| Free-Will | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Hiroshi Tomioka |
| Status | Active |
| Distributor(s) | In Japan:Avex Group, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Universal Music Group, King Records, Tokuma Japan Communications, Pony Canyon In Europe:Gan-Shin, CLJ Records, Universal Music Group |
| Genre | Rock, metal |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Official Website | www.free-will.co.jp |
Free-Will is a Japanese independent record label founded in 1986 with branches predominantly in Japan and the United States, as well as in Europe previously.[1] It manages, among others, several visual kei themed rock bands and also continues to co-manage many of its artists after they have signed recording contracts with one of the major record labels. The label also produced the 2001 anime adaptation of the long running manga series Grappler Baki.
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The company operates several sub-divisions, some of them for a single band or purpose only. For example, Firewall Div. solely handles material which is released in collaboration with Sony Music.
On September 14, 2007, the label's founder Hiroshi "Dynamite Tommy" Tomioka was arrested, along with fellow Free-Will official Kazunori Murasaki and Koichi Kaku, a former employee of the Asatsu-DK advertising agency. The trio is accused of defrauding the agency of 324 million yen (approximately US$ 2.8 million) by appearing to order the agency to produce music videos, which were then delegated to subcontract firms. Kaku has since confessed to the charges, while Tomioka denied any involvement.[2][3][4]