of Tanaka and has provided the artwork for Gentouki's newest album Tanjoubi in 2016.[9]

Discography

Singles
  Release date Title Catalog Tracklisting Notes
1st July 26, 2001 Haikara UKDZ-5005
  1. Haikara
  2. Minami Hankyuu
  3. Nanairo Hikouki (Bonus track)
 Released on DAIZAWA RECORDS
2nd February 19, 2003 Nibiiro no Kisetsu MUCT-5001
  1. Nibiiro no Kisetsu
  2. Namida ga Kareru Made
  3. Ameagari no Asa
 Teenage Symphony / DREAMUSIC
3rd June 18, 2003 Sutekina, Ano Hito. MUCT-5002
  1. Sutekina, Ano Hito.
  2. Natsu no Omoide
 Teenage Symphony / DREAMUSIC
4th February 18, 2004 Mitasarete Kokoro wa MUCT-5005
  1. Mitasarete Kokoro wa
  2. Michinari
  3. Minami Hankyuu (Live)
 Teenage Symphony / DREAMUSIC
5th November 10, 2004 Saraba! MUCT-5010
  1. Saraba!
  2. Oboetate no Melody
  3. Jackle no Yoru
 Teenage Symphony
6th April 6, 2005 Hajimari no Kisetsu MUCT-5013
  1. Hajimari no Kisetsu
  2. Monochrome Smile
  3. Yume no Kakera
 Teenage Symphony
7th June 22, 2005 Tsuioku no Rainy Day MUCT-5015
  1. Tsuioku no Rainy Day
  2. Kikoenai Real
 Teenage Symphony

Albums
  Release date Title Catalog Track listing Notes
1st Mini Album October 1, 2000 Omae no Ashiato CSCD-08
  1. Douka Omoidashite
  2. Omae no Ashiato
  3. Kyoujitsu
  4. Café au lait
  5. Futari no Seikatsu
 Released on CHILDISH SOUP
1st Album October 26, 2001 Minami Hankyuu UKDZ-0006
  1. Nanairo no Hikouki
  2. Haikara
  3. Bonyari Yume
  4. Hinatabokko
  5. Narenai Sakamichi
  6. Hakken
  7. Clover
  8. Koe wa Kakezu ni
  9. Minami Hankyuu
  10. Tooku e
 Released on DAIZAWA RECORDS
2nd Album September 25, 2003 Itsumo no You ni MUCT-1006
  1. Ameagari no Asa (album version)
  2. Sutekina, Ano Hito
  3. Giragira Taiyou wo Se ni
  4. Futari no Curry Rice
  5. Namida ga Kareru Made (album version)
  6. Mitasarete Kokoro wa
  7. Kimi ga Warau Toki
  8. Heya
  9. Arifureta Mirai e
  10. Natsu no Omoide
  11. Kairiki otoko no Jidai
  12. Nibiiro no Kisetsu
 TEENAGE SYMPHONY
3rd Album August 3, 2005 Kanjou no Tamago MUCT-1014
  1. Neko no Akubi
  2. Top News
  3. Monochrome Smile
  4. Saraba!
  5. Tsuioku no Rainy Day
  6. Makeup
  7. Oboetate no Melody
  8. Hajimari no Kisetsu
  9. Kanjou no Tamago
  10. Yume no Kakera
 Teenage Symphony
2nd Mini Album March 1, 2006 Romen Densha to Cheesecake MUCT-1016
  1. Matsumushi Koushin Kyoku
  2. Ichimokusan
  3. 1.7m
  4. Movie Star
  5. Muchuujin
  6. Amechan, Hitotsu
 Teenage Symphony
Best Album February 28, 2007 Gentou Meisaku Gekijou MUCT-8001:Limited Edition
MUCT-1018:Standard

CD

  1. Sutekina, Ano Hito.
  2. Ichimokusan
  3. Top News
  4. Tsuioku no Rainy Day
  5. Mitasarete Kokoro wa
  6. Saraba!
  7. Gougai to Scramble Kousaten
  8. Aoi Kuruma
  9. Movie Star
  10. Michinari
  11. Nibiiro no Kisetsu
  12. Natsu no Omoide(Nouryou version)
  13. Jackal no Yoru
  14. Kikoenai Real
  15. Abeno-music Abeno-life
  16. Hajimari no Kisetsu

Limited edition DVD music videos

  1. Nibiiro no Kisetsu
  2. Sutekina, Ano Hito.
  3. Mitasarete Kokoro wa
  4. Saraba!
  5. Hajimari no Kisetsu
  6. Tsuioku no Rainy Day
  7. Ichimokusan
 Teenage Symphony
5th Album September 21, 2016 Tanjoubi MUCT-1014
  1. Tanjoubi (Birth Day)
  2. Gomannen Survivor (50-Thousand Year Survivor)
  3. Kamome no Kimochi (A Seagull's Heart)
  4. Bye-Bye
  5. Ai no Sabaku (Desert of Love)
  6. Softcream to Skirt no Kinenbi (Anniversary of Ice Cream and a Skirt)
  7. Algorithm
  8. Busy Days
  9. Sutekina, Ano Hito (Bonus track acoustic version) (That Wonderful Person)
 Victor Entertainment

