, better known by his stage name TAKURO, is a Japanese musician and lyricist best known as one of the guitarists and leader of the rock band

Glay Glay (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese rock band, formed in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, in 1988. Glay primarily composes songs in the rock and pop genres, but they have also arranged songs using elements from a wide variety of genres, includi ...

, for which he is also the main composer and lyricist. As a musician and composer, Takuro has worked with different artists and has also released solo works. Takuro and his older sister were raised by a single mother, as she never remarried after his father's death, when Takuro was three years old. He considers his mother an early influence in his musical career, as he was strongly impressed by her singing.

Biography

History

Later on, during his adolescence, he would be influenced by

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

, and would develop a great interest in writing lyrics. His lyrics are often based on his feelings about different situations in his life, as well as events in the world. Takuro often expresses his opinion on different issues, and has been invited to write about different topics by newspapers. In 2007 he wrote a series of articles about his homeland, Hakodate for the Asahi newspaper. In 2006, he was quoted in an article about new concepts of Japanese family models in the Mainichi website. Being raised in a single mother family, he expressed his personal experience. In 2001, together with

Ryuichi Sakamoto is a Japanese composer, pianist, singer, record producer and actor who has pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). With his bandmates Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, Sakamoto inf ...

, Takuro started the "Artists Power", an organization that brings together musicians interested in being active in the search of alternative energy. The EXPO 2001 concert in Ishikari, Hokkaido, had part of its energy generated by alternative fuel and a booth displaying the generators could be seen. In 2003 Takuro released "Kyoukai", an auto-biographical book, in which he writes about his personal life and his musical work. The topics are his childhood in Hakodate and his career; among the subjects is a mysterious woman who he loved for ten years and who turned him down when he proposed marriage to her and for whom he wrote many of his love songs. In 2005, Takuro ended his radio show on Tokyo FM, "Glay Radio Communication DX", which he had started in 2003. Previously, he hosted another show, "Takuro Radio Factory".

Personal life

Takuro married the Japanese model Seri Iwahori in May 2004. He was introduced to her during the shooting of the movie

Casshern ''Casshan'', also known in Japan as , is an anime series created by Tatsunoko Productions founder Tatsuo Yoshida in 1973. The ''Casshern'' franchise also includes a 1993 original video animation titled '' Casshan: Robot Hunter'', and a 2004 ...

, in which he made a short cameo with

Hisashi Hisashi is a masculine Japanese given name. Its meaning differs depending on the kanji used to write it. Kanji Single kanji used to write the name Hisashi include: *: "long time" *: "eternal" *: "still" *: "standard" *: "complete" *: "long" *: "li ...

in 2003. They have a son, born in October 2005 and a daughter, born in October 2007. They own a house in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

and also one in

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

Solo albums

Album: Instrumental Collection *artist: TAKURO *release date: September 19, 1998 * Tracks: ** HOWEVER ** SOUL LOVE ** Yes, Summerdays ** Ikiteku Tsuyosa ** Miyako Wasure ** a Boy~Zutto Wasurenai~ ** Kuchibiru ** Manatsuno Tobira ** Zutto Futari de... ** Glorious ** Yuuwaku ** BELOVED Album: FLOW of SOUL vol 1. Takuro meets

Vanessa Mae Vanessa-Mae (陈美 Chén Měi; born 27 October 1978) also called Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson, is a Singaporean-born British violinist with album sales reaching several million, having made her the wealthiest entertainer under 30 in the Uni ...

*artists: Takuro and

*release date : April 24, 2002 * tracks: ** Way of Difference ** Francis Elena　featuring Vanessa Mae　 ** Zutto Futtari de・・ ** Glorious ** a Boy ～zutto wasurenai～ ** Kanojo no "Modern・・・" ** HOWEVER ** I'm in Love ** Yuuwaku ** Biribiri crashman ** Sen no naifu ga mune wo sasu ** Pure Soul

Stealth

Takuro and Toki, from Japanese band C:4, have collaborated under the name "Stealth". Together they released the single "Re-lax" on September 25, 2002. In May 2009 they played live for the first time, with other well-known musicians. On October 13, 2010, Stealth released the song "-Sickbed-" digitally on their own website. They also announced the release of their first album "Alstroemeria", but didn't provide detailed information on this record.

Songwriting for other artists

*"Summer Shakes" and "I believe you" **Single: Summer Shakes **artist:Miju *"Mitsumeteitai" and "Moon~ watashi he" **Single: Mitsumeteitai **Artist:ROMI *"Couples" and "Love Is Always Trouble" **Single: Couples **artist: Miju *"Love Clover" and "Empty Pocket" **Single: Love Clover **artist:

Miho Nakayama is a Japanese singer and actress. She is affiliated with Big Apple Co., Ltd. Nakayama is nicknamed , and sometimes uses the pseudonyms or when she writes the lyrics. Biography History Nakayama was born in Saku, Nagano, Japan. Following her ...

*kokoro ni amega **Single: kokoro ni amega **artist: Hideki Ohtoku *Fairyland **Single: Fairyland **artist:

Yuki Koyanagi is a Japanese pop singer. She released her first single, "Anata no kisu o kazoemashô – You Were Mine" on September 15, 1999. This song was a huge hit in Japan and made the 17-year-old a sensation overnight. Her second album, ''Expansion'', so ...

(under the pseudonym "L. Soul") *Rhythm to Rule **Single: Rhythm to Rule **artist:

Ryoko Shinohara Ryōko or Ryouko is a Japanese female given name. The meanings of Ryoko vary depending on which Kanji is used to write the name. Possible writings * 涼子 – "refreshing, child" * 亮子 – "helpful, child" * 良子 – "good, child" * 諒子 ...

