Anzen Chitai


Anzen Chitai is a Japanese rock band, formed in 1973 by five musicians in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan. It debuted in 1982 in Tokyo, Japan. They became one of Japan's most successful rock bands in the 1980s.

Members

1970s: Beginnings

Formed in 1973 as the high-school garage band Invader in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, its original members included vocalist Koji Tamaki, guitarist Yutaka Takezawa and guitarist/keyboardist Toshiya Takezawa, who is also Yutaka's brother. Later, in late 1973, Koji's brother and drummer, Kazuyoshi Tamaki and bassist Takahiro Miyashita joined. In 1977, the band changed its name to Anzen Chitai, and Kazuyoshi Tamaki left the group to be replaced by Ichiji Ohira. By December 1977, Anzen Chitai merged with another band, the Haruyoshi Rokudo Band, and added three more members: bassist Haruyoshi Rokudo, guitarist Wataru Yahagi, and drummer Yuji Tanaka. By this point, they had expanded to an eight-member group. Within the next three years, Toshiya Takezawa and Takahiro Miyashita left. Yuji Tanaka also left at this point.

1980s: Commercial success

In 1981, they began work as a backup band for singer-songwriter Yōsui Inoue, and released their debut single, "Moegi Iro no Snap" under the Kitty Records in February 1982. However, the final personnel change occurred as Ichiji Ohira left, and Yuji Tanaka returned in his place, establishing the current lineup.
Under the guidance of their producer and co-arranger Masaru Hoshi, lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock group The Mops, the band continued to refine their craft in the studio. Their status as a backup band soon changed: in 1984, "Wine Red no Kokoro" reached No. 1 on the Oricon charts, to be followed by among others, "Kanashimi ni Sayonara" and "Suki Sa" . "Wine Red no Kokoro" was composed by Koji Tamaki with lyrics by Yōsui Inoue. Koji Tamaki was credited as the sole composer in virtually all of Anzen Chitai's music, with Gorō Matsui being the lyricist frequently. Their popularity in the 1980s culminated in a five-day soldout concert tour at the Nippon Budokan in 1987, which had a total attendance of 60,000.

1990s and 2000s: Frequent hiatuses

Despite a couple of hiatuses for the sake of solo careers, Anzen Chitai continued to record and tour. A new studio album was released in October 2003, titled Anzen Chitai X. After their Japanese concert tour in support of the "Anzen Chitai X" album, the band announced at the end of 2003 that they are taking yet another indefinite hiatus.
As of 2006, Koji Tamaki remains active as a solo performer and television actor, with Wataru Yahagi performing in both his solo albums and concerts. Yutaka Takezawa is also active in the music business as a composer, producer, arranger and session guitarist.
On April 28, 2008, fan club members were notified that Tamaki has announced his retirement from music, as well as the closing of the official Koji Tamaki & Anzenchitai fan club, Star. Illness that requires long-term treatment was cited for his decision.
During the second half of 2009, the band held secret meetings and decided to regroup. Similar to their amateur days, band members lodged together to practise and compose music.

2010–present: Returning from hiatus

On January 8, 2010, the band announced the resumption of their career along with making appearance on the television program Tokudane!. Switching back to Universal Music Japan as their record label, a music video for their new single "Aoi Bara" was released.
Their double A-side single "Aoi Bara/Wine Red no Kokoro " was released on March 3, 2010. Tamaki wrote the lyrics and music of "Aoi Bara." The single debuted at #9 on Oricon weekly charts, becoming their first Top 10 single in 21 years 6 months since their single "Hohoemi ni Kanpai" in 1988.
On May 26, 2010, Anzen Chitai released their first album in nearly 7 years, Anzenchitai 11 Starts "Mata ne...". Alongside this new album, they released Anzen Chitai Hits on June 30, 2010. This album encapsulated the rerecorded versions of their singles throughout the 1980s.

Discography

Singles
TitleJapaneseDate
Moegi'iro no Snap萠黄色のスナップ25/02/1982
On My Wayオン・マイ・ウェイ25/10/1982
Las Vegas Typhoonラスベガス・タイフーン01/04/1983
Wine Red no Kokoroワインレッドの心25/11/1983
Mayonaka Sugi no Koi真夜中すぎの恋16/04/1984
Masqueradeマスカレード25/07/1984
Koi no Yokan恋の予感25/10/1984
Nesshisen熱視線25/01/1985
Kanashimi ni Sayonara悲しみにさよなら25/06/1985
Aoi Hitomi no Eris碧い瞳のエリス01/10/1985
Prussian Blue no Shouzouプルシアンブルーの肖像01/07/1986
Natsu no Owari no Harmony 夏の終りのハーモニー25/09/1986
Friend21/10/1986
Suki sa好きさ03/12/1986
Jirettaiじれったい21/04/1987
Juliet02/12/1987
Tsuki ni Nureta Futari月に濡れたふたり10/03/1988
I Love You Kara HajimeyouI Love You からはじめよう21/06/1988
Hohoemi ni Kanpai微笑みに乾杯25/08/1988
Jounetsu情熱07/11/1990
Itsumo Kimi no Soba niいつも君のそばに06/11/1991
Ano Koro eあの頃へ02/12/1992
Hitoribocchi no Yellひとりぼっちのエール10/02/1993
Deai出逢い10/07/2002
Hansei / Ano Koro e反省 / あの頃へ04/12/2002
Ame Nochi Hare / Chocolate雨のち晴れ / ショコラ18/09/2003
Aoi Bara / Wine Red no Kokoro 蒼いバラ / ワインレッドの心 03/03/2010
Orange / Koi no Yokan オレンジ / 恋の予感 05/05/2010
Kekkai / Denen結界 / 田園24/08/2011

Albums
TitleJapaneseDate
Anzen Chitai I Remember to Remember安全地帯 I Remember to Remember25/01/1983
Anzen Chitai II安全地帯 II01/05/1984
Anzen Chitai III ~Dakishimetai安全地帯 III 〜抱きしめたい01/12/1984
Anzen Chitai IV安全地帯 IV24/11/1985
Anzen Chitai V安全地帯 V14/12/1986
Anzen Chitai VI ~Tsuki ni Nureta Futari安全地帯 VI 〜月に濡れたふたり10/04/1988
Anzen Chitai VII ~Yume no Miyako安全地帯 VII 〜夢の都25/07/1990
Anzen Chitai VIII ~Taiyou安全地帯 VIII 〜太陽11/12/1991
Anzen Chitai IX安全地帯 IX07/08/2002
Anzen Chitai X ~Ame Nochi Hare~安全地帯 X 〜雨のち晴れ〜22/10/2003
Anzen Chitai XI ☆STARTS☆ "Mata ne...."安全地帯 XI ☆STARTS☆「またね…。」26/05/2010
Anzen Chitai XII安全地帯 XII14/09/2011
Anzen Chitai XIII Junk安全地帯 XIII Junk16/11/2011
Anzen Chitai XIV -The Saltmoderate Show-安全地帯 XIV The Saltmoderate Show06/03/2013