Kimaguren

Kimaguren promoting ON THE BEACH ~Kimagure BEST~ (2012)

Kimaguren (キマグレン) is a Japanese pop/reggae duo that comes from Kanagawa Prefecture. They formed in May 2005, and later debuted in 2006 with the indies single "Omoi Omoi". They major debuted in 2008 under Universal Music Japan with the single "Aenai Uta". They are most known for their song "LIFE", which was used as the au Smart Sports commercial song. In 2009 they paired with Yuzu to form the special unit Yuzuguren, and in 2012 they did a similar thing with Rake, Oshio Kotaro and Kasarinchu to form PuiPui HOME TOWNS.

Members

• ISEKI (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Music)
• KUREI (Vocals, Lyrics)

Information

ISEKI and KUREI originally met in 1996 (when they were 16) at a swimming school in Zushi. They both spent a lot of time living in Zushi, although they have lived in different places: ISEKI spent time living in Singapore when he was an infant and KUREI lived in Canada/Europe from when he was 5 until he was 9. KUREI also went to the Yokohama International School from age 9 and was an exchange student to Tasmania when he was 13. The pair separated for university: KUREI left for America and studied medical sciences at Syracuse University in New York State, while ISEKI stayed in the province and studied law at Meiji Gakuin University at Yokohama.

In May 2005, the pair formed Kimaguren. Originally it was to be a solo project featuring only ISEKI, but KUREI also joined (he had wanted to be in a band since he was 17). ISEKI's original name for his solo project was Kimagure (きまぐれ; Whim), but at one of their early performances at live houses, their name appeared by mistake as Kimaguren (キマグレン) (with an extra letter and in katakana), and hence they decided to use this name instead. Their first release was in March 2006 with the single "Omoi Omoi", which they self-released.

In July 2007, the pair released their first mini-album titled LIFE under the indies label UNDER HORSE RECORDS (known for such acts as MONKEY MAJIK and GReeeeN). In summer of 2007 they were signed to the major label Universal Music Japan, and songs from this mini-album started to receive tie-ups (most notably "Tokoshie", NTT DoCoMo and Sony Ericsson commercial song, which was added to the massively successful compilation album Ai no Uta). In February 2008 they major debuted with the single "Aenai Uta", and later in May became widely successful after their single "LIFE" (a cut from their first mini-album) was used as the au Smart Sports CM song. Their first album ZUSHI was released in July.

Trivia

Kimaguren with May J. (2009)

Kimaguren promoting "Remember" (2010)

Kimaguren promoting "Hotarubi" (2011)

• Despite the band being proud of coming from Zushi, KUREI was actually born in Niigata.
• When making music, they keep in mind three aspects (all starting with L): Life, Love and Local.
• Japanese Fans have named themselves Kimagurangers (キマグレンジャー)

Discography

Albums

• [2008.07.16] ZUSHI
• [2009.06.17] Sora×Shounen (空×少年; Sky×Boy)
• [2010.07.14] ALIVE
• [2011.08.17] LOVE+LIFE+LOCAL
• [2014.07.30] LOVE & BEACH

Best Albums

• [2012.07.11] ON THE BEACH ~Kimagure BEST~ (きまぐれBEST)
• [2015.07.01] LAST SUMMER DAYS ~KimagureBEST~ (きまぐれBEST)

Mini-Albums

• [2007.07.25] LIFE (indies)

Singles

• [2006.03.18] Omoi Omoi (想い思い; Thoughts, Thoughts) (self-produced)
• [2008.02.20] Aenai Uta (あえないウタ; Tragic Song)
• [2008.05.14] LIFE
• [2008.11.19] Ai NEED (愛NEED; I Need Love)
• [2009.03.04] Tengoku no Yuubin Post (天国の郵便ポスト; Postal Service of Heaven)
• [2009.06.17] Kimi no Inai Sekai (君のいない世界; The World Without You)
• [2009.11.11] SMILE
• [2010.06.16] Remember (リメンバー)
• [2011.04.20] IT'S MY Yuuki (IT'S MY 勇気; It's My Courage)
• [2011.07.20] Hotarubi (蛍灯)
• [2012.06.06] Baton (バトン)
• [2014.06.04] Saigo no Natsu (最後の夏; Last Summer)

Split Singles

• [2012.12.12] YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! ~100-mannin de Tsukurou Genki no Uta~ (KAN + Kimaguren + Hitoto Yo)

Digital Singles

• [2013.03.13] Ayumi (歩)
• [2013.12.04] LIFE (HIKAKIN Remix)
• [2014.09.24] Wakamonotachi (若者たち)
• [2015.06.03] LIFE (Last Summer ver.)

Compilations / Other

• [2008.07.23] RYTHEM - Love Call / Akari no Arika
• [2008.10.01] RYTHEM - 23
• [2008.11.19] Fuji TV Kei Drama "Room of King" Original Soundtrack (#1 Ai NEED (A.Sax ver.) #3 Yakusoku no Oka (A.G. ver.), #5 Hanarete Wakarukoto (Steel Pan ver.), #7 Ai NEED (Strings ver.), #9 P.S. (S.Sax ver.), #11 Reset Button (Techno Edit), #13 Aenai Uta (Piano ver.), #15 Ai NEED (A.G. ver), #17 Dame Otoko (Dame Dame ver.), #19 Ai NEED (Piano ver.))
• [2009.03.25] CHAGE - Many Happy Returns (#9 Lennon no Miscasting with Kimaguren)
• [2009.05.27] May J. - FAMILY
• [2009.07.22] BOOMANIA ~THE BOOM SPECIAL BEST COVERS~ (#3 Tsuri ni Ikou)
• [2009.07.22] Jason Mraz - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. (#14 I'm Yours featuring Kimaguren live at Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall) (Japanese edition only)
• [2009.08.05] Orchestra De La Luz - Salsa Shokudo ~Nihon Latin Ka Keikaku!~ (#1 LIFE)
• [2010.09.01] MEGARYU - Megaton Kick
• [2010.12.01] Ai no Uta WINTER REMIX (#2 LIFE (DAISHI DANCE remix.))
• [2011.01.12] We Love Mackey (#2 Donna Toki Mo)
• [2011.11.23] THE BOOM - Yocchabare (DVD #3 Tsuri ni Ikou feat. Kimaguren (from BOOMANIA LIVE AT Osaka Jo Yagai Ongaku do 2010.5.5))
• [2011.12.21] Kotoba ni Dekinai ~Oda Kazumasa Best Covers~ (#1 KimaguRake - Kirakira)
• [2013.01.30] Relaxing Piano Solo meets TV Drama (#8 Ai NEED (Piano ver.))

Other Video Releases

• [2009.06.17] Ai no Uta DVD (アイのうたDVD) (#4 LIFE)
• [2010.04.21] Bank Band with Great Artists - Live & Documentary DVD "ap bank fes '09" (Disc 3 #2 Ai NEED)
• [2011.07.27] Setting Sun Sound Festival in Amami (#15 Endless Summer, #16 Suki, #17 LIFE, #18 Remember, #19 Shounen Jidai (Kimaguren + Kasarinchu), #24 DI! (All Members), #25 Rokuchou (All Members))

Works

Publications

Photobooks

• [2009.06.17] HONDAMA ~Hon Tamashii~ (～本魂～)
• [2010.12.03] 「TOUR 2010～ALIVE～」LIVE PHOTOBOOK

Magazines

• [2012.06.30] Fine (Cover & Feature)

External Links

• Official Website
• Universal Music Official Profile
• Official Blog