Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The story begins in 1878, the 11th year of the Meiji era in Japan, and follows a former assassin of the Bakumatsu, known as Hitokiri Battosai. After his work against the bakufu, he becomes Himura Kenshin, a wandering swordsman who protects the people of Japan with a vow never to take another life. Watsuki wrote the series based on his desire to make a shōnen manga different from others being published at the time, with Kenshin being a former assassin and the story taking a more serious tone as it progressed.
Miwa Watabiki, better known by her stage name Chara (ちゃら), is a Japanese singer, actress and video jockey. She debuted in 1991 with the single Heaven. She is known for her song "Swallowtail Butterfly ", the theme song for the 1996 Shunji Iwai film Swallowtail Butterfly in which she starred, her 1997 hit single "Yasashii Kimochi", and her collaboration with Judy and Mary vocalist Yuki, "Ai no Hi Mittsu Orange". Chara later formed a band with Yuki, called Mean Machine.
Whiteberry (ホワイトベリー) were a five-piece all-girl pop/rock band from Kitami, Hokkaido, Japan. Although not reaching the cult status they enjoyed at home, the group gained a loyal following abroad with their recordings and live performances.
Himura Kenshin, known as Kenshin Himura in the English-language anime dubs, is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga Rurouni Kenshin created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Kenshin's story is set in a fictional version of Japan during the Meiji period. Kenshin is a former legendary assassin known as "Hitokiri Battōsai" (人斬り抜刀斎), more properly named Himura Battōsai (緋村抜刀斎). At the end of the Bakumatsu, he becomes a wandering swordsman, now wielding a sakabatō—a katana that has the cutting edge on the inwardly curved side of the sword, thus being nearly incapable of killing. Kenshin wanders the Japanese countryside offering protection and aid to those in need as atonement for the murders he once committed as an assassin. In Tokyo, he meets a young woman named Kamiya Kaoru, who invites him to live in her dojo, despite learning about Kenshin's past. Throughout the series, Kenshin begins to establish lifelong relationships with many people, including ex-enemies, while dealing with his fair share of enemies, new and old.
NiNa are a Japan-market six-piece group formed in 1999 containing Kate Pierson, bassist Mick Karn, vocalist Yuki Isoya, Takemi Shima and Masahide Sakuma, and Steven Wolf, the session drummer. Masahide composed most of the music with input from Pierson and Yuki who also wrote the lyrics. From the 30-second opening track, which starts with ominous techno music and ends with Yuki and Pierson exclaiming "Hello everybody nice to meet you we're NiNa," the band's eponymous and only album is very diverse.
Taiji Sawada, also known mononymously as Taiji, was a Japanese musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former bassist of the rock band X Japan. X Japan rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, credited as founders of the Japanese visual kei movement. After leaving X Japan in January 1992, Taiji went on to work with many other bands, including Loudness and D.T.R.
Pierrot was a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in 1994 in Nagano. After changing their name from Dizy-Lizy to Pierrot and several member changes, the final lineup was completed in 1995 with Kirito on vocals, Jun and Aiji on guitar, Kohta on bass and Takeo on drums. After roughly ten years together, Pierrot disbanded in 2006. Their final single was named "Hello", an apt title for a band who started their major career with an album called Finale.
Yuki Kuramochi, known professionally as Yuki, is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead vocalist for Judy and Mary. She founded Judy and Mary in 1991 and became a solo artist in 2002. She has also been a member of the bands NiNa and Mean Machine.
Mean Machine is an all-girl Japanese rock band. Mean Machine starred in the Tower Records "No Music, No Life" advertising campaign, and debuted in 2001.
Animetal was a Japanese heavy metal band who specialized in metal covers of theme songs from classic and modern Japanese anime and tokusatsu television series.
"Communication" is Hitomi Takahashi's 4th single under the Sony Records label. The single was released in only one format on July 12, 2006, nearly eight months after her last single Aozora no NAMIDA.
Lucifer was a Japanese visual kei rock band, best known for contributing several of their songs to the popular anime, Kaikan Phrase. The band was formed in 1999, and disbanded in early 2003. They officially debuted on 15 September 1999 with their big hit single Datenshi BLUE, and became increasingly popular thereafter.
Diamond Head was a Japanese band formed of session musicians and producers. They first gained notability as the backing and touring band for Hitomi Yaida.
The Dead Pop Stars is a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in 1992 by ex-Kamaitachi drummer Kenzi. Its current line-up consists of original members Aki and Kenzi on vocals and drums respectively, Hideto and Kentarou on guitar, and Ruiji on bass.
"Candy Line" is Hitomi Takahashi's 6th single under the Sony Records label, and was released on March 7, 2007, four months after her previous single "Ko·mo·re·bi."
"Jet Boy Jet Girl" is Hitomi Takahashi's 7th single under the Sony Records label, and was released on August 1, 2007 in two different versions - CD only and CD+DVD.
"Tsuyoku Nare" is Hitomi Takahashi's 8th single under the Sony Records label, and was released on September 12, 2007 just a little over one month after her 7th single "Jet Boy Jet Girl".
Takuya is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include:
"The Beginning" is the seventh single released by Japanese rock band One Ok Rock. The title track was used as the theme song for the live-action movie of Rurouni Kenshin. The first pressing comes with a sticker. It received a digital download single certification of Gold from the Recording Industry Association of Japan for sales of 100,000. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and stayed for 45 weeks. The song also reached 5th place on the Oricon chart and charted for 20 weeks.
Dynamic Chord is a Japanese otome musical-themed visual novel game series developed and published by Honeybee Black. The games follow the musical careers and personal lives of several bands under the "Dynamic Chord" agency and music label. Each games feature different protagonist who develops a love story with the band members. An anime adaptation by Studio Pierrot premiered on October 5, 2017.
