Tatsuro Yamashita

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Template:Nihongo, occasionally referred to as Tatsu Yamashita<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> or Tats Yamashita,<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer, who is known for pioneering the city pop style of music.<ref name="thejapantimes1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="radiomilwaukee">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

His most well-known song is "Christmas Eve", a best-selling song released in Japan in the 1980s. It has appeared on the Japanese charts for over 35 consecutive years.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He is known for his collaborations with his wife Mariya Takeuchi on many songs, including "Plastic Love",<ref name="thejapantimes2">Template:Cite news</ref> and the American songwriter Alan O'Day, with whom he co-wrote the songs "Your Eyes", "Magic Ways", "Love Can Go the Distance", and "Fragile".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He is sometimes called the "king" of city pop.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="waxpoetics">Template:Cite news</ref>

Yamashita is considered a major contributor to Japanese music and is ranked by HMV Japan as the sixth among the top 100 Japanese Artists.<ref name="waxpoetics"/><ref name="redbullmusicacademy" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

File:Tatsuro Yamashita, 2005 (forward crop).jpg
Yamashita in 2005

Yamashita was a member of the band Sugar Babe<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with musicians Taeko Onuki and Kunio Muramatsu, who released their only album Songs in 1975.<ref name="sugarbabebio">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="tatsuro"/> After the group disbanded in 1976, Yamashita signed to RCA and launched his solo career, releasing the album Circus Town the same year. Also in 1976, he teamed up with Eiichi Ohtaki, the producer of Sugar Babe,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Sugar Babe member Ginji Ito to release Niagara Triangle Vol. 1 which was cited by MTV as one of the finest collaborative efforts of that period.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His 1979 award-winning album Moonglow gained only moderate success,<ref name="22rt">Template:Cite web</ref> but his 1980 song Ride on Time reached No. 3 on the Japanese Oricon chart and the album of the same name topped the chart subsequently,<ref name="goodluck">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="jpno1album80s">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="redbullmusicacademy">Template:Cite news</ref> propelling him to stardom.<ref name="tatsuro"/>

Tatsuro's music has been regarded as a symbol of Japanese city pop, as represented by Ride on Time and For You in the early 1980s.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 2011, Yamashita's newly-released album Ray of Hope topped the weekly Oricon Albums Chart, making him the fourth singer to have topped the chart at least once per decade for four decades running.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He has been called a "sound craftsman" because of his commitment to music-making.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web.</ref> A mutli-faceted musician, some of his songs are recorded entirely by himself, including vocal backup, guitar arrangement, synthesizer, and percussion. His music is heavily acoustic, but also demonstrates a wide range of knowledge about analog and digital recording, and latest musical production technology, including computer programming.

"Christmas Eve", one of Yamashita's best-known songs in Japan and the best-selling Japanese single of the 1980s,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> first appeared on his 1983 album Melodies. It topped the charts in 1990 and has since ranked in the top 100 on the Japanese charts every Christmas season. The song was most famously a commercial song for JR Central's "Xmas Express."<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> It has sold nearly 2 million copies since its release and continues to be sold in small quantities as a limited edition every Christmas season. The English-version of the song, with lyrics by Alan O'Day, was also recorded by Yamashita and has been covered by artists such as Pentatonix, the Commodores, All-4-One, and Idina Menzel.

As a solo artist, Yamashita has released 13 original studio albums, five cover albums, two live albums, multiple compilations, and over 50 singles. He is the most commercially successful Japanese male solo recording artist in the history of the Japanese album chart, selling approximately 9 million albums in total.<ref name="makihara">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="oricon album">Template:Cite web</ref> He has also composed for films and television commercials, and worked on records by other artists. Yamashita frequently collaborated with Alan O'Day, who wrote the English lyrics for some of his most popular songs, such as “Christmas Eve”.

