Takanori Nishikawa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Takanori Nishikawa
西川貴教
Nishikawa in 2022
Born	(1970-09-19) September 19, 1970 (age 54) Yasu, Japan
Other names	T.M. Revolution Haine
Occupation	Musician singer-songwriter producer actor voice actor radio personality businessman
Spouse(s)	Yumi Yoshimura (m. 1999; div. 2002) Unknown (m. 2020)
Musical career
Genres	Electronic rock synthpop dance-rock industrial rock alternative rock post-punk new wave disco J-pop
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Antinos Epic Tofu

Takanori Nishikawa (born September 19, 1970) is a famous Japanese musician, singer, and actor. He is best known by his stage name, T.M.Revolution (T.M.R.). This name means "Takanori Makes Revolution." It was inspired by a popular 1980s electronic band called TM Network.

Even though many of his songs were written by others, T.M.Revolution is seen as Nishikawa's own music project. He is also very famous for creating opening and ending songs for many popular anime shows and video games.

Before starting T.M.Revolution, Nishikawa was the singer for a rock band called Luis-Mary for three years. In May 1996, he released his first solo song, "Dokusai (Monopolize)." Later that year, his song "Heart of Sword (Yoake Mae)" became the ending theme for the anime series Rurouni Kenshin. This helped him gain many more fans.

Nishikawa has also contributed six songs to the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series. He even appeared as a small character in these anime shows. In 2010, his song "Save the One, Save the All" was the ending theme for the movie Bleach: Hell Verse. Many of his songs, like "Crosswise" and "Flags," have been used in Capcom's Sengoku Basara video game series.

In 2005, Nishikawa started a rock band called Abingdon Boys School. T.M.Revolution was the first artist to sign with Tofu Records. This record label helps Japanese artists become known in North America. Tofu Records released three of his albums: coordinate (2003), Seventh Heaven (2004), and vertical infinity (2005). Nishikawa performed live in North America for the first time at Otakon in 2003. He has also performed at other events like Pacific Media Expo and New York Comic Con.

Early Life and Music Dreams

Takanori Nishikawa was born in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. His father worked for the government, and his mother was a dental hygienist. He later moved to Yasu, Shiga.

As a child, Takanori went to Mikami Elementary School. He spent a lot of time with his grandfather, a retired policeman. His grandfather encouraged him to study kendo (a Japanese martial art) until he was ten years old.

When Takanori was in junior high, he started thinking about a career in music. He decided to leave high school early to follow his dream. He left Shiga to pursue his music career.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with Luis-Mary

In 1990, Nishikawa joined the rock band Luis-Mary as their singer. His nickname in the band was Haine. This nickname and his look at the time later inspired a character in the Gundam SEED Destiny anime. Luis-Mary released three singles before the band broke up in 1993.

The Rise of T.M.Revolution

In 1995, music producer Daisuke Asakura started working with Nishikawa. They released a song called "Black or White?" together. Nishikawa's fan club, turbo, started in December 1995. In early 1996, Nishikawa announced his solo music project, T.M.Revolution. Asakura was named its producer.

T.M.Revolution's first single, "Dokusai -monopolize-," came out in May 1996. It became popular after Nishikawa performed on a TV music show called Pop Jam. His third single, "Heart of Sword: Yoake Mae," was used in the anime Rurouni Kenshin. This song sold 360,000 copies and became a fan favorite.

In 1997, Nishikawa released three more singles: Level 4, High Pressure, and White Breath. High Pressure sold 800,000 copies, making T.M.Revolution very popular. White Breath sold over one million copies and was his first song to reach #1 on the music charts. He even performed "White Breath" on a famous Japanese music show called Kōhaku Uta Gassen. His third album, triple joker, sold two million copies.

His song "Hot Limit," released in 1998, also reached #1 on the charts. Nishikawa performed at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen again. His fourth album, the force, came out in 1999. After this album, Nishikawa performed two concerts at Tokyo Dome for 100,000 fans.

In 1999, Nishikawa announced he would stop T.M.Revolution for a while. He and Daisuke Asakura formed a new group called The End of Genesis T.M.R. evolution Turbo Type D (TMR-e). They released three singles and one album. However, Nishikawa returned to his T.M.Revolution stage name in April 2000.

He continued to release new music, including a new version of "BLACK OR WHITE?" and a fifth studio album, progress. In 2002, his song "Invoke" was used as the first opening song for Gundam SEED. It sold 250,000 copies and reached #2 on the charts. Nishikawa also voiced a character named Miguel Aiman in the series.

