Sambomaster


Sambomaster is a Japanese rock band signed by Sony Music Japan. The band's name, Sambomaster, refers to the Russian martial art called Sambo.

History

Lead vocalist and guitarist Takashi Yamaguchi first met drummer Yasufumi Kiuchi a few years back, at a university music club they were both members of. The duo ran into bassist Yoichi Kondo during February 2000, and the three went on to officially form the band now known as Sambomaster. They made their debut at a live house in Tokyo's Kōenji district and soon followed this up with the self-production of their first single "Kick no Oni", which they spent nearly a year working on. It was subsequently released in April 2001 as a limited edition of 300 copies. For the first time, listeners outside of a live show were presented with vocalist and frontman Yamaguchi's vocals, which shift between a soft, sandpaper-like melodic voice to all-out screaming madness. Sambomaster's musical style is a blend of punk/classic rock, pop, jazz and rock ballads.
The year 2003 saw the release of their very first major-label album, Atarashiki Nihongo Rock no Michi to Hikari and a live performance at the Fuji Rock festival's Rookie GO GO. This led to a huge rise in their success and more widespread notoriety. They have been gathering acclaim from both critics and regular listeners ever since.
In 2004 and 2005, Sambomaster released the majority of their hit singles including "Seishun Kyōsōkyoku" and "Sekai wa Sore wo Ai to Yobundaze"; "Seishun Kyōsōkyoku" was used as the fifth opening theme to the hit anime series Naruto, and "Sekai wa sore Ai to Yobunda ze" ended up being the ending theme to the popular Japanese television drama Densha Otoko. They were also asked to do the main theme to the movie Koi no Mon, which became the song Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no. Recently, their song Hikari no Rock was featured as the single for the film . In March 2009, their song "Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite" was announced to be the nineteenth ending song in the hit anime series Bleach. In 2010, they performed the ending theme for the Kuragehime anime, "Kimi no Kirei ni Kizuite Okure".

Parody

In March 2005, 3 members of the television variety show :ja:はねるのトびら|Haneru no Tobira filmed a comedy sketch called "Busambomaster". The sketch featured a music video parody of the 3 Haneru members pretending to be Sambomaster, playing a Sambomaster-style song called "Iitai koto mo iezuni". However, the 3 Haneru members also made their faces look like caricatures of Yamaguchi, Kiuichi, and Kondo, with features such as enlarged nostrils, buck teeth, and profuse sweating. The lyrics of the song were also made to humiliate lead vocalist Yamaguchi's tendency to scream his thoughts out to fans before and after songs. Many Sambomaster fans were offended by the song, and after much protesting, Haneru no Tobira eventually apologized on their show.

Members

Takashi Yamaguchi
Yasufumi Kiuchi
Yoichi Kondo

Discography

Singles

"Kick no Oni"
  1. Introduction
  2. Kung-fu Rock
  3. Golden Circle no Ornette Coleman
  4. Kick no Oni
  5. Saikyō Cyclone
  6. Tsunagari
  7. Sambomaster no Kyūjitsu
  8. YUrnero prO
"Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi"
  1. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
  2. Netchū Jidai
  3. Dandan
  4. Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
"Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no"
  1. Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
  2. Tegami
  3. Itoshiki Hibi
  4. Hito wa Sore o Jounetsu to Yobu
"Seishun Kyōsōkyoku"
  1. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
  2. Tsunagari
  3. Ame
  4. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
"Utagoe yoo kore"
  1. Utagoe yoo kore
  2. Sad Ballad no Sekai
  3. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
"Sekai wa Sore wo Ai to Yobundaze"
  1. Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze
  2. Atsui Suna to Warui Ame
  3. Boku ni Sasagu
"Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tamborine o Narasu no da"
  1. Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tambourine o Narasu no da
  2. Ano Kane o Narasu no wa Anata
  3. Hanarenai Futari
"Tegami"
  1. Tegami: Kitarubeki Ongaku to Shite
  2. Get Back Sambomaster
  3. Yoyogi nite
"Itoshisa to Kokoro no Kabe"
  1. Itoshisa to Kokoro no Kabe
  2. Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze
"I Love You"
  1. I Love You
  2. Beibi Beibi Su
  3. Coaster
  4. Kyōkai Mae Tōri
"Very Special!!"
  1. Very Special!!
  2. Ubai Toru Koto Nitsuite
  3. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
"Hikari no Rock"
  1. Hikari no Rock
  2. Hikari no Rock
"Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite"
  1. Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite
  2. Akashi
  3. Boku wa Jiyuu
  4. Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite
"Rabu Songu"
  1. Rabu Songu
  2. Sekai wo Kaesasete okure yo
  3. Rabu Songu
  4. Sekai wo Kaesasete okure yo
"Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha"
  1. Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha
  2. Pop Life
  3. Boku no Namae wa Blues to iimasu
  4. Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha
"Kimi ni Kirei no Kizuite okure"
  1. Kimi ni Kirei no Kizuite okure
  2. Introduction
  3. Sekai wo Kaesasete okure yo
  4. Zanzou
  5. Kore de Jiyuu ni natta no Da
  6. MC
  7. Love Song
  8. Sono Nukumori ni You ga aru
  9. Dekikkonai wo Yaranakucha
"Kibo no Michi"
  1. Kibo bo Michi
  2. Intro
  3. Utagoe yo okore
  4. Tsuki ni saku Hana no You ni naru no
  5. MC 1
  6. Baby Yasashi Yoru ga Kitte
  7. Sayounara Baby
  8. Sekai wa sore wo Ai to Yobunda ze
  9. MC 2
  10. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
  11. Outro