Personal life

His wife is Mariya Takeuchi, whom he married in 1982. They have one daughter.<ref name="takeuchibio">Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Ill, a Japanese record producer, who discussed Johnny Kitagawa's sexual harassment allegations in various media outlets, had his management contract terminated by Johnny & Associates, to which he had belonged. In 2023, he alleged that Yamashita and his wife Mariya Takeuchi, who also belong to the company, were in agreement with the company's policy.<ref name="tokyo-sports_268244">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="cyzo_349726">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="asahi_20230706">Template:Cite web</ref> On July 9, 2023, Yamashita responded on his radio show, "Sunday Songbook". He explained that as someone in a corner of the music industry, he knew nothing of the internal affairs in Johnny's, much less about Johnny Kitagawa's sexual assault case. Yamashita stated that he is grateful for Johnny as a producer and had great respect for him, but said that sexual assault was "unforgivable" and called for the case to be investigated and the victims to be assisted.<ref name="AsahiResponse">Template:Cite news</ref>

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Chart
positions 		Label Notes Sales estimate<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
JPN
<ref name="oricon album" />
1975 Songs 3 Elec/Niagara
  • The only studio album by the band Sugar Babe
  • Peaked the chart at the time of 1994 reissue
  • In 2005, expanded remaster edition was reissued as "30th Anniversary Edition"
  • In 2015, expanded remaster edition and remix was reissued in a two-disc album as "40th Anniversary Ultimate Edition"
1976 Niagara Triangle Vol.1 63 Niagara/Columbia
  • The only studio album by the limited pop trio Niagara Triangle(with Eiichi Ohtaki and Ginji Ito)
  • Peaked the chart at the time of reissue
Circus Town 27 RVC/RCA
  • In 2002, expanded remaster edition was reissued
  • Peaked the chart at the time of 2002 reissue
1977 Spacy 29
1978 Go Ahead! 25
1979 Moonglow 20 RVC/AIR In 2002, expanded remaster edition was reissued 200,000+
1980 Ride on Time 1 300,000+
On the Street Corner 13
  • Originally, it was a limited edition of 100,000 copies
  • In 1986, remix and re-recorded vocal edition was officially reissued as "On The Street Corner 1 ('86 Version)"
  • In 2000, expanded edition was reissued as "On The Street Corner 1"
 100,000+
1982 For You 1 In 2002, expanded remaster edition was reissued 700,000+
1983 Melodies Alfa Moon In 2013, the reissue version was released as "30th Anniversary Edition" 800,000+
1984 Big Wave 2
  • Soundtrack for the same-titled motion picture
  • In 2014, the reissue version was released as "30th Anniversary Edition"
 450,000+
1986 Pocket Music 1
  • In 1991, a new remix version of the song was released
  • In 2020, the reissue version was released as "2020 Remaster"
 500,000+
On the Street Corner 2 3 In 2000, expanded edition was reissued 200,000+
1988 Template:Nihongo 1 In 2020, the reissue version was released as "2020 Remaster" 500,000+
1991 Artisan Moon/MMG In 2021, the reissue version was released as "30th Anniversary Edition" 700,000+
1993 Season's Greetings 4
  • Christmas album
  • In 2013, the reissue version was released as "20th Anniversary Edition"
 400,000+
1998 Cozy 1 Moon/Warner 800,000+
1999 On the Street Corner 3 4 300,000+
2005 Sonorite 2 250,000+
2011 Ray of Hope 1 250,000+
2022 Softly 1 Released on June 22, 2022<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 200,000+<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Collaborations

Year Album Chart
positions 		Label Notes
JPN
<ref name="oricon album2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="oricon album3">Template:Cite web</ref>
1978 Pacific
(with Haruomi Hosono and Shigeru Suzuki) 		— CBS/Sony Instrumental album produced by Masatoshi Sakai.
Kagirinaku Tōmei ni Chikai Burū, "Almost Infinitely Transparent Blue" Original Soundtrack KITTY Participated in "Groovin'" as a vocalist.

