Kobukuro

Kobukuro promoting Niji (2009)

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

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Kobukuro (1999)

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Kobukuro (2003)

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Kobukuro (2005)

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Kobukuro (2006)

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Kobukuro (2007)

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
• [2006.09.27] ALL SINGLES BEST
• [2007.12.19] 5296

Singles

• [2001.03.22] YELL / Bell (YELL~エール~)
• [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; 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)

Collaborations

• [2004.09.23] Maiasa, Boku no Yoko ni Ite. (毎朝、ボクの横にいて。) (Tokobukuro)
• [2004.09.29] Mokuren no Namida / Tokyo City Serenade (木蘭の涙 / トーキョー・シティ・セレナーデ) (#1 Mokuren no Namida)
• [2007.02.28] WINDING ROAD (ayaka x Kobukuro (絢香×コブクロ))
• [2008.09.24] Anata to (あなたと; With You) (ayaka x Kobukuro (絢香×コブクロ))

VHS

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

DVD

• [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!!!!

Compilations / Others

• [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-)
• [2004.10.27] THE HITS ~CORNERSTONES 3~ (#2 Mokuren no Namida (with Kobukuro))
• [2005.03.30] Minna no Uta Best Hit Collection (DVD) (#3 Towa ni Tomo ni)
• [2005.08.03] Baba Tosihide - BOYS ON THE RUN 4 SONGS (Chorus)
• [2005.11.30] FIVE BITS STORY 2 (DVD)(#1 Mokuren no Namida (with Kobukuro))
• [2006.03.01] The Japan Gold Disc Award 2006 (#6 Koko ni Shika Sakanai Hana)
• [2006.12.20] ap bank fes'06 (DVD) (#6 Sakura)
• [2007.01.25] Yell.Sakura ~Kobukuro Collection~ Relaxing Orgel (YELL～エール・桜～コブクロ・コレクション)
• [2007.03.07] Tokyo Tower Okan to Boku to, Tokidoki, Oton OST (#20 Tsubomi (instrumental))
• [2007.09.10] Relaxing Piano. Kobukuro Collection (Relaxing Piano コブクロ・コレクション)

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 Profile
• Oricon Profile