, better known by his stage name . is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter, known for his work with

Kuroyume is a Japanese rock band formed in Nagoya in May 1991, initially with the vocalist Kiyoharu, bassist Hitoki and guitarist Shin. The group had a definite influence on the visual kei scene, being credited as inspiration to many bands of the late ...

and Sads. In 2003, he began his solo career, performing as both a singer and guitarist.

Music career

Independent career and Kuroyume (1986–1999)

Kiyoharu's musical career began in 1986 as a member of the independent band Double Bed, which folded after a few months of activity. He then formed Sus4 in 1987, before later joining Garnet. After the disbandment of Garnet in 1991, Kiyoharu, as well as former Garnet bassist, Hitoki, formed

. Kuroyume began in the beginning days of the

visual kei is a movement among Japanese musicians that is characterized by the use of varying levels of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics, similar to Western glam rock. Some ...

movement. They progressed from a typical dark image and sound, to a heavy sound influenced by punk rock. The band ended as only a duo with Kiyoharu and Hitoki remaining. After tension on how the band should be managed and health problems for Hitoki, the duo ended the band in 1999.

Sads and Fullface establishment (1999–2003)

Kiyoharu picked up again with his musical career, forming Sads in 1999. Sads produced a

post-punk Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of punk music that emerged in the late 1970s as musicians departed from punk's traditional elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and non-r ...

sound with a heavy

surf rock Surf music (or surf rock, surf pop, or surf guitar) is a genre of rock music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Southern California. It was especially popular from 1958 to 1964 in two major forms. The first is instrumental su ...

influence. The band eventually formed their own record label, Fullface Records, in 2001, releasing their own material on the label. The label would sign its first act outside Sads, Merry, for their first album ''Gendai Stoic''. Sads' drummer, Eiji Mitsuzono announced his departure from the band in 2003, leaving the band on an indefinite

hiatus Hiatus may refer to: * Hiatus (anatomy), a natural fissure in a structure * Hiatus (stratigraphy), a discontinuity in the age of strata in stratigraphy *''Hiatus'', a genus of picture-winged flies with sole member species '' Hiatus fulvipes'' * G ...

Solo career (2004–present)

After the pause in Sads' activities in 2003, Kiyoharu began releasing solo work. His debut album, ''Poetry'', was released in 2004, showcasing not only his vocal skills, but his talent as a guitarist as well. He has collaborated with many artists, including Hyde (

L'Arc-en-Ciel L'Arc-en-Ciel ( French: 'The Rainbow', stylized as L'Arc~en~Ciel), also known as Laruku, is a Japanese rock band, formed in Osaka in 1991 by bassist tetsuya and vocalist hyde. Following the departure of original members hiro and pero, guitari ...

Takanori Nishikawa is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, voice artist, radio personality, and businessman. He performs under the stage name T.M.Revolution (TMR), which stands for , stemming from the famous '80s pop electronic band TM ...

(T.M. Revolution),

Kirito is a Japanese rock singer and musician. He was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Formerly vocalist of the rock band Pierrot, he is now the vocalist of Angelo and also holds a solo career. Bands Kirito was initially involved with Pierrot (origin ...

(

Pierrot Pierrot ( , , ) is a stock character of pantomime and '' commedia dell'arte'', whose origins are in the late seventeenth-century Italian troupe of players performing in Paris and known as the Comédie-Italienne. The name is a diminutive of ''Pi ...

Atsushi Sakurai is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He has been the vocalist of the rock band Buck-Tick since 1985, previously being their drummer from 1983. He released the solo album ''Ai no Wakusei'' in 2004 and was also a member of Schwein alongsi ...

(

Buck-Tick Buck-Tick (stylized as BUCK-TICK) is a Japanese rock band, formed in Fujioka, Gunma in 1983. The group has consisted of lead vocalist Atsushi Sakurai, lead guitarist Hisashi Imai, rhythm guitarist Hidehiko Hoshino, bassist Yutaka Higuchi and dr ...

), Gara ( Merry),

Sugizo , born and better known by his stage name Sugizo, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist and violinist of the rock band Luna Sea since 1989. Sugizo started his solo care ...

(

Luna Sea Luna Sea (stylized as LUNA SEA) is a Japanese rock band formed in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1986. Due to the use of make-up and costumes early in their career and their widespread popularity, they are considered one of the most successful and inf ...

) etc. In 2006, Kiyoharu released two singles, as well as a new album, '' Vinnybeach -Kakuu no Kaigan-'', followed by two long, promotional tours. The following single, "Slow", was featured as the opening song for the

anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...

series The Wallflower. He released another studio album, ''Forever Love'', in 2007. It is dedicated to his father, who died. Kiyoharu released "Aibu" in early 2008, and in May the next single, Samidare, was released. In 2008, he released a set of twin albums entitled ''Rhythmless & Perspective light~saw the light & shade'' and ''Rhythmless & Perspective shade~saw the light & shade.'' Each album contained 7 tracks of self-covers from his solo work and his work with Sads. The following year, he released the album ''Medley,'' a collection of

covers. On July 11, 2012, he released ''Under the Sun.'' He covered " Sadistic Emotion" by

D'erlanger D'erlanger (stylized as D'ERLANGER) is a Japanese rock band from Kyoto Prefecture, formed in 1983 by guitarist Cipher and bassist Seela. While they originally played speed and power metal, after recruiting drummer Tetsu and vocalist Kyo they ...

for 2017's ''D'erlanger Tribute Album ~Stairway to Heaven~''. In 2017, Kiyoharu participated in

's solo studio album, '' Oneness M'', on the track "Voice". Kiyoharu released his tenth studio album, '' Japanese Menu/Distortion 10'', on March 25, 2020.