Live albums

Year Album Chart
positions 		Label Notes
JPN
<ref name="oricon album 2">Template:Cite web</ref>
1978 It's a Poppin' Time 28 RVC/RCA In 2002, expanded remaster edition was reissued
1989 Joy: Tatsuro Yamashita Live 3 Alfa Moon Double album

Compilation albums

Year Album Chart
positions 		Label Notes Sales estimate<ref name=":5"/>
JPN
<ref name="oricon album" />
1980 Tatsuro from Niagara 37 Niagara/Columbia Peaked the chart at the time of 2009 reissue
1980 Come Along 32 In 2017, the reissue version was released as "2017 Remaster"
1982 Greatest Hits! of Tatsuro Yamashita 2 RCA/AIR In 1997, expanded remaster edition was officially reissued with three bonus tracks 400,000+
1984 Come Along II 8 In 2017, the reissue version was released as "2017 Remaster"
1985 Tatsuro Collection 35 Unofficial
1986 Ballad for You 37
Rock'n Funk Tatsu 59
1990 Best Pack I (1976–1979) —
Best Pack II (1979–1982)
Tatsuro Songs From L.A. Platz Unofficial, English covers of his songs by various artists
1991 Tatsuro Songs From L.A. 2
1995 Treasures 1 Moon/East West 1,200,000+
2002 The RCA/AIR Years LP Box 1976-1982 — RCA/AIR Boxset
Rarities 1 Moon/Warner 250,000+
2012 Opus (All Time Best 1975-2012)<ref name="hmv">Template:Cite news</ref> 500,000+
2017 Come Along III 4<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>

Other releases

Following materials are not marketed to the record retailers, though they have been available via mail order to his official fan club.<ref name="fanclub">Template:Cite web</ref>

Album Label Footnotes
Add Some Music to Your Day Wild Honey
  • Cover album that Yamashita and his friends produced and released independently in 1972
The Works of Tatsuro Yamashita Vol.1
  • Compilation comprises his compositions written for other artists
Tatsuro Yamashita CM Collection Vol.1
  • Compilation comprises materials originally used in the advertisements and never issued on his official releases
Tatsuro Yamashita CM Collection Vol.2

