Aobozu (band)

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Aobozu
Also known asThe Blue Boss (1999–2000)
OriginOdawara, Kanagawa, Japan
GenresAlternative rock
Years active1999–present
LabelsToy's Factory
MembersHozzy (vocals)
Yūichi Tanaka (田中ユウイチ) (guitar)
Shinichi Fujimori (藤森真一) (bass)
Takurō Watanabe (渡辺拓郎) (drums)
Past membersKamei (亀井) (drummer)
WebsiteAobozu Official Site

Aobozu (藍坊主, Aobōzu) is a Japanese alternative rock band, signed to Toy's Factory. They debuted in 2003, with the album Aobozu.

Biography[edit]

Hozzy, Kamei and Fujimori were originally childhood friends, all coming from Odawara. In 1999, they formed a band in called The Blue Boss (ザ・ブルーボーズ, Za Burū Bōzu) in 1999, that was a cover band for Japanese punk band The Blue Hearts. In 2000, they changed the band's name to aobōzu (藍坊主) - the name of a mythical yōkai (Japanese folk legend ghost), however with a different kanji for ao (藍 instead of 青). In 2001, Yūichi Tanaka (a friend of Fujimori's since kindergarten) joined the band as its guitarist. The band then centred their live activities in their hometown, as well as around the Tokyo areas of Hachiōji and Shimokitazawa.

In 2002, the band produced their first self-published CD: "Michi" (, Street). The following year, the band independently released their debut album Aobozu through Buddy Records, and had their songs featured on many punk compilation albums.

In 2004, the band's drummer Kamei left, and was replaced by a classmate of Tanakas, Takurō Watanabe, as a session drummer. The band then made their major debut under Toy's Factory, Hiroshige Blue, which reached the top 30 on the Oricon albums charts.

Since then, the band has toured exclusively, gradually gaining more fame. Their 2010 album Mizukane reached the top 10 on Oricon.

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Year Album Information Oricon albums
chart positions
2003 Aobozu (藍坊主, Aobōzu)
  • Released: February 12, 2003
  • Label: Buddy (DLCR-03021)
125
2004 Hiroshige Blue (ヒロシゲブルー, Hiroshige Burū)
  • Major label debut album
  • Released: May 12, 2004
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86155)
30
2005 Soda (ソーダ, Sōda)
  • Released: May 18, 2005
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86180)
29
2006 Hanamidori (ハナミドリ)
  • Released: April 26, 2006
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86194)
26
2008 Forestone (フォレストーン, Foresutōn)
  • Released: April 2, 2008
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86251)
15
2010 Mizukane (ミズカネ)
  • Released: February 17, 2010
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86321)
10
2011 The Very Best of Aobozu (ザ・ベリー・ベスト・オブ・アオボウズ)
  • Released: April 27, 2011
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86255)
2012 Noctiluca (ノクティルカ, Nokutiruka)
  • Released: April 18, 2012
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86381)
2013 Bloomery (ブルーメリー, Burūmerī)
  • Released: May 15, 2013
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86438)
2013 S/Normally (スノーマリー, Sunōmarī)
  • Released: November 6, 2013
  • Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86447)
2014 Himawari (向日葵)
  • Released: August 29, 2014
  • Label: Toy's Factory
2019 Moenai Kaseki (燃えない化石)
  • Released: July 10, 2019
  • Label: Toy's Factory
35[1]

Singles[edit]

Release Title Notes Oricon
Singles
charts
Album
2003 "Shizuku" (, Drop) Released under Buddy Records. 52 Hiroshige Blue
"Sora" (, Sky) Sole release under Hills Records. 66
2005 "Uzura" (ウズラ, Quail) First major label single. 35 Soda
"Spoon" (スプーン, Supūn) 40 Hanamidori
2006 "Sakura no Ashiato" (桜の足あと, Cherry Blossom Footprints) 28
"Hello Goodbye" (ハローグッバイ, Harō Gubbai) 19 Forestone
2007 "Coin Toss" (コイントス, Koin Tosu) 24
"Sora o Tsukuritaku Nakatta" (空を作りたくなかった, I Didn't Want to Make the Sky) 30
2008 "Kotoba no Mori" (言葉の森, Forest of Words) 29
"Mother" (マザー, Mazā) 28 Mizukane
2009 "Namae no Nai Iro" (名前の無い色, Nameless Color) 32
2010 "Dengon" (伝言, Rumor) 21

References[edit]

  1. ^ 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2019年07月22日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on July 22, 2019]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved July 17, 2019.

External links[edit]