Ichiro Mizuki

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Ichiro Mizuki (水木一郎, Mizuki Ichirō^?)
Ichiro Mizuki (live performance in 2007)
Background information
Birth name	Toshio Hayakawa (早川俊夫, Hayakawa Toshio^?)
Also known as	Aniki, Ichirou Mizuki
Born	January 7, 1948 (1948-01-07) (age 60)
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genre(s)	Anison, J-pop, Japanese rock, R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer, Lyrist, Composer, Voice actor, Actor
Years active	1968-present
Label(s)	Columbia Japan First Smile Entertainment Victor Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment
Associated acts	JAM Project (2000 - 2002)
Website	Ichirou Mizuki Official Website

Ichiro Mizuki (also Ichirou Mizuki) (水木一郎, Mizuki Ichirō^?, January 7, 1948–), born Toshio Hayakawa (早川俊夫, Hayakawa Toshio^?), is a famous, highly prolific Japanese vocalist, lyrist, composer, voice actor and actor best known for his work on theme songs for Tokusatsu and Anime, having performed numerous theme songs for Japanese film, television, video and video games. He is referred to by fans and fellow performers alike as the aniki (アニキ, aniki^? "big brother") of the anison, or anime music genre. As such, he is popular known as "Aniki", an informal way of referring to an older brother. In terms of fame, he is only rivalled by a handful of anison singers, most of whom joined him in forming the group JAM Project.

In July 1968, Mizuki released his first single called "Kimi ni sasageru Boku no Uta" and this song was composed by Kanae Wada. Later, he is perhaps most famous for his earlier performances: the opening theme songs of the Go Nagai animated television series Mazinger Z, Leiji Matsumoto's Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Tatsunoko Productions' Tekkaman: The Space Knight — Mazinger Z would later give birth to the Super Robot genre of anime that dominated the Japanese television landscape of the 1970s.

On July 19, 2000, he formed (with fellow anison vocalists Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endoh, Eizo Sakamoto, and Rica Matsumoto) the "supergroup" JAM Project. (Effective August 2002, he has since reduced his formal status in this group to "part-time member" and now focuses on producing both the group and up-and-coming talent.)

His most recent performance was STORMBRINGER, the opening of Kotetsushin Jeeg (as part of JAM Project). Fittingly enough, Kotetsushin Jeeg is a sequel to Steel Jeeg, an anime which Mizuki sang the opening theme for.

1 Acting roles
2 Discography
- 2.1 Single
- 2.2 Album
3 Notable anime and tokusatsu theme song performances
4 Books
5 External links

[edit] Acting roles

In addition to his vocalist career, Mizuki has been cast in several roles as both a seiyū and a live-action actor. As a voice actor, he played the roles of Yoldo in the first episode of the OVA Dangaioh, Rat Hector in Koraru no Tanken, and the villain Keisar Ephes in the video game Super Robot Wars Alpha 3. His live-action roles include Dr. Ben in Jikuu Senshi Spielban and (most notably) Voicelugger Gold in Voicelugger, a Tokusatsu show based on the last concept written by Shotaro Ishinomori before his death. He played the title character Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo in the first Playstation 2 game of the series, as well as singing the theme song.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Single

"I Dedicate this Song to You" (君にささげる僕の歌, Kimi ni sasageru Boku no Uta^?) July, 1968
"Nobody's Sea" (誰もいない海, Dare mo inai Umi^?, April, 1970)
"Missing Heroes ~I'll Never Forget You!~" (懐かしくってヒーロー～I'll Never Forget You!～, Natsukashikutte Hīrō ~I'll Never Forget You!~^?, November 21, 1990)
"Missing Heroes PartII ~We'll Be Together Forever!~" (懐かしくってヒーロー・PartII～We'll Be Together Forever!～, Natsukashikutte Hīrō Pāto Tsū ~We'll Be Together Forever!~^?, June 1, 1992)
"SEISHUN FOR YOU ~Song of Youth~ (SEISHUN FOR YOU～青春の詩～, SEISHUN FOR YOU ~Seishun no Uta~^?, January 21, 1994)
"221B Senki Single Version" (221B戦記シングルバージョン, 221B Senki Shinguru Bājon^?, September 3, 1997)
"Golden Rule ~You Still Lose!~/Look at the Stars in the Heavens at Night" (Golden Rule～君はまだ負けてない!～／見上げてごらん夜の星を, Golden Rule ~Kimi wa mada Maketenai!~/Miage te goran Yoru no Hoshi o^?, September 1, 1999)
"Goushaku! Choujin Neiger ~Kendaga omedaji~" (豪石!超神ネイガー~見だがおめだぢ~) / "Tooi Kaze no Naka de" (遠い風の中で) (June 7, 2006)