    Albums

Atarashiki Nihongo Rock no Michi to Hikari
Sambomaster wa kimi ni katarikakeru
Boku to Kimi no Subete o Rock 'n Roll to Yobe
Ongaku no Kodomo wa Mina Utau
Kimi no Tameni Tsuyoku Naritai

Concert DVDs

Atarashiki Nihongo Rock o Kimi ni Katarikakeru: Sambomaster Shoki no Live Eizōshū
A UMD version with the same track list was released on November 30, 2005.
  1. Kung-fu Rock: Aware na Bobu Isoide Ike yo
  2. Itoshiki Hibi: Futari
  3. Zanzō
  4. Yogisha de Yattekita Aitsu: Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
  5. Yogisha de Yattekita Aitsu
  6. Hito wa Sore o Jonetsu to Yobu
  7. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
  8. Itoshiki Hibi
  9. Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
  10. Asa
  11. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
  12. Tegami
  13. Yokubō Rock
  14. Sayonara Baby
  15. Utagoe yoo kore
  16. Korede Jiyū ni Natta no Da
  17. Shūmatsu Soul
  18. Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
  19. Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
Atarashiki Nihongo Rock no Video Clip Collection
  1. Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
  2. Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
  3. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
  4. Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
  5. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
  6. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
  7. Utagoe yo Okore
  8. Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze
  9. Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tambourine o Narasu no da
  10. Tegami: Kitarubeki Ongaku to Shite
  11. Making Clip – Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
  12. Making Clip – Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze
  13. Making Clip – Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tambourine o Narasu no da
  14. TV Commercial
Boku to Kimi no subete wa Hibiya yagahi Ongaku-do de Utae
  1. Futari bocchi no Sekai
  2. Zetsubou to Yokubou to Otokonoko to Onnanoko
  3. Itoshisa to Kokoro no Kabe
  4. Utagoe yo okore
  5. Futatsu no Namida
  6. Sekai wa sore wo Ai to Yobunda ze
  7. Sensou to Boku
  8. Boku to kimi no subete wa Atarashiki Uta de Utae
  9. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
  10. Subete no Yoru to subete no Asa ni Tanbarin wo Narasu no da
  11. Tegami
  12. Sono Nukumori ni You ga aru
  13. Nanigenakute idaina kimi
  14. Tsuki ni saku Hana no You ni Naru no
  15. Seishun Kyousoukyoku
  16. Asa
Sekai rokku senbatsu fainaru zenkyoku yatte ura natsu fesu o buttobashita hi
  1. Utagoe yo okore
  2. Zanzou
  3. Kore de Jiyuu ni natta no Da
  4. Hito wa sore wo Jounetsu to Yobu
  5. Sayounara Baby
  6. Very Special!!
  7. Tsunagari
  8. Konoyo no Hate
  9. Omoide wa Yogisha ni notte
  10. Ano musume no mizugi ni natte mitai noda
  11. Zetsubou to Yokubou to Otokonoko to Onnanoko
  12. Sad ballad no Sekai
  13. Futari bocchi no Sekai
  14. Boku to Kimi no subete wa Atarashiki Uta de Utae
  15. Futari
  16. Netchu Jidai
  17. Seishun Kyousoukyoku
  18. Asa
  19. Anata ga hito o uragirunara boku wa dare ka o koroshite shimatta sa
  20. Sekai wa soredemo Shizun de Ikundaze
  21. Yogisha de yattekita aitsu
  22. Muffler no Yoreru Aida ni
  23. Oh Baby
  24. Yoru ga Aketara
  25. Yoyogi ni te
  26. Baby Baby Sue
  27. Baby Yasashi Yoru ga Kitte
  28. Dan Dan
  29. Kyoukai Mae Toori
  30. Ubai toru koto nitsuite
  31. Coaster
  32. Soredemo Kamawanai
  33. Boku ni Sasagu
  34. Kimi no Koe wa Boku no Koi Boku wo Na wa Kimi no Yoru
  35. Shoumatsu soul
  36. Ano kane o Narasu no wa anata
  37. Itoshiki Hibi
  38. Hanarae nai Futari
  39. Futatsu no Namida
  40. Yokubou rock
  41. Get back Sambomaster
  42. Tokyo no Yoru sayounara
  43. Atsui suna to warui Ame
  44. Sensou to Boku
  45. Ame
  46. Nanigenakute idaina Kimi
  47. I love you
  48. Shinnon Fukei
  49. Tegami
  50. Itoshisato Kokoro no Kabe
  51. Utsushiki Ningen no Hibi
  52. Subete no Yoru to subete no Asa ni Tanbarin wo Narasu no Da
  53. Tsuki ni saku Hana no You ni naru no
  54. Sekai wa sore wo Ai to Yobunda ze
  55. Sono Nukumori ni You ga aru