Other careers

Aside from his work at Fullface Records, Kiyoharu is also a fashion designer, designing his own clothing, accessories, and jewelry.

Discography

;Albums :''Poetry'' (7 April 2004),

Universal Japan , often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in the country regarding music distribution. The company is resp ...

:''Mellow'' (30 March 2005), Tokyo Rips Pro :''Kannou Boogie'' (7 December 2005), Bouncy :''Vinnybeach'' (12 July 2006), Bouncy :''Forever Love'' (14 November 2007), Mid Field :''Rhythmless & Perspective Light: Saw the Light & Shade'' (10 September 2008) :''Rhythmless & Perspective Shade: Saw the Light & Shade'' (10 September 2008) :''Medley'' (28 January 2009), Avex :''Madrigal Of Decadence'' (29 July 2009), Avex :''Under the Sun'' (7 November 2012), Avex :''Soloist'' (30 March 2016), Warner Music Japan :''Yoru, Carmen no Shishuu'' (28 February 2018), TRIAD :'' Japanese Menu/Distortion 10'' (25 March 2020),

Pony Canyon , also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese mass media publishing company founded on October 1, 1966. The company publishes mainly physical home media on compact discs, including music, films and TV shows and video games. It is affi ...

;Singles :"Emily" (9 February 2004), Universal Japan :"Last Song" (16 February 2005), Fullface :"Horizon" (16 March 2005), Tokyo Rips Pro :"Layra" (20 July 2005), Bouncy :"Bask in Art" (9 November 2005), Bouncy :"Wednesday" (30 November 2005), Bouncy :"Seiza no Yoru/Cyclamen no Kahori" (8 March 2006), Bouncy :"Kimi no Koto ga" (17 May 2006), Bouncy :"Slow" (22 November 2006), Bouncy :"Carnation" (13 December 2006), Bouncy :"Tattoo" (22 August 2007), Mid Field :"Rinne" (19 September 2007), Mid Field :"Melodies" (31 October 2007), Mid Field :"Aibu" (23 January 2008), Mid Field :"Samidare" (14 May 2008), Mid Field :"loved" (29 October 2008), Mid Field :"Kurutta Kajitsu" (13 May 2009), Avex :"Darlene" (25 June 2009), Avex :"You" (4 August 2009), Live distribution :"Law's" (13 January 2010), Avex :"Ryusei/The Sun" (23 May 2012), Avex :"Namida ga Afureru)/sari" (22 August 2012), Avex :''Yoru o, Omou'' (9 February 2017), digital download ;Best of albums :''Singles'' (24 December 2008), Mid Field :''Kuroyume Cover Album "Medley"'' (28 January 2009), Mid Field/Avex ;Compilations :'' Tribute to Auto-Mod - Flower in the Dark'' (15 June 1995) :'' Hide Tribute Spirits'' (1 May 1999) :''

Parade -Respective Tracks of Buck-Tick- ''Parade -Respective Tracks of Buck-Tick-'' is the first tribute album to Japanese rock band Buck-Tick, released on December 21, 2005. It collects cover versions of their songs by various artists. It reflected the influence Buck-Tick had on you ...

'' (21 December 2005) :''Tsuchiya Kohey's 25th Celebration "Get Stoned"'' (21 January 2009), tearbridge Records :'' Dead End Tribute -Song of Lunatics- (4 September 2013)'' ;DVDs :''Aurora'' (30 October 2003),Universal Japan :''Daisan no Tobira'' (7 April 2004) :''Kagefumi'' (15 September 2004) :''Tenshi no Uta'' (20 July 2005),Bouncy :''Mellow'' (31 August 2005),Bouncy :''Groover'' (February 2006) :''Tenshi no Uta '06 'Travel' '' (24 January 2007),Toshiba EMI :''Clips'' (27 August 2008),Universal Japan :''Kiyoharu 5.21 Performance at Kudan Kaikan Rhythmless & Perspective Live "Light and Shade"'' (10 September 2008), Mid Field :''Forever Love'' (2009) :''The 40th Birthday'' (24 December 2008), Mid Field :''Kuroyume The End: Corkscrew A Go Go''(2009), Avex :''15 ''(Documentary of his 15 Anniversary Concerts) (2009), Avex :''Play of Medley'' (2009), Avex :''The 41st Birthday'' (30 December 2009), Avex ;Books :''Kiyoharu Four My Life'' (28 May 2011)

References

External links

Kiyoharu official site

on

Avex Group is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate led by founder Max Matsuura and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1988, the company manages J-pop talents like Ayumi Hamasaki and internet sensation PikoTaro. It has also shifted into other busi ...

* {{Authority control Visual kei musicians Avex Group artists Japanese male rock singers Japanese alternative rock musicians Japanese punk rock musicians Japanese fashion designers 1968 births Living people Musicians from Gifu Prefecture