Tomoyasu Hotei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tomoyasu Hotei
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Hotei at the 2017 Paaspop festival in Schijndel, Netherlands
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋 寅泰, Hotei Tomoyasu) |
| Born | February 1, 1962 Takasaki, Gunma, Japan |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, actor |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals, bass, drums, keyboard |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Labels | Universal Music Japan, Spinefarm |
Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋 寅泰, Hotei Tomoyasu, born February 1, 1962), also known as Hotei, is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He has been making music for over 40 years. Hotei has sold more than 40 million records and worked with many artists worldwide.
He first became famous in the 1980s as the guitarist for Boøwy. This was one of Japan's most popular rock bands. Later, he started his own solo music career. In 2003, HMV Japan listed him as one of the 100 most important Japanese pop artists. In 2011, a poll ranked him as the second-best Japanese guitarist. Hotei moved to London in 2005 and still performs and releases music globally. His song "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" is very famous. It has been used in movies like Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, commercials, and video games.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Hotei was born in Japan. His father was Korean and his mother was Japanese, born in Russia. He started playing the guitar in junior high school. When he was 14, he bought a Fender Stratocaster guitar. He was inspired by a poster of Marc Bolan from the band T. Rex. His first band was called Blue Film.
Music Career Highlights
Boøwy: A Japanese Rock Sensation (1981–1988)
After high school, Hotei went to Tokyo. He met Kyosuke Himuro, and they decided to form a band. In 1981, they started a six-member band called Bōi. They later changed their name to Boøwy. Their first album, Moral, came out in 1982.
Boøwy became a four-member band and grew very popular in Japan. They released six studio albums in six years. They even played at the Marquee Club in London in 1985. In 1986, their album Beat Emotion sold over a million copies. In 1988, the year they broke up, they made history. They were the first male artists to have three number-one albums in one year in Japan. HMV Japan ranked Boøwy as one of the "100 Most Important Japanese Pop Acts."
Hotei's Solo Journey in Japan (1988–2012)
After Boøwy broke up, Hotei started his solo career. His first solo album, Guitarhythm, was released in 1988. Throughout the 1990s, Hotei became even more famous in Japan. He released many albums and went on big tours. He also wrote songs and produced music for other artists. Hotei also made two albums with Koji Kikkawa as the duo Complex. Both of these albums reached number one on the charts.
Hotei has recorded music with many international musicians. He played on stage with David Bowie in 1996. He also performed at the closing ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics with Michael Kamen. Hotei has worked with artists like Andy Mackay from Roxy Music and Chris Spedding. He also tours Europe and plays at major festivals. His drummer, Zachary Alford, has played with Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie.
Hotei has also composed music for films. He wrote the score for Samurai Fiction and also acted in it. He created three songs for the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. His most famous song, "Battle Without Honor or Humanity", was used in the movie Kill Bill and the video game Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA. It was also in the film Transformers.
In 2011, Hotei and Koji Kikkawa reunited as Complex for two concerts. All the money from these shows was given to help victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. In 2012, Hotei celebrated his 50th birthday with a concert. He also directed a stage play called ... Pain. In May 2012, Hotei announced he would move to London to focus on his international music career.
Moving to London and Global Music (2012–Present)
Starting Fresh in London
In June 2012, Hotei and his family moved to London. He wanted to make his dream of an international career come true. His first big show in the UK was in December 2012 at The Roundhouse. In 2013, he played headline shows in London and New York. Hotei said he wanted to "play all over the world."
On March 6, 2014, Hotei joined The Rolling Stones on stage in Japan. He was a surprise guest at their Tokyo Dome concert. He played "Respectable" for 53,000 fans. His song "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" was also used in a TV commercial in the UK.
Hotei played at several festivals in 2014, including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He also performed for the launch of the new Lamborghini Huracán car. He wrote the theme song, "Trick Attack (Theme of Lupin The Third)", for the 2014 Lupin III movie. His album New Beginnings was released in Japan in October 2014. This album showed the new chapter in his career after moving to London.
New Albums and Collaborations (2015–2016)
In June 2015, Hotei released the single "How The Cookie Crumbles" with Iggy Pop. His second English-language album, Strangers, came out globally in October 2015. It was his first album released worldwide outside Japan. This album featured artists like Richard Kruspe from Rammstein and Matthew Tuck from Bullet for My Valentine.
In 2016, Hotei celebrated 35 years in music. He performed 57 live shows in Japan. He also continued to promote his Strangers album internationally. He played shows in Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin. In July 2016, he performed in Los Angeles for the first time.
Hotei also worked with Italian singer Zucchero Fornaciari. He played guitar on Zucchero's album Black Cat. They performed together in Tokyo and at Zucchero's concerts in Italy.
Tours and New Music (2017–2018)
In 2017, Hotei toured Europe, playing in 8 cities. He also performed his first headline shows in Asia outside of Japan, in Taipei and Hong Kong. His 17th solo album, Paradox, was released worldwide in October 2017. This was his first Japanese-language album in almost five years. His song "Kill to Love You" was used in trailers for the movie Attraction.
Hotei continued to perform with Zucchero Fornaciari in Italy. In September 2018, he released a new single called "202X" for the 35th anniversary of the Hokuto no Ken series. In October 2018, Hotei performed a special concert in London. He also toured Europe, playing in Brussels, Zurich, and Milan. He ended 2018 with a tour in Japan.
Recent Work (2019–Present)
Hotei released his 18th solo album, Guitarhythm VI, in May 2019. This album included collaborations with Man With A Mission and Cornelius. It also featured his former Boøwy bandmates. A tour for Guitarhythm VI followed the album release. In September, Hotei was a special guest at shows for the SAS band in the UK.
In November 2020, Hotei released the album Soul to Soul. This album featured collaborations with Japanese artists and international acts like Carlinhos Brown.
Personal Life
Tomoyasu Hotei is married to singer and actress Miki Imai. They have a daughter, born in 2002. Even though he lives in London, Hotei often travels between Japan and the UK for concerts and recording. In 2013, BBC World News featured a story about Hotei's life in London.
Filmography
- SF Samurai Fiction as Rannosuke Kazamatsuri (1998)
- New Battles Without Honor and Humanity as Tochino Masatatsu (2002)
- Red Shadow Akakage as Rannosuke Kazamatsuri (2001)
- Akai Tsuki as Colonel Osugi (2004)
Video Games
- Stolen Song (Sony Computer Entertainment, 1998 for PlayStation; Toshiba EMI, 1998 for Windows 95)
Images for kids
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Hotei performing at Paaspop festival.
See also
In Spanish: Tomoyasu Hotei para niños
