Kobukuro

Kobukuro promoting "TIMELESS WORLD" (2016)

Kobukuro (コブクロ) is a Japanese folk-pop band formed in 1998, and debuted in 1999 as an indies artist. In 2001 they signed up to Warner Music Japan.

Members

• Kobuchi Kentaro (小渕健太郎) - Vocal, guitar, blues harp, sanshin, finger whistle
• Kuroda Shunsuke (黒田俊介) - Vocal

Information

On May, 1998 Kobuchi Kentaro, while he was doing his salesman work for SANIX company, met Kuroda Shunsuke who was performing on the streets. On September of the same year Kobuchi offered a song to Kuroda, seeing he was not very good playing guitar, he took that place instead. This led Kuroda to propose to form a duo on September 8. With the duo already formed, they composed their first song "Sakura" (which was re-recorded on 2005).

The duo's name 'Kobukuro' came from a Portmanteau between their family names; Kobuchi and Kuroda.

Their first indies album, Saturday 8:pm, reached #1 on the HMV Indies Chart, while their next, Root of my mind, reached #2.

They were later signed up to Warner Music Japan in 2001, and debuted in March with the single "YELL / Bell", which reached #4 on Oricon charts. Though they steadily climbed in fame and success, their major break through single was "Koko ni Shika Sakanai Hana" in 2005, which was used as the theme song to the dorama Ruri no Shima. It was so successful that became the #15 single of the year. Their next single "Sakura" also continued on with the extreme success that they had gained, reaching #61 on the 2005 yearly charts, yet still charting highly throughout 2006. They had 2 albums in the top ten of 2006, being the only artist to do so. In October 13 of 2007 three million copies of the collection album ALL SINGLES BEST were shipped to stores, becoming the fourth male artist to do it, being preceded by B'z, Southern All Stars and GLAY.

In 2007 Kobuchi Kentaro produced the single "Taisetsu na Mono" sung by mitsuki. On December, 30, Kobukuro won the Grand Prix award at the 49th Japan Record Awards with the song "Tsubomi".

Discography

Kobukuro promoting "Niji" (2009)

Kobukuro promoting "Ryuusei" (2010)

Kobukuro promoting "Ano Taiyou ga, Kono Sekai wo Terashitsudukeru You ni." (2011)

Kobukuro promoting "Kami Hikkou" (2012)

Studio Albums

• [1999.07.21] Saturday 8:pm (indies)
• [2000.03.04] Root of my mind (indies)
• [2000.12.19] ANSWER (indies)
• [2001.08.29] Roadmade
• [2002.08.28] grapefruits
• [2003.11.06] STRAIGHT
• [2004.11.03] MUSIC MAN SHIP
• [2005.12.21] NAMELESS WORLD
• [2007.12.19] 5296
• [2009.08.05] CALLING
• [2013.12.18] One Song From Two Hearts
• [2016.06.15] TIMELESS WORLD
• [2021.08.04] Star Made

