Kobukuro

Kobukuro promoting "One Song From Two Hearts / Diamond" (2013)

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

Best Albums

• [2006.09.27] ALL SINGLES BEST
• [2012.09.05] ALL SINGLES BEST 2

Cover Albums

• [2010.08.25] ALL COVERS BEST

Boxes

• [2012.12.26] KOBUKURO BOX

Singles

• [2001.03.22] YELL / Bell (YELL~エール~ / Bell)
• [2001.06.20] Wadachi (轍~わだち~; Rut)
• [2001.11.21] YOU / miss you
• [2002.02.14] Kaze (風; Wind)
• [2002.07.20] Negai no Uta / Taiyou (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] Towa ni Tomo ni / Million Films (永遠にともに / Million Films; 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)
• [2006.02.08] Sakura (Spring Package) (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, Kindly)
• [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] Ryuusei (流星; Meteor)
• [2011.02.16] Blue Bird
• [2011.04.27] Ano Taiyou ga, Kono Sekai wo Terashitsudukeru You 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 Hikkou (紙飛行機)
• [2013.07.24] One Song From Two Hearts / Diamond (One Song From Two Hearts / ダイヤモンド)

Split Singles

• [2004.09.23] Maiasa, Boku no Yoko ni Ite. (毎朝、ボクの横にいて。) (Tokobukuro)
• [2007.02.28] WINDING ROAD (ayaka x Kobukuro)
• [2008.09.24] Anata to (あなたと; With You) (ayaka x Kobukuro)

Digital Singles

• [2010.03.02] Layla
• [2012.01.27] Mitsubachi (蜜蜂; Bee)

Video Releases

• [2000.07.07] I'm Making Progress
• [2000.10.07] "Zeppu" 52.96 hectopascal (絶風)
• [2001.03.22] ANSWER
• [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~

Other Video Releases

• [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)
• [2010.07.28] Imai Miki x Kobuchi Kentaro with Hotei Tomoyasu + Kuroda Shunsuke - Taiyou no Melody
• [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