His sixth album, Coordinate, was released in 2003. The album cover showed a special orange robot from Gundam SEED, which is Nishikawa's favorite color. A song from this album, "Meteor," was also used in Gundam SEED. Later that year, Nishikawa performed in North America for the first time at Otakon.

In 2004, his seventh album, SEVENTH HEAVEN, was released. He also sang the ending theme for the Japanese release of Spider-Man 2 called "Web of Night." This song had both Japanese and English versions. His song "ignited" became the first opening song for Gundam SEED Destiny in October 2004. It was his first #1 single since 1998. Nishikawa also voiced a character named Heine Westenfluss in Gundam SEED Destiny. This character was designed to look like Nishikawa.

His eighth album, Vertical infinity, came out in 2005. This album showed a change in his music style, with Nishikawa arranging some of the songs himself. In April 2005, he started cohosting the TV show Pop Jam. His song "Vestige" was released in August 2005. It was his fourth single to reach #1 on the charts. "Crosswise" from the same single was used for the PlayStation 2 game Sengoku BASARA.

For his tenth anniversary in 2006, fans voted for their favorite songs to be re-recorded. This resulted in the album UNDER:COVER. Nishikawa performed "WHITE BREATH" from this album at Kōhaku Uta Gassen again. His second collection album, 1000000000000, was released in June 2006. It contained all his singles and reached #1 on the charts.

Abingdon Boys School Era

In 2005, Nishikawa started a new band called Abingdon Boys School. The band's name came from the school where the band Radiohead met. This band released two albums and toured in Europe. They also performed at the Live Earth concert in Tokyo in 2007.

Recent Music and Collaborations

Nishikawa at the Kinokuniya Bookstore, NYC in 2008

Nishikawa continued to release new music as T.M.Revolution. In 2008, his single "Resonance" was released. It was the theme song for the anime Soul Eater and reached #4 on the charts.

In 2013, Nishikawa worked with singer Nana Mizuki. They released two singles, "Preserved Roses" and "Kakumei Dualism." Both songs were used as opening themes for the anime Valvrave the Liberator.

Nishikawa at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan in 2014

In 2015, Takanori released his tenth album, Ten (Heaven). This album included songs he made for the Sengoku Basara series. He then went on a long tour called "T.M.R. Live Revolution '15 -Ten-."

In 2016, he released the single "Committed RED / Inherit the Force." These songs were used for Sengoku Basara: Sanada Yukimura-Den and Kidou Senshi Gundam EXTREME VS-FORCE video games. He also released a "best album" called "2020 -T.M.Revolution All Time Best-" to celebrate 20 years of his music career. Later that year, his song "Raimei" became the opening theme for the puppet show Thunderbolt Fantasy.

Since 2017, Nishikawa has also released music under his real name, Takanori Nishikawa. He collaborated with Shuta Sueyoshi on "BIRI x BIRI" for the film Overdrive. In 2018, he released "Bright Burning Shout" for the anime Fate/Extra Last Encore.

In 2019, he released the album Singularity. This album included collaborations with other artists like Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas and Tomoyasu Hotei. He also worked with J on songs for the Kamen Rider Zero-One TV series and movies. In 2020, he collaborated with ASCA on "Tenbin -LIBRA-" for the anime White Cat Project: Zero Chronicle. He also covered a song for the anime Pokémon Journeys.

Other Activities

International Appearances

Nishikawa was a special guest at Comic Con in New York in 2008. He also starred in a movie called Corazon de Melon, which premiered in New York City.

Ambassador for Shiga Prefecture

Takanori Nishikawa is a Cultural Ambassador for Shiga prefecture, his home region in Japan. He wanted to give back to his hometown through music. In 2009, he started a two-day music event called "Inazuma Rock Fes" (meaning "lightning" rock festival). It takes place near Lake Biwa in Kusatsu city on his birthday, September 19. This festival was a big success and became an annual event.

Running a Record Label and Clothing Line

Takanori has his own independent record label called Defrock Records. He hopes to release many different kinds of high-quality music to the world through this label.

He also runs a company called Diesel Corporation, which manages his fan club and promotes his work. In 2001, he launched his own clothing line called Defröck. The name is a mix of "differential lock" (a car part he likes) and "rock" music.

Radio Show Host

Nishikawa hosted a popular radio show called "Takanori Nishikawa's All Night Nippon." He talked to his fans on air, giving them a chance to connect with him. The show ran for almost nine years, from 1997 to 2005.

Personal Life

Nishikawa married fellow musician Yumi Yoshimura in 1999. They divorced in 2002 but remained friends. In 2020, Nishikawa announced he had married again. His second spouse is not involved in the entertainment industry.