Best Albums

• [2006.09.27] ALL SINGLES BEST
• [2012.09.05] ALL SINGLES BEST 2
• [2018.12.05] ALL TIME BEST 1998-2018

Cover Albums

• [2010.08.25] ALL COVERS BEST

Boxes

• [2012.12.26] KOBUKURO BOX

Singles

• [2001.03.22] YELL〜Ēru〜 / Bell (〜エール〜; 〜Ale〜)
• [2001.06.20] Wadachi (轍-わだち-; Ruts)
• [2001.11.21] YOU / miss you
• [2002.02.14] Kaze (風; Wind)
• [2002.07.20] Negai no Uta / Taiyō (願いの詩 / 太陽; Song of the Wish / Sun)
• [2002.11.13] Yuki no Furanai Machi (雪の降らない街; The Town Where Snow Never Falls)
• [2003.04.09] Takarajima (宝島; Treasure Island)
• [2003.08.27] blue blue
• [2004.05.12] DOOR
• [2004.10.14] Eien ni Tomo ni / Million Films (永遠にともに; Together Forever)
• [2005.05.11] Koko ni Shika Sakanai Hana (ここにしか咲かない花; A Flower That Only Blooms Here)
• [2005.11.02] Sakura (桜; Cherry Blossom)
• [2006.07.26] Kimi to Iu Na no Tsubasa (君という名の翼; Wings That Are Named You)
• [2007.03.21] Tsubomi (蕾 (つぼみ); Flower Bud)
• [2007.11.07] Aoku Yasashiku (蒼く　優しく; Bluer, Gentler)
• [2008.10.29] Toki no Ashioto (時の足音; Footsteps of Time)
• [2009.04.15] Niji (虹; Rainbow)
• [2009.07.15] STAY
• [2010.11.17] Ryūsei (流星; Meteor)
• [2011.02.16] Blue Bird
• [2011.04.27] Ano Taiyō ga, Kono Sekai wo Terashi Tsudzukeru Yō ni (あの太陽が、この世界を照らし続けるように。; I Wish That Sun Continued Lighting up This World)
• [2012.11.28] Kami Hikōki (紙飛行機; Paper Plane)
• [2013.07.24] One Song From Two Hearts / Diamond (ダイヤモンド)
• [2014.02.19] Ima, Sakihokoru Hana Tachi yo (今、咲き誇る花たちよ; Now, The Flowers Bloom in Full Glory)
• [2014.06.04] Hidamari no Michi (陽だまりの道; Sunny Road)
• [2015.03.04] Kiseki (奇跡; Miracle)
• [2015.12.16] Mirai (未来; Future)
• [2017.05.24] Kokoro (心; Heart)
• [2018.04.11] ONE TIMES ONE
• [2018.11.04] Kaze wo Mitsumete (風をみつめて; Staring at the Wind)
• [2020.03.18] Sotsugyou (卒業; Graduation)
• [2020.10.14] Tomoru Inori (灯ル祈リ; Light Prayer)

Special Singles

• [2006.02.08] Sakura Spring Package (桜; Cherry Blossom)
• [2016.03.23] Mirai Spring Package (未来; Future)

Split Singles

• [2004.09.23] Maiasa, Boku no Yoko ni Ite. (毎朝、ボクの横にいて。; Every Morning, You Come to My Side) (Tokobukuro)
• [2007.02.28] WINDING ROAD (ayaka x Kobukuro)
• [2008.09.24] Anata to (あなたと; With You) (ayaka x Kobukuro)
• [2010.07.28] Taiyō no Melody (太陽のメロディー; The Melody of the Sun) (Imai Miki x Kobuchi Kentaro with Hotei Tomoyasu + Kuroda Shunsuke)

Digital Singles

• [2010.03.02] Layla
• [2012.01.27] Mitsubachi (Kobukuro) (蜜蜂; Bee)
• [2014.10.15] 42.195km
• [2014.11.08] Twilight
• [2015.04.20] hana
• [2016.02.10] SNIFF OUT!
• [2018.09.17] Harebare (晴々)
• [2019.12.04] OsakaSOUL (大阪SOUL)
• [2021.03.19] Sotsugyou (卒業) (SANA from TWICE × Kobukuro)

Video Releases

• [2004.03.24] Kobukuro LIVE! GO! LIFE! (コブクロ)
• [2005.04.06] LIVE TOUR '04 MUSIC MAN SHIP FINAL
• [2006.07.26] KOBUKURO LIVE at Budoukan NAMELESS WORLD (KOBUKURO LIVE at 武道館 NAMELESS WORLD)
• [2007.06.13] Kobukuro LIVE TOUR '06 "Way Back to Tomorrow" FINAL (コブクロ)
• [2008.10.08] LIVE TOUR '08 "5296" FINAL
• [2008.12.24] KOBUKURO FAN FESTA 2008〜10 YEARS SPECIAL!!!!
• [2010.04.21] KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR '09 "CALLING" FINAL
• [2011.04.13] KOBUKURO STADIUM LIVE 2010〜OSAKA・TOKYO・MIYAZAKI〜
• [2013.12.18] KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2013 "One Song From Two Hearts" FINAL at Kyocera Dome Osaka (KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2013 “One Song From Two Hearts” FINAL at 京セラドーム大阪)
• [2014.12,17] KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2014 “Hidamari no Michi” FINAL at Kyocera Dome Osaka (KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2014 “陽だまりの道” FINAL at 京セラドーム大阪)
• [2015.12.16] KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2015 “Kiseki” FINAL at Nippon Gaishi Hall (KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2015“奇跡”FINAL at 日本ガイシホール)
• [2017.07.05] KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2016 “TIMELESS WORLD” at Saitama Super Arena (KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2016 “TIMELESS WORLD” at さいたまスーパーアリーナ)
• [2018.05.16] KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2017 “Kokoro” at Hiroshima Green Arena (KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2017 “心” at 広島グリーンアリーナ)
• [2019.03.06] KOBUKURO WELCOME TO THE STREET 2018 ONE TIMES ONE FINAL at Kyocera Dome Osaka (KOBUKURO WELCOME TO THE STREET 2018 ONE TIMES ONE FINAL at 京セラドーム大阪)
• [2020.02.12] KOBUKURO 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2019 “ATB” at Kyocera Dome Osaka (KOBUKURO 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2019 “ATB” at 京セラドーム大阪)
• [2020.02.12] KOBUKURO 20TH ANNIVERSARY LIVE IN MIYAZAKI
• [2020.02.12] 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL BOX "MIYAZAKI" & "ATB"