Singles

Year A-side B-side(s) / double A-side
<ref name="singlediscography1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="singlediscography2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="singlediscography3">Template:Cite web</ref> 		Chart positions Label Notes Album
JPN
<ref name="oricon single">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="oriconartistsinglesonline">Template:Cite web</ref> 		A-side B-side(s) / double A-side
1975 "Down Town"(written and sung by Tatsuro Yamashita) "Template:Nihongo" (written and sung by Taeko Ōnuki) — Elec/Niagara Sugar Babe's only single Songs
1976 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" Columbia/Niagara Niagara Triangle(with Ei-ichi Ōtaki and Ginji Ito)'s only single Niagara Triangle Vol.1
1979 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" RVC/RCA A promotional board Go Ahead!
"Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo"
"Template:Nihongo (Let's Kiss the Sun)" "Template:Nihongo (The Whispering Sea)" Moonglow Go Ahead!
"Template:Nihongo" "Funky Flushin'" RVC/AIR Moonglow
1980 "Ride on Time" "Rainy Walk" 3 Ride On Time Moonglow
"My Sugar Babe" "Daydream" 90 Ride On Time
1982 "Down Town" "Template:Nihongo" ['82 Remix] — CBS/Sony/Niagara Songs Niagara Triangle Vol.1 / Treasures
"Template:Nihongo" "Music Book" 12 RVC/AIR Greateat Hits! For You
1983 "Template:Nihongo" "Darlin'" 17 ALFA MOON/Moon Melodies Big Wave
"Template:Nihongo" "Please Let Me Wonder" 34 Treasures
"Template:Nihongo" "White Christmas"(83,86~) / "Christmas Eve" [English Version](90,00~) / "Christmas Eve" [Karaoke](00~) / "Christmas Eve" [Acoustic Live](13~) / "Special Medley (The Christmas Song (Mariya Takeuchi)~Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas)"(14) / "Bella Notte (Live)" / "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Live)"(19) / "Blow" (Home Karaoke) / "Misty Mauve" (Home Karaoke) / "Mighty Smile" (Home Karaoke) / "Goodnight Rosie" (Home Karaoke) / "Love Can Go the Distance (Home Karaoke) "(21) 1
  • topped the chart in 1989
  • In 1983, Limited Edition was released as 12-inch single.
  • Since 1986, it has been remastered and reissued in various materials during the Christmas season.
  • "Christmas Eve" English lyrics by Alan O'Day
  • In 2013, the reissue version was released as "30th Anniversary Edition"
 Melodies On The Street Corner 2(White Christmas) etc.
1984 "The Theme from Big Wave" "I Love You (Part I & II)" 23 lyrics by Alan O'Day Big Wave
1985 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" [Live Version] 12 Pocket Music Rarities
"Template:Nihongo" "Mermaid" 22 B-side lyrics by Alan O'Day Pocket Music
1987 "Template:Nihongo" "You Make Me Feel Brand New" 19 boku no naka no shonen On The Street Corner 2
1988 "Get Back in Love" "First Luck (Template:Nihongo)" 6 Rarities
1989 "Template:Nihongo" "The Girl in White" 76 B-side English lyrics by Alan O'Day boku no naka no shonen
"Template:Nihongo" [Live Version] "Template:Nihongo" [Live Version] 22 Joy Tatsuro Yamashita Live / Treasures(Studio Version) Joy 1.5 [Ray of Hope Bonus Disc]
1990 "Endless Game" "The Theme from Big Wave" [Live Version] 5 MMG/Moon B-side lyrics by Alan O'Day Artisan
1991 "Template:Nihongo (Goodbye, Summer Days)" "Template:Nihongo" 12 Rarities
"Template:Nihongo (Turner's Steamroller)" "Only with You" [Live Version] 30 B-side lyrics by Alan O'Day Joy 1.5 [Ray of Hope Bonus Disc]
1992 "Template:Nihongo" "Blow", "Blow" ['98 Remix](98) 18 In 1998, Reissue was released. Rarities
1993 "Magic Touch" "I Do" 17 Cozy
"Template:Nihongo" Medley: "Bella Notte" / "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 22 Treasures Season's Greetings
1994 "Template:Nihongo" [Remix] "Downtown" [Single Mix] 29 NIAGARA/east west japan Niagara Triangle Vol.1 / Treasures Songs
”Downtown” "Template:Nihongo" —
  • Promo Only
  • Limited to 700 copies
 Songs
1995 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" [Live Version] 24 east west japan/Moon Treasures Joy 1.5 [Ray of Hope Bonus Disc]
1996 "Template:Nihongo (Stand in the Light)" "Template:Nihongo" [Live Version] 23 Duet with Melissa Manchester Cozy
"Dreaming Girl" "Template:Nihongo" [Live Version] 25
1998 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" [Guitar Instrumental] 10 Warner/Moon Rarities
"Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" / "Template:Nihongo" [Stand Alone Version] 12
1999 "Love Can Go the Distance" "When You Wish Upon a Star" 18 A-side lyrics by Alan O'Day On The Street Corner 3 Sonorite
2000 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" [Live Version] 20 Rarities Joy 1.5 [Ray of Hope Bonus Disc]
2001 "Template:Nihongo" "So Much in Love" [New Vocal Remix] 15 non-album single / On The Street Corner 2(The Former Version)
2002 "Loveland, Island" "Your Eyes" 26 BMG/AIR Reissue, B-side lyrics by Alan O'Day For You (2002 Remaster)
2003 "Ride on Time" "Template:Nihongo" 13 Reissue Ride On Time For You (2002 Remaster) (Bonus Track)
"Template:Nihongo" [2003 New Vocal Remix] "Template:Nihongo" 16 Warner/Moon Sonorite / Go Ahead!(original) Sonorite / Softly(2021 Version)
2004 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" 14 Sonorite
2005 "Forever Mine" "Midas Touch" 8
"Template:Nihongo" — 29
"Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" / "Template:Nihongo" [Live Version] 49 Sonorite Sonorite / non-album single
2008 "Template:Nihongo" "La Vie en rose" / "Angel of the Light" 4 B-side "Angel of the Light" lyrics by Alan O'Day Ray of Hope Ray of Hope / Softly
2009 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" / "Template:Nihongo" ['09 Live Version] 8 non-album single
2010 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" ['09 Live Version] 13
"Template:Nihongo" "Happy Gathering Day" 9 Ray of Hope
2011 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" ['09 Live Version] 15 non-album single
2013 "Template:Nihongo" "Template:Nihongo" 10 Softly
2016 "Let It Be Me" — — Souvenir〜Mariya Takeuchi Live(Live Version) / Expressions(Studio Version)
"Cheer Up! The Summer" "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You ～君の瞳に恋してる" [Live Version] 8 Softly non-album single
2017 "Reborn" "Reborn" [Vocals by seri] /"Reborn" [Harmonica Version] /"ターナーの汽罐車 [Tānā no Kikansha]" [Live Version] /"Drip Drop" [Live Version] 6
  • "Reborn" [Vocals by seri] /"Reborn" [Harmonica Version] Produced by Shin Yasui
  • "Reborn" [Vocals by seri] Arranged by Shoji Ikenaga
  • "Reborn" [Harmonica Version] Arranged by Chikara Tsuzuki & Takeshi Hayama
2018 "Mirai no Theme (ミライのテーマ)" "Template:Nihongo" /"Template:Nihongo [Live Version] 12 Softly / non-album single
2019 "Recipe" "Southbound #9" [Live Version] 9 non-album single
2023 "Sync of Summer" 5 non-album singles
2025 "Onomatopoeia Island" / "Move On" 4

