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Sambomaster (サンボマスター, Sanbomasutā) is a Japanese rock band signed by Sony Music Japan.


History

Lead vocalist and guitarist Takashi Yamaguchi first met drummer Yasufumi Kiuchi a few years back, at a university music club they were both members of. The duo ran into bassist Yoichi Kondo during February 2000, and the three went on to officially form the band now known as Sambomaster. They made their debut at a live house in Tokyo's Kōenji district and soon followed this up with the self-production of their first single "Kick no Oni" (Kicking Demons), which they spent nearly a year working on. It was subsequently released in April 2001 as a limited edition of 300 copies. For the first time, listeners outside of a live show were presented with vocalist and frontman Yamaguchi's vocals, which shift between a soft, sandpaper-like melodic voice to all-out screaming madness. Sambomaster's musical style is a blend of punk/classic rock, pop, jazz and rock ballads.
The year 2003 saw the release of their very first major-label album, Atarashiki Nihongo Rock no Michi to Hikari and a live performance at the Fuji Rock festival's Rookie GO GO. This led to a huge rise in their success and more widespread notoriety. They have been gathering acclaim from both critics and regular listeners ever since.

In 2004 and 2005, Sambomaster released the majority of their hit singles including "Seishun Kyōsōkyoku" and "Sekai wa Sore wo Ai to Yobundaze"; "Seishun Kyōsōkyoku" was used as the fifth opening theme to the hit anime series Naruto, and "Sekai wa sore Ai to Yobunda ze" ended up being the ending theme to the popular Japanese sitcom/comedy Densha Otoko (and also Nintendo DS game Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2). They were also asked to do the main theme to the movie Koi no Mon, which became the song Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no. Recently, their song Hikari no Rock was featured as the single for the film Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion.

The band is still very active currently, releasing singles and albums, which are continuously rising up the Japanese music charts.

In March 2009, their song "Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite" was announced to be the nineteenth ending song in the hit anime series Bleach.The band's name, Sambomaster, refers to the Russian martial art called Sambo.


Members

Takashi Yamaguchi (山口隆 Yamaguchi Takashi)

Born: February 8, 1976
Hometown: Fukushima
Instrument(s) Used: 1960 Gibson Les Paul Special TV Yellow

Yasufumi Kiuchi (木内泰史 Kiuchi Yasufumi)

Born: August 4, 1976
Hometown: Chiba
Instrument(s) Used: Canopus Drums Kit

Yoichi Kondo (近藤洋一 Kondo Yoichi)

Born: June 16, 1977
Hometown: Tochigi
Instrument(s) Used: Fender Jazz Bass


Discography

Singles

Kick no Oni (indie) (April 2001)

1. Introduction
2. Kung-fu Rock
3. Golden Circle no Ornette Coleman
4. Kick no Oni
5. Saikyō Cyclone
6. Tsunagari
7. Sambomaster no Kyūjitsu

Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi (April 7, 2004)

1. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi
2. Netchū Jidai
3. Dandan
4. Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru (Studio Live Version)

Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no (July 22, 2004)

1. Tsuki ni Saku Hana no Yō ni Naru no
2. Tegami (King of Soul mix)
3. Itoshiki Hibi (Nashville Skyline version)
4. Hito wa Sore o Jounetsu to Yobu (Live Version)

Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (December 1, 2004)

1. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku
2. Tsunagari (King of Laidback mix)
3. Ame
4. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (NARUTO OPENING MIX)

Utagoe yoo kore (April 27, 2005)

1. Utagoe yoo kore
2. Sad Ballad no Sekai
3. Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (Live Version)

Sekai wa Sore wo Ai to Yobundaze (August 3, 2005)

1. Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze
2. Atsui Suna to Warui Ame
3. Boku ni Sasagu

Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tamborine o Narasu no da (November 2, 2005)

1. Subete no Yoru to Subete no Asa ni Tambourine o Narasu no da
2. Ano Kane o Narasu no wa Anata
3. Hanarenai Futari

Tegami (March 15, 2006)

1. Tegami ~Kitarubeki Ongaku to Shite~
2. Get Back Sambomaster
3. Yoyogi nite

Itoshisa to Kokoro no Kabe (August 2, 2006)

1. Itoshisa to Kokoro no Kabe
2. Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze (Live Version)

I Love You (April 18, 2007)

1. I Love You
2. Beibi Beibi Su
3. Coaster
4. Kyōkai Mae Tōri

Very Special!! (July 25, 2007)

1. Very Special!!
2. Ubai Toru Koto Nitsuite
3. Utsukushiki Ningen no Hibi (Sekai Rokku Senbatsu Version)

Hikari no Rock (December 12, 2007) (Theme song for BLEACH: The DiamondDust Rebellion)

1. Hikari no Rock
2. Hikari no Rock (Instrumental)

Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite (June 10, 2009) (19th ending theme for Bleach)

1. Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite
2. Akashi
3. Boku wa Jiyuu
4. Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite (Bleach Version)

Rabu Songu (November 18, 2009) (English: Love Song)

1. Rabu Songu
2. Sekai wo Kaesasete okure yo
3. Rabu Songu (Instrumental)
4. Sekai wo Kaesasete okure yo (Instrumental)

Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha (February 24, 2010)

1. Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha
2. Pop Life
3. Boku no Namae wa Blues to iimasu
4. Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha (Instrumental)


Albums

Atarashiki Nihongo Rock no Michi to Hikari (December 3, 2003)

* English: The Way and Light of New Japanese Rock

Sambomaster wa kimi ni katarikakeru (January 19, 2005)

* English: Sambomaster is Talking to You

Boku to Kimi no Subete o Rock 'n Roll to Yobe (April 12, 2006)

* English: Call everything that we (you and I) are 'Rock n' Roll'

Ongaku no Kodomo wa Mina Utau (January 23, 2008)

* English: All You Musical Kids, Sing

Kimi no Tameni Tsuyoku Naritai (April 21, 2010)

* English: I want to become strong for you