    Other albums

Hōkago no Seishun
Sambomaster appeared in a split album with the band Onanie Machine. This is the first appearance of some of Sambomaster's future hit songs, such as "Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi", "Tegami", and "Sononukumori ni Yō ga Aru". The versions on this album feature only Takeshi, Yasufumi, and Yoichi playing the songs. Later versions, such as the versions on their singles and albums, were touched up, polished, re-mixed, and sometimes re-recorded with extra musicians. In a sense, the songs on this album are the "original" versions. Sambomaster songs are tracks 6 to 10 below:
  1. Mendokusee
  2. Lovewagon
  3. Boku wa Stalker
  4. Soshiki
  5. Pokochin
  6. Sayonara Baby
  7. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
  8. Tegami
  9. Futari
  10. Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
E.V. Junkies II "Guitarocking"

Sambomaster has 2 songs on this compilation album, tracks 9 and 14 below. "Itoshiki Hibi: Country Sad Ballad ver." is a version with Alice singing most of the vocals.
  1. Kimi to iu Hana / Asian Kung-Fu Generation
  2. Magic Words / Straightener
  3. Mountain a Go Go / CaptainStraydum
  4. Shalilala / Flow
  5. Ima made nan domo / The Massmissile
  6. Nostalgic / The Droogies
  7. Jitterbug / Ellegarden
  8. Gunjō / Tsubakiya Quartette
  9. Tsunagari / Sambomaster
  10. Shiroi Koe / Lunkhead
  11. Boku no Sonzai wa Uso janakatta / Outlaw
  12. Alive / Raico
  13. Rakuyou: Long Ver. / Orange Range
  14. Itoshiki Hibi: Country Sad Ballad ver. / Alice meets Sambomaster
Magokoro Covers
Sambomaster recorded a cover of Magokoro Brothers' "Dear John Lennon" in this compilation album.
  1. Endless Summer Nude / 冨田ラボ
  2. Sora ni Maiagare / Okuda Tamio
  3. Ai / Halcali
  4. Loop Slider / Suneohair
  5. Ningen wa Mō Owari da! / Puffy
  6. Stone / Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
  7. Standard 3 / Rosetta Garden
  8. Haikei, John Lennon / Sambomaster
  9. Baby Baby Baby / Yuki
  10. Subarashiki kono Sekai / Imawano Kiyoshirō
  11. Atarashii Yoake / MB's
Koi no Mon original soundtrack
Sambomaster was featured in the original soundtrack of the movie Koi no Mon. Sambomaster songs are tracks 1, 2, 14, 15, and 18 below:
  1. Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
  2. Hito wa Sore o Jōnetsu to Yobu
  3. Mohawk!
  4. Four Finger
  5. Noiko no Heya
  6. Aquam
  7. Ishi ga ite, Kimi ga ite
  8. Big Site
  9. Fukashigi Jikken Karada Gibarengaa
  10. Fortress Europe
  11. Office Blue
  12. Agatha
  13. S
  14. Kono yo no Hate: koi no mon short version
  15. Kono yo no Hate: koi no mon strings version
  16. 6:27
  17. Kaisō
  18. Sambomaster wa Shūmatsu ni Soul Instrument o suru no da no Kan
  19. Koi no Mon