Awards

Japan Record Awards
Year Title Category Personnel
1980 (22nd) Moonglow<ref name="22rt" /> Best Albums (Performer, composer, arranger and producer: Yamashita / lyricist: Minako Yoshida)
1981 (23rd) On the Street Corner<ref name="23rt">Template:Cite web</ref> Best 10 Albums (Performer, arranger, producer: Yamashita)
1982 (24th) For You<ref name="24rt">Template:Cite web</ref> Best 10 Albums (Performer, composer, arranger and producer: Yamashita / lyricist: Minako Yoshida)
1983 (25th) Melodies<ref name="25rt">Template:Cite web</ref> Best 10 Albums (Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
1986 (28th) Pocket Music<ref name="28rt">Template:Cite web</ref> Excellent Albums (Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
1988 (30th) Boku no Naka no Shounen<ref name="30rt">Template:Cite web</ref> Excellent Albums (Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
1991 (33rd) Artisan<ref name="33rt">Template:Cite web</ref> Excellent Albums (Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
1993 (35th) Quiet Life<ref name="35rt">Template:Cite web</ref> Greatest Album (Producer and arranger: Yamashita / Performer and songwriter: Mariya Takeuchi)
2003 (45th) "Christmas Eve"<ref name="45rt">Template:Cite web</ref> Special Prizes (Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)
Japan Gold Disc Award
Year Song Category Personnel
1994 (9th) Impressions<ref name="09gdt">Template:Cite web</ref> Grand-prix Album (Producer and arranger: Yamashita / Songwriter and performer: Mariya Takeuchi / arranger: Katsuhisa Hattori / recording engineer: Yasuo Sato)
1998 (13th) Cozy<ref name="09gdt 2">Template:Cite web</ref> Pop Albums of the Year (Songwriter, producer, arranger, performer: Yamashita)

References

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