Yutaka Ozaki

Yutaka Ozaki 尾崎 豊
Born	29 November 1965(1965-11-29) Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Died	25 April 1992(1992-04-25) (aged 26) Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Japanese Rock
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Piano, guitar, harmonica
Years active	1983–1992
Labels	CBS Sony (1983-1986, 1988-1992) Mother & Children (1987-1988)

Yutaka Ozaki (尾崎 豊, Ozaki Yutaka^?, November 29, 1965 – April 25, 1992) was a popular Japanese musician.

He is ranked at No. 23 in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians by HMV.

Biography

He was born in Tokyo Setagaya Ward SDF Central Hospital to Kinue and Kenichi Ozaki. He has one older brother, Yasushi. Early in life, he was hospitalized with intestinal torsion and bronchitis which subsequently weakened his internal organs. In 1973 he began studying martial arts and continued training throughout his life. In January 1975 he began playing piano and in March of that year he wrote his first poem. His first live performance was in 1978 at his school's cultural festival. He was discovered by producer Akira Sudo and signed to Sony Records in 1983.

Death

Ozaki was found naked, drunk and unconscious in a Tokyo alleyway on April 25, 1992. He was taken by ambulance but was soon dismissed from the hospital. He died several hours later.^{[1] [2]} The cause of death was reported as pulmonary edema but many theories have arisen as to the actual cause of death, the most popular being homicide. He left behind a wife, Shigemi, and a son, Hiroya.^[3]

Tribute covers

Thelma Aoyama, Mika Nakashima, Kazumasa Oda, Ryuichi Kawamura, Hikaru Utada, Ayaka, Kobukuro, Tsuyoshi Domoto and many other Japanese artists have covered Ozaki's song, "I Love You." Ryuichi Kawamura, Nanase Aikawa, Goto Maki and Tomiko Van have covered "Oh My Little Girl." Shunsuke Kiyokiba also has covered two of his songs, 太陽の破片 taiyou no hahen ("Fragments of the Sun") and ふたつの心 futatsu no kokoro ("Two Hearts"). Shimizu Shota covered his song, Forget-Me-Not.

Discography

Singles

• Jugo no Yoru - The Night (15の夜, 1983)
• Junanasai no Chizu - Seventeen's Map (十七歳の地図, 1984)
• Hajimari-sae Utaenai - Can't Sing Even the Beginning (はじまりさえ歌えない, 1984)
• Sotsugyou - Graduation (卒業, 1985)
• Driving All Night (1985)
• Kaku - Core (核, 1987)
• Taiyō no Hahen - Debris of the Sun(太陽の破片, 1988)
• Love Way (1990)
• Tasogare-yuku Machi-de - 57th Street (黄昏ゆく街で, 1990)
• Eien no mune - Eternal Heart (永遠の胸, 1991)
• I Love You (1991)
• Kegareta Kizuna - Bond (汚れた絆, 1992)
• (Japanese)Oh My Little Girl (1994) - released after his death and was his greatest hit song

Albums

• Juunanasai no Chizu - Seventeen's Map (十七歳の地図, 1983)
• Kaikisen - Tropic of Graduation (回帰線, 1985)
• Kowareta Tobira kara - Through the Broken Door (壊れた扉から, 1985)
• Gairoju - Trees Lining a Street (街路樹, 1988)
• Tanjou - Birth (誕生, 1990)
• Hounetsu e no Akashi - Confession for Exist (放熱への証, 1992)

Compilations

• Aisu-beki Mono Subete-ni - For All My Loves (愛すべきものすべてに, 1996)
• Artery & Vein - The Very Best of Yutaka Ozaki (1999)
• 13/71 - The Best Selection (2004)

Live Albums

• Last Teenage Appearance - The Myth of Yutaka Ozaki (1987)
• Yakusoku no Hi Vol.1 - The Day vol.1 (約束の日 Vol.1, 1993)
• Yakusoku no Hi Vol.2 - The Day vol.2 (約束の日 Vol.2, 1993)
• Missing Boy (1997)
• Osaka Stadium on August 25 in 1985 Vol.1 (1998)
• Osaka Stadium on August 25 in 1985 Vol.2 (1998)

Note

1. ^ Yutaka Ozaki GP Special Edition 1983-1992. Tokyo: Sony Magazines. 1992-08-05. pp. 207. 
2. ^ McClure, Steve. "Yutaka Ozaki Biography". nippop.com. http://nippop.com/artists/Yutaka_Ozaki/. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
3. ^ Ozaki, Hiroya. "Concerned Genetation DJ: Ozaki Hiroya". interfm.co.jp. http://www.interfm.co.jp/concerned/blog/. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 

External links

• Yutaka Ozaki Official Site (Japanese)
• Yutaka Ozaki - Sony Music Records (Japanese)

Persondata
Name	Ozaki, Yutaka
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 29, 1965
Place of birth
Date of death	April 25, 1992
Place of death