Discography

Takanori Nishikawa has released many albums and singles throughout his career. As T.M.Revolution, he has released 12 studio albums, 41 singles, and many other compilations and remix albums. He also released music as part of the group "the end of genesis T.M.Revolution turbo type D."

Albums as T.M.Revolution

Makes Revolution (1996)
Restoration Level 3 (1997)
Triple Joker (1998)
The Force (1999)
Progress (2000)
Coordinate (2003)
Seventh Heaven (2004)
Vertical Infinity (2005)
Cloud Nine (2011)
Ten (2015)

Albums as Takanori Nishikawa

SINGularity (2019)
SINGularity II - Hyperpaslia protoCOL - (2022)

Filmography

Anime Voice Roles

Rurouni Kenshin (1996) – Orochi no Ren
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002/2003) – Miguel Aiman / narrator
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (2005) – Heine Westenfluss
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers (2014) – Silver Samurai (voice)
Sengoku Basara: End of Judgement (2014) – Sakai Tadatsugu
B-Project: Kodō＊Ambitious - Nishiyama/series producer (2016)
Pop Team Epic Series 2 Episode 12 - General Nishikawa (2022)

Anime Theme Songs (Selected)

Soul Eater opening theme 1 song, Resonance (2009)
ReLIFE episode 2 closing song, Hot Limit (2016)
White Cat Project opening song featuring ASCA, Tenbin -LIBRA- (2020)
Edens Zero opening song, Eden through the rough (2021)
Edens Zero opening theme 2 song, Never say Never (2023)

Puppetry Voice Roles

Thunderbolt Fantasy: The Sword of Life and Death (2017)
Thunderbolt Fantasy: Sword Travels in the East2 (2018)
Thunderbolt Fantasy: Sword Seekers 3 (2021)
Thunderbolt Fantasy: Sword Sword Travels in the East 4 (2024)

Video Games Voice Roles

Shin SD Gundam Force Tensei Knight Saga (2014/2015) - Knight Gundam / Versal Knight Gundam / Superior Dragon, Musha Godmaru
White Cat Project (2020)
Genshin Impact (2021) - Arataki Itto

Drama Series

Beautiful Life (2000) - Satoru Kawamura
Nursing Étoile (2006) - Takeo Baba
Okusama wa 18-sai (2011) - Tatsuya Takagi
Scarlet (2019) - George Fujikawa

Films

Corazon de Melon (2008)
Galaxy Turnpike (2015)
Godai - The Wunderkind (2020) - Iwasaki Yatarō

Theatre

Little Shop of Horrors (1999) – Seymour Krelborn (Japanese production)

Other Media Appearances

TV Shows

Kōhaku Uta Gassen (1997/1998/2005/2013/2014)
Masaharu Fukuyama and Takanori Nishikawa's All Night Nippon (2001)
Pop Jam (2005/2006)
Shin Domoto Kyoudai (2011~)
Who is Princess? (2021)

Radio Shows

Liquid ROOM (1996)
ON Air West (1996)
T.M.Radio Wave (1996)
Love Revolution (1996)
JRA Power Revolution (1996)
Takanori Nishikawa's All Night Nippon (1997–2005, 2010)

Products

Photobooks

Starman from Miracle Wonder Planet (1997)
T.M.R. Live Revolution ’97 -Joker- Documentary Tour Book (1997–98)
T.M.Revolution Perfect Bible Volume 3 (1998)
Takanori Nishikawa B-Pass Special Edition Perfect Bible Volume 4 (1998)
T.M.R. Live Revolution ’98 Joker Type 2 -Great Fighter- (1998)
the end of genesis T.M.R.evolution turbo type D (1999)
Seventh Heaven (2004)
Ray of Light – Defrock (2005)
Under:Cover (2006)
Re:Incarnation (2009)
Inazuma Rock Fes. 2009 Document Photo Book (2009)
Inazuma Rock Fes. 2010 Document Photo Book (2010)
Inazuma Rock Fes. 2011 Document Photo Book (2011)
Inazuma Rock Fes. 2012 Document Photo Book (2012)
Inazuma Rock Fes. 2013 Document Photo Book (2013)

Hello Kitty Keychains

Five special Hello Kitty keychains were made in 2005 to celebrate T.M.Revolution's tenth anniversary. Each keychain showed Hello Kitty dressed in one of Nishikawa's famous costumes from his music videos.

ignited
Wild Rush
Black Or White? version 3
Hot Limit
Burnin’ X’mas