Tomoyasu Hotei

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Tomoyasu Hotei

Background information
Birth name Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋寅泰 Hotei Tomoyasu?)
Born February 1, 1962 (age 45)
Origin Flag of Japan Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Genre(s) Japanese rock
Occupation(s) Guitarist, singer, composer, lyricist, actor
Instrument(s) Guitar, singing
Years active 1981 - present
Label(s) Toshiba-EMI
Associated
acts		 Blue Film (amateur)
Boøwy (1981 - 1988)
Complex (1988 - 1990)
Website http://www.hotei.com/pc/jp/index.html

Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋寅泰 Hotei Tomoyasu, born on February 1, 1962 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture) is a Japanese musician, guitarist and actor.

Contents

[edit] Biography

At 190cm (6 foot, 3 inches), Tomoyasu Hotei is one of the most intimidating people in the Japanese music world. This image has also been put to good use when casting him as the villain in movies and TV commercials, most notably as the sinister man in black chasing Masatoshi Nagase in the Boss coffee ads. Over a long musical career as a guitarist with one of Japan's legendary rock bands, guest artist and solo performer, he has developed a worldwide reputation as Japan's premier axeman and has sold over 25 million albums. Possessing strong skills as both a guitarist and songwriter, he has played in various configurations and styles, but has always been a rocker at heart.

Hotei first began playing the guitar in junior high school. In high school, his band "Blue Film" finished runners up in a school contest to "Death Penalty", a band led by Kyosuke Himuro. Hotei was expelled shortly before graduation. The reason was that, when warned about his long hair he replied "Jesus had long hair!" Shortly after, he went to Tokyo where one day he received a phone call from Himuro. The two had never really known each other but hit it off and went on to hold auditions for a new band, which in 1981 became the six-member Boøwy. The band became major stars in Japan, in 1985 played the Marquee in London, and in 1986 had their first million seller, "Beat Emotion".

The cover of Tomoyasu Hotei's Guitarhythm, released in 1988
The cover of Tomoyasu Hotei's Guitarhythm, released in 1988

When the band broke up in 1988, Hotei established himself as a solo star, as did Boøwy singer Kyosuke Himuro. Hotei also made two albums with Koji Kikkawa as Complex, both of which went to number one in the national charts. Hotei frequently records overseas, and has collaborated with many foreign musicians, including playing on the Stranglers Hugh Cornwell's '93 solo album, on stage with David Bowie at Nippon Budokan in '96, and at the Closing Ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games with Michael Kamen.

He later recorded "Guitar Concerto" with Kamen. He has also worked with Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, guitarist Chris Spedding and Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones. Hotei also sometimes plays in Europe, and performances include a number of major festival dates. His regular drummer in recent years, Zachary Alford, has previously played with Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie. His album of 1998 "Supersonic Generation", recorded in part with Apollo 440 and Ofra Haza, was released in 14 European countries.

In addition to releasing many best-selling solo albums, Hotei composed & performed the score for Hiroyuki Nakano's Samurai Fiction, as well as starring in the film. Tomoyasu Hotei's songs have also appeared on the soundtrack to 1998's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and the song "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" was used in the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill, and has quickly become an anthemic staple of consumer music. Hotei recorded a cover of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" for Merry Axemas, an instrumental guitar Christmas album featuring tracks from guitarists including Jeff Beck, Joe Perry and Steve Vai. In 2005 his song "Thrill" was used in the Nintendo DS music video game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan.

Tomoyasu Hotei's wife, Miki Imai is also a popular singer and actress.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

a collaboration with Rip Slyme.
a collaboration with Brian Setzer.
a collaboration with Char.

[edit] Albums

[edit] Compilations

[edit] Live albums

[edit] Videography

[edit] Trivia

  • "Thrill" is one of the songs in the music game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
  • "Battle Without Honor or Humanity " was featured in the movie Kill Bill and the game Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA CS, as well as Pop'n Music 13 Carnival CS. It also made an appearance in a first season episode of My Name Is Earl, and has been used in a variety of automobile ad campaigns worldwide.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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