[edit] Album

"OTAKEBI Sanjou! Hoeru Otoko Ichiro Mizuki Best" (OTAKEBI参上!吠える男水木一郎ベスト) (June 21, 1989)
"Ichiro Mizuki OTAKEBI 2" (水木一郎 OTAKEBI2) (May 1, 1990)
"Ichiro Mizuki All Hits Vol.1" (水木一郎大全集Vol.1) (September 1, 1990)
"Ichiro Mizuki All Hits Vol.2" (水木一郎大全集Vol.2) (February 21, 1991)
"Ichiro Mizuki Ballade Collection ~SASAYAKI~ Vol.1" (水木一郎バラード・コレクション～SASAYAKI～Vol.1) (April 21, 1991)
"Ichiro Mizuki All Hits Vol.3" (水木一郎大全集Vol.3) (August 21, 1991)
"Ichiro Mizuki All Hits Vol.4" (水木一郎大全集Vol.4) (February 21, 1992)
"Ichiro Mizuki All Hits Vol.5" (水木一郎大全集Vol.5) (August 21, 1992)
"Dear Friend" (April 21, 1993), with Mitsuko Horie
"Ichiro Mizuki no Tanoshii Asobi Uta" (水木一郎のたのしいあそびうた) (January 21, 1994)
"Ichiro Mizuki Best & Best" (水木一郎ベスト&ベスト) (August 19, 1995)
"ROBONATION Ichiro Mizuki Super Robot Complete" (ROBONATION 水木一郎スーパーロボットコンプリート) (July 19, 1997)
"Neppuu Densetsu" (熱風伝説) (March 21, 1998)
"Neppuu Gaiden -Romantic Master Pieces-" (熱風外伝-Romantic Master Pieces-) (January 30, 1999)
"Aniki Jishin ~30th Anniversary BEST~" (アニキ自身~30th Anniversary BEST~) (November 21, 2001)
"Ichiro Mizuki Best of Aniking -Red Spirits-" (水木一郎ベスト・オブ・アニキング -赤の魂-) (August 4, 2004)
"Ichiro Mizuki Best of Aniking -Blue Spirits-" (水木一郎ベスト・オブ・アニキング -青の魂-) (October 6, 2004)
"Dear Friend 2007 ~Futari no Anison~" (Dear Friend 2007 ~ふたりのアニソン~) (December 26, 2007)
"Debut 40th Anniversary: Ichiro Mizuki Best" (デビュー40周年記念水木一郎ベスト) (February 27, 2008)

[edit] Notable anime and tokusatsu theme song performances

Geshi Shonen Ryuu Opening theme
Barom One Opening and Ending theme
Kikaider ("Haikaider's song" insert theme)
Mazinger Z Opening and Ending theme
Babel II Opening and Ending theme
Kamen Rider V3 First Ending theme
Inazuman Ending theme
Kamen Rider X Opening and Ending Theme
Great Mazinger Opening and Ending theme
Kamen Rider Stronger Opening and Ending Theme
Tekkaman: The Space Knight Opening and Ending theme
Steel Jeeg Opening and Ending theme
Akumaizer 3 Opening and Ending theme
Combattler V Opening and Ending theme
Ninja Captor Opening and Ending theme (with Mitsuko Horie)
Magne Robo Gakeen Opening and Ending theme (with Mitsuko Horie)
Kaiketsu Zubat Opening and Ending theme
Mechander Robo Opening and Ending theme
Hyouga Senshi Gaislugger Opening theme
Voltes V Ending theme
Superhuman Combat Team Baratack Opening theme
Arrow emblem grand prix no taka Opening and Ending Theme
Captain Harlock Opening and Ending Theme
Lupin III (1978) Ending Theme
New Kamen Rider (Skyrider) Opening and Ending Theme
Golion Opening and Ending theme
Game Center Arashi Opening theme
Jikuu Senshi Spielban Opening and two Ending Themes
Choujinki Metalder Ending Theme
Getter Robo Armageddon First Opening theme
Shin Getter Robo vs Neo Getter Robo Opening and Ending theme (as part of JAM Project)
Hero Hero-kun Opening theme
Soul Taker Opening theme (as part of JAM Project)
Godannar Opening theme (2nd season, with Mitsuko Horie)
Mahou Sentai Magiranger Legend Magiranger's Theme
Chō Ninja Tai Inazuma! Opening Theme
Juken Sentai Gekiranger Ending Theme
Kotetsushin Jeeg Opening theme (as part of JAM Project)
Zebraman Theme "TV" theme

He has also sung cover versions of many other famous anime songs, including the Macross theme and assorted songs from the Gundam franchise.

[edit] Books

Hitoshi Hasebe: "Anison - Kashu Ichiro Mizuki Sanjuu Shuunen Kinen Nekketsu Shashinshuu" (兄尊(アニソン)―歌手水木一郎三十周年記念熱血写真集) (1999, Oakla Publishing) ISBN 4-8727-8461-8
Ichiro Mizuki & Project Ichiro: "Aniki Damashii ~Anime Song no Teiou / Mizuki Ichirou no Sho~" (アニキ魂~アニメソングの帝王・水木一郎の書~) (2000, Aspect) ISBN 4-7572-0719-0