Hikaru Utada, who is also known by the mononym Utada, is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter and producer. Born in the United States to Japanese parents, record producer Teruzane Utada and enka singer Keiko Fuji, Utada began to write music and lyrics at an early age and often traveled to Tokyo as a result of her father's job. Eventually, a recording contract with Toshiba-EMI was signed. Under the stage name Cubic U, she released an English-language debut album Precious in early 1998, but it was a commercial failure. In the following year, heavily influenced by R&B and dance-pop, a Japanese-language debut First Love was released and became an immediate success. Backed by the success of singles "Automatic", "Time Will Tell", and "Movin' On Without You", the album sold two million copies in its first week in Japan, topped the Oricon charts for six non-consecutive weeks and went on to sell six million more throughout the rest of 1999. First Love eventually became the country's best-selling album of all time.
Keiko Utoku is a Japanese singer and songwriter under UK Sweet label.
Galneryus is a Japanese power metal band, formed in Osaka in 2001 by guitarist Syu and vocalist Yama-B. Originally the only official members, the two utilized several support musicians until bassist Tsui, keyboardist Yuhki, and drummer Jun-ichi officially joined for the release of their debut album in 2003. Yama-B left the group in 2008 citing musical differences, and Yu-To, who replaced Tsui in 2006, left the following year. Galneryus recruited Sho on vocals and Taka on bass, and released the album Resurrection in 2010. Jun-ichi left in 2016, and the following year the band released their highest-charting studio album, Ultimate Sacrifice, which reached number 13. In 2017, Loudwire named Galneryus one of the 10 Best Japanese Metal Bands.
Cheryline Ernestine Lim, known by her stage name Che'Nelle, is an Australian singer-songwriter signed to Universal Music Japan.
Advance to the Fall is the second studio album by Japanese power metal band Galneryus. It was released on March 23, 2005.
"Dan Dan Kokoro Hikareteku" is the fourth single by Japanese rock band Field of View. The single charted #4 rank in Oricon for first week. It charted for 11 weeks. The song serves as the theme song to the anime series Dragon Ball GT. It sold a total of 528,150 copies.
Animetal Marathon V is the fifth full-length album by Japanese novelty heavy metal band Animetal, released through VAP on June 25, 2003. The album consists of a non-stop marathon of metal covers: tracks cover anime themes from the 1960s to the 1980s, while tracks 18-34 cover tokusatsu themes also from that same era, including Super Sentai and Kamen Rider titles, and tracks 35-39 are covers of themes from Tatsunoko's Time Bokan series. Prior to the release of this album, guitarist She-Ja left the band. He was replaced by Syu, who has worked with metal bands Galneryus and Aushvitz.
Decade of Bravehearts is the eighth and final studio album by Japanese novelty heavy metal band Animetal, released through VAP on August 8, 2006. Commemorating the band's 10th anniversary, the album features full length covers of various anime and tokusatsu songs that they have covered on their other albums, plus their covers of the themes from the 2002 Super Sentai series Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger and the 2003 anime series Godannar. Also included in the album is a bonus DVD.
Syu is a Japanese musician, best known as leader and guitarist of the power metal band Galneryus. He also performs guitar and lead vocals in Spinalcord and was formerly a member of Animetal. Under his own name, Syu has released one studio album, one cover album and one instrumental album, each featuring collaborations with many guest musicians. He was voted Best Guitarist in online music magazine Beeast's music awards four years in a row, from 2015 to 2018. His work on Galneryus' song "Emotions" was named the 73rd best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019.
Reincarnation is the fifth studio album by the Japanese power metal band Galneryus. It is the last album to feature vocalist Yama-B. It was released on September 10, 2008.
Resurrection is the sixth studio album by the Japanese power metal/neo-classical metal band Galneryus, released on June 23, 2010. It is the first album to feature Galneryus' new singer Masatoshi "Sho" Ono and new bassist Taka, after the departure of Yama-B (vocals) and Yu-To (bass). The track "A Far-Off Distance" was used as the ending theme for the anime television series Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin. "Emotions" was named the 73rd best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019.
"Mr. Simple" is a song recorded in two languages by South Korean boy band Super Junior. The Korean version was released as the lead single off their fifth studio album of the same name digitally on August 2, 2011, via SM Entertainment. In Japan, the single was made available via Avex Trax on December 7, 2011.
Masatoshi Ono, also known as Sho, is a Japanese rock/heavy metal singer-songwriter and vocal coach. Ono got his start in the 1980s as vocalist of the heavy metal band Fort Bragg. In 1992, he released his first solo single, "Pure ni Nare", on Sony Records. It was not until his third single, "You're the Only...", that he began to receive notable attention. The single helped Ono win the "Rookie of the Year" award at the 34th Japan Record Awards and an invitation to that year's Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Phoenix Rising is the seventh studio album by power metal/neo-classical metal band Galneryus. The album reached number 23 on the Oricon album charts and #21 at the Billboard Japan Top Albums.
Boys Meet U is the second Japanese studio album by South Korean boy band Shinee, released on June 26, 2013, in Japan by EMI Records Japan.
All That We Have Now is the second studio album by Japanese electronicore band Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas. It was released on 8 August 2012 through VAP. This is the last release to feature founding member Mashu on bass. He left the band in 2013, and was later replaced by Kei. The album's title, All That We Have Now, says that they have become their culmination content so far. The album reached number 4 on Oricon chart, sold 23,525 copies in its first week release. The single of the album, "Just Awake", originally recorded in Japanese, was later released with an English version. It was used as the first ending theme of the Hunter × Hunter reboot anime.
Vetelgyus is the ninth studio album by power metal/neo-classical metal band Galneryus. The track "Attitude to Life" was used as the ending theme for the anime television series Laughing Under the Clouds.
Under the Force of Courage is the tenth studio album by power metal/neo-classical metal band Galneryus. It is their last album to feature original drummer Jun-ichi.
Mary's Blood was a Japanese all-female heavy metal band from Tokyo, formed in 2009 by four former members of Destrose. It consisted of vocalist Eye, drummer Mari, guitarist Saki and bassist Rio since 2012. After releasing three EPs as an independent band, they signed to Nippon Columbia for their first album, Countdown to Evolution (2014). Mary's Blood then switched to Victor Entertainment for the release of Bloody Palace (2015) and Fate (2016). They signed to Tokuma Japan Communications in 2018 and released three further studio albums, including their highest-charting, Confessions (2019). Mary's Blood began an indefinite hiatus on April 9, 2022.
Rami is a Japanese heavy metal singer and lyricist. She first rose to prominence as vocalist and co-founder of the all-female power metal band Aldious from 2008 to 2012. After a hiatus, she resumed musical activities in 2015 as the vocalist of the group Raglaia, before starting a solo career in 2016.
