Kirinji (band)

Kirinji (キリンジ) is a Japanese band from Sakado, Saitama, originally formed by brothers Takaki and Yasuyuki Horigome in October 1996.[1] They have released twelve original albums and eighteen singles to date and are still active.[2] The two are also pursuing their own solo efforts.[3] In April 2013, Yasuyuki left the group to focus on his solo career. In the summer of that year, the group was reformed as a six-piece band under the name "KIRINJI".

Kirinji
Genres	Pop, indie pop, adult contemporary
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Natural Foundation (1997) A.K.A. Records (1998-2002) Capitol Music (2003-2004) Triad (2005-2013) Verve Records (2014-present)
Associated acts	Keiichi Tomita (1997-2003)
Website	https://natural-llc.com/kirinji

Members

• Takaki Horigome (堀込 高樹, Horigome Takaki, born June 1, 1969) — Vocals, chorus, and guitar (1996–present)
• Hitoshi Kusunoki (楠 均, Kusunoki Hitoshi, born October 12, 1958) — Drums, percussion, vocals, and chorus (2013–present)
• Manabu Chigasaki (千ヶ崎 学, Chigasaki Manabu, born April 25, 1971) — Bass guitar, bass synthesizer, vocals, chorus, and trombone (2013–present)
• Genichi Tamura (田村 玄一, Tamura Gen'ichi) — Pedal steel guitar, steelpans, guitar, vocals, chorus, and banjo (2013–present)
• Erino Yumiki (弓木 英梨乃, Yumiki Erino, born August 8, 1990) — Guitar, vocals, chorus, and violin (2013–present)

Former members

• Yasuyuki Horigome (堀込 泰行, Horigome Yasuyuki, born May 2, 1972) — Lead vocalist, chorus, and guitar (1996–2013)
• Kotringo (コトリンゴ, Kotoringo, born July 17, 1978) — Vocals, chorus, piano, and keyboards (2013–2017)

Discography

Original albums

• "Paper Driver's Music" (ペイパードライヴァーズミュージック, Peipā Doraivāzu Myūjikku, October 25, 1998)
• "47'45"" (47'45" (ヨンジュウナナテンヨンゴー), Yonjū-nana Ten Yon Gō, July 28, 1999)
• "3" (November 8, 2000)
• "Fine" (November 21, 2001)
• "For Beautiful Human Life" (September 26, 2003)
• "Dodecagon" (October 25, 2006)
• "7 -Seven-" (March 19, 2008)
• "Buoyancy" (September 1, 2010)
• "Super View" (November 7, 2012)
• "Ten" (March 27, 2013)
• "11" (August 7, 2014)
• "Neo" (ネオ, August 3, 2016)
• "Ai o Arudake, Subete" (愛をあるだけ、すべて, June 13, 2018)
• "Cherish" (November 20, 2019)

Other albums

• "2 in 1" (March 24, 1999; Independent label)
• "Kirinji RMX" (April 25, 2001)
• "Kirinji RMX II" (April 24, 2002)
• "Omnibus" (November 20, 2002)
• "Kirinji Tour 2003/Live at Budokan" (February 25, 2004)
• "Kirinji Archives Singles Best" (June 23, 2004)
• "2 in 1 ~10th Anniversary Edition~" (March 19, 2008)
• "Kirinji 1998-2008 10th Anniversary Celebration" (December 10, 2008)
• "Songbook ~Connoisseur Series~" (October 19, 2011)
• "Extra-11" (November 11, 2015)

