Japanese alternative rock band
Aobozu (藍坊主, Aobōzu) is a Japanese alternative rock band, signed to Toy's Factory. They debuted in 2003, with the album Aobozu.
Biography
Hozzy, Kamei and Fujimori were originally childhood friends, all coming from Odawara. In 1999, they formed a band in called The Blue Boss (ザ・ブルーボーズ, Za Burū Bōzu) in 1999, that was a cover band for Japanese punk band The Blue Hearts. In 2000, they changed the band's name to aobōzu (藍坊主) - the name of a mythical yōkai (Japanese folk legend ghost), however with a different kanji for ao (藍 instead of 青). In 2001, Yūichi Tanaka (a friend of Fujimori's since kindergarten) joined the band as its guitarist. The band then centred their live activities in their hometown, as well as around the Tokyo areas of Hachiōji and Shimokitazawa.
In 2002, the band produced their first self-published CD: "Michi" (道, Street). The following year, the band independently released their debut album Aobozu through Buddy Records, and had their songs featured on many punk compilation albums.
In 2004, the band's drummer Kamei left, and was replaced by a classmate of Tanakas, Takurō Watanabe, as a session drummer. The band then made their major debut under Toy's Factory, Hiroshige Blue, which reached the top 30 on the Oricon albums charts.
Since then, the band has toured exclusively, gradually gaining more fame. Their 2010 album Mizukane reached the top 10 on Oricon.
Discography
Albums
Year
|
Album Information
|
Oricon albums chart positions
|
2003
|
Aobozu (藍坊主, Aobōzu)
- Released: February 12, 2003
- Label: Buddy (DLCR-03021)
|
125
|
2004
|
Hiroshige Blue (ヒロシゲブルー, Hiroshige Burū)
- Major label debut album
- Released: May 12, 2004
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86155)
|
30
|
2005
|
Soda (ソーダ, Sōda)
- Released: May 18, 2005
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86180)
|
29
|
2006
|
Hanamidori (ハナミドリ)
- Released: April 26, 2006
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86194)
|
26
|
2008
|
Forestone (フォレストーン, Foresutōn)
- Released: April 2, 2008
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86251)
|
15
|
2010
|
Mizukane (ミズカネ)
- Released: February 17, 2010
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86321)
|
10
|
2011
|
The Very Best of Aobozu (ザ・ベリー・ベスト・オブ・アオボウズ)
- Released: April 27, 2011
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86255)
|
—
|
2012
|
Noctiluca (ノクティルカ, Nokutiruka)
- Released: April 18, 2012
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86381)
|
—
|
2013
|
Bloomery (ブルーメリー, Burūmerī)
- Released: May 15, 2013
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86438)
|
—
|
2013
|
S/Normally (スノーマリー, Sunōmarī)
- Released: November 6, 2013
- Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86447)
|
—
|
2014
|
Himawari (向日葵)
- Released: August 29, 2014
- Label: Toy's Factory
|
—
|
2019
|
Moenai Kaseki (燃えない化石)
- Released: July 10, 2019
- Label: Toy's Factory
|
35[1]
|
Singles
Release
|
Title
|
Notes
|
Oricon Singles charts
|
Album
|
2003
|
"Shizuku" (雫, Drop)
|
Released under Buddy Records.
|
52
|
Hiroshige Blue
|
"Sora" (空, Sky)
|
Sole release under Hills Records.
|
66
|
2005
|
"Uzura" (ウズラ, Quail)
|
First major label single.
|
35
|
Soda
|
"Spoon" (スプーン, Supūn)
|
|
40
|
Hanamidori
|
2006
|
"Sakura no Ashiato" (桜の足あと, Cherry Blossom Footprints)
|
|
28
|
"Hello Goodbye" (ハローグッバイ, Harō Gubbai)
|
|
19
|
Forestone
|
2007
|
"Coin Toss" (コイントス, Koin Tosu)
|
|
24
|
"Sora o Tsukuritaku Nakatta" (空を作りたくなかった, I Didn't Want to Make the Sky)
|
|
30
|
2008
|
"Kotoba no Mori" (言葉の森, Forest of Words)
|
|
29
|
"Mother" (マザー, Mazā)
|
|
28
|
Mizukane
|
2009
|
"Namae no Nai Iro" (名前の無い色, Nameless Color)
|
|
32
|
2010
|
"Dengon" (伝言, Rumor)
|
|
21
|
References
External links