Other Video Releases

• [2000.07.07] I'm Making Progress
• [2000.10.07] "Zeppu" 52.96 hectopascal (絶風)
• [2001.03.22] ANSWER
• [2005.03.30] Minna no Uta Best Hit Collection (#3 Towa ni Tomo ni)
• [2006.12.20] ap bank fes'06 (#6 Sakura)
• [2009.02.25] TANGE KOUKI VIDEO COLLECTION (#14 Tsubomi)
• [2009.02.25] Live & Documentary DVD "ap bank fes '08" (Disc 3 #8 Tsubomi)

Compilations / Other

• [2002.11.10] Heart Music Sasaji Produce Works (#3 YELL)
• [2003.08.13] Sato Chikuzen & Friends - introducing CROSS YOUR FINGERS (#7 Kokoro no EVER GREEN with Kobukuro)
• [2004.09.29] Sato Chikuzen - Mokuren no Namida / Tokyo City Serenade (#1 Mokuren no Namida with Kobukuro)
• [2004.10.27] THE HITS ~CORNERSTONES 3~ (#2 Mokuren no Namida with Kobukuro)
• [2005.08.03] Baba Tosihide - BOYS ON THE RUN 4 SONGS (Chorus)
• [2005.11.30] FIVE BITS STORY 2 (#1 Mokuren no Namida with Kobukuro)
• [2006.03.01] The Japan Gold Disc Award 2006 (#6 Koko ni Shika Sakanai Hana)
• [2007.01.25] Yell.Sakura ~Kobukuro Collection~ Relaxing Orgel
• [2007.03.07] Tokyo Tower Okan to Boku to, Tokidoki, Oton OST (#20 Tsubomi (instrumental))
• [2007.09.10] Relaxing Piano. Kobukuro Collection
• [2009.03.25] Sato Chikuzen - The Selection of Cornerstones 1995-2004 (#5 Mokuren no Namida with Kobukuro)
• [2009.03.25] Sato Chikuzen - THE HITS ~CORNERSTONES 3~ (#2 Mokuren no Namida with Kobukuro)
• [2009.07.22] Artist Series Music Box: Tsubomi
• [2009.09.18] Kokonishika Sakanai Hana / STAY ~Kobukuro Collection Alpha Wave Orgel Best~
• [2010.03.03] Kachofugetsu Shu (#1 Tsubomi)
• [2011.08.17] HOTEI with FELLOWS - ALL TIME SUPER GUEST (#7 YOU)
• [2013.03.06] UNICORN Covers (#6 Pink Prisoner)

Band

Current Band Members

• Drums, Timpani: Sakurai Masahiro (桜井正宏) (Maa-chan, Sakurai-san)
• Bass: Yamada Hiroyuki (山田裕之) (Yamada man)
• Guitar: Hamaguchi Kouchi (浜口高知) (Hamage)
• Organ, Piano: Matsuura Motoyoshi (松浦基悦) (Yoshi-san)

Former Band Members

• Organ, Piano: Fujii Rio (藤井理央) (RioRio, Rie-san) (2002~2006)
• Guitar: Nishiyama Tarou (西山太郎) (Tarosa) (2003~2006)
• Guitar: Suzuki Reishi (鈴木玲史) (2002~2003)

String Members

• 1st Violin: Urushihara Naomi (漆原直美)
• 2nd Violin: Fujinawa Yoko (藤縄陽子)
• Viola: Watanabe Tomoo (渡邉智生)
• Cello: Haraguchi Azusa (原口梓)

External Links

• Official Website
• Warner Music Japan Website