Singles

• "Kirinji" (キリンジ, May 21, 1997; Independent label)
• "Fuyu no Orca" (冬のオルカ, Fuyu no Oruka, November 1, 1997; Independent label)
• "Futagoza Graffiti" (双子座グラフィティ, Futagoza Gurafiti, August 26, 1998)
• "Oushiza Rhapsody" (牡牛座ラプソディ, Oushiza Rapusodi, June 23, 1999)
• "Arcadia" (アルカディア, Arukadia, January 19, 2000)
• "Good Day Good Bye" (グッデイ・グッバイ, Guddei Gubbai, April 19, 2000)
• "Kimi no Mune ni Dakaretai" (君の胸に抱かれたい, July 12, 2000)
• "Aliens" (エイリアンズ, Eirianzu, October 12, 2000)
• "Ame wa Mōfu no Yō ni" (雨は毛布のように, June 13, 2001)
• "Drifter"/"Taiyō to Venus" (太陽とヴィーナス, Taiyō to Vīnasu) (July 25, 2001)
• "Murasaki * Sunset" (ムラサキ☆サンセット, Murasaki Sansetto, November 7, 2001)
• "Hagane no Uma" (鋼鉄の馬, November 7, 2002)
• "Sweet Soul ep" (スウィートソウル ep, Suwīto Sōru ep, March 26, 2003)
• "Chameleon Girl" (カメレオンガール, Kamereon Gāru, August 6, 2003)
• "You And Me" (May 12, 2004)
• "Jūyo-ji-sugi no Kagerō" (十四時過ぎのカゲロウ, July 7, 2004)
• "Romantic Kaidō" (ロマンティック街道, Romantikku Kaidō)/"Blue Bird" (ブルーバード, Burū Bādo) (June 21, 2006)
• "Asayake wa Ame no Kizashi" (朝焼けは雨のきざし, February 20, 2008)
• "Natsu no Hikari" (夏の光, July 7, 2010)
• "Manatsu no Saga" (真夏のサーガ, Manatsu no Sāga, July 22, 2015)
• "Jikan ga Nai" (時間がない, May 2, 2018)
• "Killer tune kills me feat. YonYon" (June 5, 2019)

Digital release singles

• "Kage no Uta" (影の唄, December 7, 2005)
• "Golden harvest"/"Lullaby" (September 27, 2006)
• "Kimi no Koto da yo" (君のことだよ, June 25, 2007)
• "Ladybird" (July 25, 2007)
• "Jonathan" (ジョナサン, Jonasan, August 25, 2007)
• "Kyō mo Dareka no Tanjōbi" (今日も誰かの誕生日, September 25, 2007)
• "Tandem Runaway" (タンデム・ラナウェイ, Tandemu Ranawei, October 25, 2007)
• "Greyhound Man (Acoustic Ver.)" (グレイハウンド・マン (Acoustic Ver.), Gureihaundo Man (Acoustic Ver.), November 25, 2007)
• "Ieji" (家路, December 25, 2007)
• "Selene no Serenade" (セレーネのセレナーデ, Serēne no Serenāde, August 5, 2009)
• "Chiisana Otona-tachi" (小さなおとなたち, December 9, 2009)
• "Atarashii Tomodachi" (あたらしい友だち, July 20, 2011)
• "Inore Norō na" (祈れ呪うな, May 30, 2012)
• "Namida ni Akita ra" (涙にあきたら, June 27, 2012)
• "Trekking Song" (October 10, 2012)
• "AI no Tōhikō feat. Charisma.com (AIの逃避行 feat. Charisma.com, November 22, 2017)
• "Almond Eyes feat. Chinza Dopeness (Almond Eyes feat. 鎮座DOPENESS, October 30, 2019)

Other works

• A remixed version of their song "Good Day Good Bye" is in Fantastic Plastic Machine's Sound Concierge Annex Contemporary Love Songs.[4]
• Track 10 of We Love Katamari, Houston, was re-arranged by Kirinji.[5] Additionally, the song "Bluff Spirit" in We Love Katamari was sung and composed by them.
• Takaki Horigome had worked for Namco for a while during his early days in the band. He composed music for various games. The most notable one is Pac-Attack where he is listed as "Polygome" for the SNES and Sega Genesis Versions and as his regular name in the Namco Anthology 2 updated version for the PlayStation

References

1. https://natural-llc.com/kirinji/profile/
2. https://natural-llc.com/kirinji/discography/
3. https://www.myspace.com/kirinjiofficial English description of the band's history
4. https://www.discogs.com/Various-Sound-Concierge-Annex-Contemporary-Love-Songs/release/852867 Track 11
5. https://www.destructoid.com/blogs/coffeesash/katamari-damacy-tribute-song-list-in-english--126712.phtml

External links

• Official site
• MySpace site
• Kirinji at Discogs
• Kirinji at Universal Music
• Kirinji at Columbia Music Entertainment