(composed the music under the pseudonym "L. Soul") *"Drama" and "Time Limit" **Album: Distance **artist:

Hikaru Utada , who is also known by the mononym Utada, is a Japanese-American pop singer, songwriter and producer. By 2010, Utada had become one of the most influential, and best-selling, musical artists in Japan. Born in the United States to Japanese parent ...

(composed the music with Utada Hikaru under the name "Kubo Takuro". "Time Limit" was also released as a single) *Sweet Season **single: Sweet Season **artist: SONO (composed the music under the pseudonym "L.Soul") *Engaged **Album: Hana **artist:

Tak Matsumoto is a Japanese musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist and main composer of the rock duo B'z, the best-selling music act in their native Japan. He also has a successful solo career where, in addition to winn ...

(music by Takuro and Tak Matsumoto) *Lovebite **Album: Style **artist:

Namie Amuro Namie Amuro ( ; ja, 安室奈美恵, Amuro Namie, label=none; born September 20, 1977) is a Japanese former recording artist, producer, songwriter, dancer, model, actress and entrepreneur who was active between 1992 and 2018. A leading figure of ...

*Fuyu no etorage **Album: Singer for Singer **artist:

Misia Misaki Itō, commonly known as and stylized as MISIA, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. Born in Nagasaki, Misia moved to Fukuoka at the age of 14 to pursue a recording career. There, she continued her secondary education and briefly attended ...

(theme song for the movie

Umineko is a Japanese dōjin soft visual novel series produced by 07th Expansion. Its first episode debuted at Comiket 72 for Windows on August 17, 2007. The story focuses on a group of eighteen people on a secluded island for a period of two da ...

, with backing vocals by TERU) *Ruten **Album: Romantic Energy **artist: Joshijunigakubo (

Twelve Girls Band 12 Girls Band (, sometimes abbreviated to 女樂 or 女乐) are an all female Chinese musical group that initially consisted of twelve members before the addition of a thirteenth. Twelve Girls Band use traditional Chinese instruments to play both ...

) *Kiss from a Rose **Album: Sing and Roses **artist:

Misato Watanabe is a Japanese pop singer. Discography Albums * ''Eyes'' (2 October 1985) * ''Lovin' you'' (2 July 1986) * ''Breath'' (15 July 1987) * ''Ribbon'' (28 May 1988) * ''Flower bed'' (1 July 1989) * ''Tokyo'' (7 July 1990) * '' Lucky'' (6 July 1991) ...

(music) *"Hitoiro" and "Eyes for the Moon" **Single: Hitoiro **artist: Nana starring

Mika Nakashima is a Japanese singer and actress. Five of her studio albums, one of her mini-albums and one of her compilation albums have reached number one in Japan's Oricon album chart. She also embarked on an acting career, most notably as Nana Osaki in the ...

("Hitoiro" is theme song for the movie

Nana 2 ''Nana 2'' is a 2006 Japanese drama film directed by Kentarō Ōtani and adapted from the manga by Ai Yazawa. It is the sequel to the 2005 film ''Nana''. Production for the movie began in mid-September and only one and a half month shootings fini ...

and "Eyes for the Moon" is in the movie's sound track). *Say Something **Album: In the Mood **artist:

Kyosuke Himuro is a former Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He was lead vocalist of the rock band Boøwy from 1981 to 1988. After the band disbanded he started a successful solo career, becoming one of Japan's best-selling artists. In 2003, HMV Japan r ...

(lyrics) *Go ahead!!! **Single: Go Ahead!!! **artist: Mitsuhiro Oikawa (music) *Koi Suru Kimochi **Single:Koi Suru Kimochi **Artist:

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(Takei's debut single)

Special features

Single: Bridge over troubled water *artist: Junko *song: Together (guitar) Album: Poetic Evolution *artist:

Yukinojo Mori , better known by his stage name , is a Japanese lyricist, composer and poet who is affiliated with Amuse, Inc. He has written over 2,000 songs for numerous artists such as Kyosuke Himuro, Takuro Yoshida and Junichi Inagaki and theme songs for ...

*song: Ango (with

HISASHI Hisashi is a masculine Japanese given name. Its meaning differs depending on the kanji used to write it. Kanji Single kanji used to write the name Hisashi include: *: "long time" *: "eternal" *: "still" *: "standard" *: "complete" *: "long" *: "li ...

and TERU) single:

ZERO LANDMINE ''Zero Landmine'' is an Extended play (EP) created to promote awareness of the problem of landmines and to promote a ban on landmines. Japanese recording artist Ryuichi Sakamoto led a collection of musicians to form a group called NML (No More La ...

*artist: N.M.L.(NO MORE LANDMINE) *song:

(guitar) Album: Kuzu Album *artist: Kuzu *song: ai nante (with TERU) Album: In the Mood *artist:

* song: Say Something (with GLAY)

Books

*Along the Line: photobook made in Africa. *Kyoukai (2003): autobiography. *"Super Stars" (November 2006): photobook by Leslie Kee. Takuro was one of the three hundred famous Asian people featured in the book. *Hokkaido e (July 2008): includes a series of articles written by Takuro, along with articles by other authors, originally published by Asahi Newspaper in 2007.

References

External links

GLAY official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Takuro Japanese rock guitarists Visual kei musicians Japanese songwriters Glay members Musicians from Hokkaido People from Hakodate 1971 births Living people 21st-century guitarists