Unreleased

Untitled 6 song demo tape from 1995

Compilation
Release date Title Catalog Tracklisting Notes
July 25, 2001 STYLUS#1 CCJ-0001 Omae no Ashiato College Chart Japan
March 20, 2002 Smells Like Teenage Symphony MUCT-1001 Hinatabokko〜(Shitunaigaku version) DREAMUSIC
October 17, 2002 Ichigo Ichie Sweets for my SPITZ MUCT-1003 Aoi Kuruma DREAMUSIC
July 30, 2003 The Many Moods of Smiley Smile MUCT-1004 Natsu no Omoide Teenage Symphony
October 7, 2007 TOKYO BOSSA NOVA 〜vento〜 HRBD-001 Softcream to Skirt no Kinenbi Happiness Records
November 12, 2008 TOKYO CITY POPs HRBD-010 Ameba Happiness Records

Produced Works
  • Satomi Takasugi "hand"（Composer） – From album MASCARA released May 26, 2010
  • Lay "Kono Ai de Aru You ni"（Composer） – From single Kono Ai de Aru You ni released June 2, 2010
Ending song of Japanese-Korean movie Cholula no Shi
  • SMAP "Mijikai Kami"（Composer） – From album We are SMAP! released July 21, 2010
  • Miyazaki Kaoru "Bye-Bye," "Gimme Your Love"（Composer, lyricist, Arranger) From album 9 STORIES released October 10, 2012
  • May J. "Eternally"（Composer, Arranger – From album Brave released December 5, 2012
  • Asako Toki "Girls (You are so special)"（Composer・Co-Arranger – From album HEARTBREAKIN' released June 12, 2013

Produced and Arranged Work
  • Masaki Shigaki
Album Hummingmoon from August 2, 2008. Produced Track 1 "this song", track 9 "Tenkininaare", Track 11 Tsuki no Michi de Aimashou.
Performed organ on track 4 "Natsu no Odoriko", guitar and tambourine on track 6 "Sully"
  • Miki Taramae
Single "Heartbeat" released June 10, 2009
Arranger, Instrumental programming, acoustic guitar
  • Koda Kumi "I Love you, SAYONARA"（Arranger） – Cover album "ETERNITY 〜Love & Songs〜" released October 13, 2010
  • moumoon "Happy Unbirthday"（Arranger） – From album 15 Doors released March 2, 2011
  • Jonathan Wong "Boku ga Iru"（Arranger） – From single Kimi wa Bara yoru Utsukushii released June 5, 2011
  • Tomoko Tane
Album Uh Baby Baby from October 26, 2011
Sang chorus, keyboard and programming on track 4 "Warattete", keyboards and programming on track 7 "Tokyo wa Nukeru Youna Aozora ~Happy Birthday~"
  • May J. "Shiroi Kuma no You ni"（Arranger） – From cover album Summer Ballad Covers released June 19, 2013

Soundtracks
  • Movie Long Caravan(October 2009)
Made title song Long Caravan for EXILE MATSU.

Music videos
Director Song
Gen Asada Saraba! (2004)
Masao Kimura Ichimokusan (2006)
Yutaka Kimura Nibiiro no Kisetsu (2003)
Tetsuji Kuramitsu Mitasarete Kokoro wa (2004)
Satoshi Takaki Tsuioku no Rainy Day (2005)
Ryota Baba Tanjoubi (2016)

Performances
  • April 12, 2002 – SPACE SHOWER Retsuden 13 ~Sachiyu (Happy End no Utage~
  • October 20, 2002– MINAMI WHEEL 2002
  • October 18, 2003– MINAMI WHEEL 2003
  • October 24, 2004– MINAMI WHEEL 2004
  • September 17, 2005– RADIO BERRY Berry Ten Live 2005
  • October 11, 2014– BEATRAM MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014
  • December 4, 2014– Gentouki One-Man Live "Tokyo Matsumushidori~2014nen Muchuu no Tabi~"
gollark: Well, I suppose this is going to be better than Lua.
gollark: Are there some available CC bindings for it?
gollark: Good point. It does seem better.
gollark: You can do that in Lua, too.
gollark: Does it have ADTs?

References
  1. Inc., Natasha. "ゲントウキ「誕生日」MV公開＆アルバム特設サイトにKIRINJI、江口寿史らコメント".
  2. http://www.gentouki.com/2015/10/?cat=7
  3. "ゲントウキのライブなど・・".
  4. Inc., Japan Music Network. "ゲントウキ、地元大阪をテーマにミニアルバム発表。おかげで間違えられて…!?".
  5. "森信行 (@momomomokkun) – Twitter".
  6. "マルイ". - marui website.
  7. "ゲントウキ｜誕生日".
  8. "誕生日に御乱心。 : 中村佑介 公式ブログ".
  9. "ゲントウキ「誕生日」 – VICL-64642 – 4988002722297". billboard-japan.com.
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