Anzen Chitai

infobox musical artist
Name = Anzen Chitai

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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan
Genre = J-Pop
Years_active = 1973-present
Label = Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Kitty Records
URL = [http://www.anzenchitai.com/ anzenchitai.com]
Current_members = Koji Tamaki
Yutaka Takezawa
Wataru Yahagi
Haruyoshi Rokudo
Yuji Tanaka

Anzen Chitai (安全地帯, literally "Safety Zone") is one of Japan's most successful rock bands. [ [http://www.hmv.co.jp/news/newsDetail.asp?newsnum=309180055 HMV Top 100 Japanese Pop Artists - No.47] ] It was formed in 1973 by 5 talented musicians in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan and debuted in 1982 in Tokyo, Japan. They are considered as the proteges of the "King of POP" of Japan.

Members

*nihongo|Koji Tamaki|玉置 浩二|Tamaki Kōji - Vocals, Guitars & Percussion (1973-present)
*nihongo|Yutaka Takezawa|武沢 豊|Takezawa Yutaka - Guitars (1973-present)
*nihongo|Wataru Yahagi|矢萩 渉|Yahagi Wataru - Guitars (1977-present)
*nihongo|Haruyoshi Rokudo|六土 開正|Rokudō Haruyoshi Bass, Piano & Keyboards (1977-present)
*nihongo|Yuji Tanaka|田中 裕二|Tanaka Yūji - Drums (1977-1978, 1982-present)

Past members

*nihongo|Toshiya Takezawa|武沢 俊也|Takezawa Toshiya - Guitars, Keyboards (1973-1981)
*nihongo|Takahiro Miyashita|宮下 隆宏|Miyashita Takahiro - Bass (1973-1978)
*nihongo|Kazuyoshi Tamaki|玉置 一芳|Tamaki Kazuyoshi - Drums (1973-1977)
*nihongo|Ichiji Ohira|大平 市治|Ōhira Ichiji - Drums (1977-1982)

History

Beginnings - 1970s

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 nihongo|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 would leave. Yuji Tanaka would also leave at this point.

1980s

In 1981, they began work as a backup band for singer/songwriter nihongo|Yosui Inoue|井上 陽水|Inoue Yosui, and released their debut single, nihongo|"Moegi Iro No SNAP"|萌黄色のスナップ|- Moegi Iro No Sunappu in February 1982. However, the final personnel change would occur as Ichiji Ohira would leave, and Yuji Tanaka would return in his place, establishing the current lineup.

Under the guidance of their producer and co-arranger nihongo|Masaru Hoshi|星 勝|Hoshi Masaru, lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock group MOPPS, the band continued to refine their craft in the studio. Their status as a backup band would soon change: in 1984, nihongo|"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"). 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.

Present - 1990s and Millennium years

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 2004, 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 2004 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 28th April, 2008, fan club members were notified that Koji 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.anzenchitai.com/ Anzen Chitai's Official Website]
* [http://www.tamakikoji.jp/ Koji Tamaki's Official Website]