generasia:Featured article for 2011 week 41

MIYAVI

MIYAVI (雅-miyavi-, real name Ishihara Takamasa) is the ex-guitarist of Due'le Quartz. Miyavi, while in Due'le Quartz, was known as Miyabi (meaning "elegant"). His position in the band was that of guitarist and, occasionally, background vocals. He was the youngest member of the band, joining in 1999 at age 17, and developed the "youthful and flamboyant" image he still carries on today in his solo career, albeit it has been tweaked a bit. Due'le Quartz disbanded in September of 2002, with Miyabi following up shortly afterwards with the announcement of his solo career.

Miyabi appeared on TV to promote his debut album, Gagaku, also stressing the name change from "Miyabi" to "Miyavi." He continued to stress this change on into the first year of his solo career. It wasn't long before he had amassed a very large fanbase, despite having lost some of his old fanbase from his Due'le Quartz days, going on to release multiple singles and another album. About two years later, in late 2004, he was signed (or "married" as Universal and he had jokingly put it) to Universal Records Japan, making the transition from Indies to major. It was then that he made a second name change to MYV. As previously stated, however, it appears to be a shortened version of "Miyavi," as he still appears in magazines (and is listed on his website) as "Miyavi." His release, Rock no Gyakushuu -Super Star no Jouken-, marked his major debut.

STRONG, MIYAVI's 19th single (12th major label single) was released on October 5, 2011.