Chachamaru (musician)
Encyclopedia
, is a Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter, arranger and producer. Usually referred to by his stage name "Chachamaru", little is known about his early years and personal life. Besides as a member and collaborator with various bands and musical acts in the 80s and 90s, he is most known as being the lead guitar
ist and associate music producer for Gackt
.
, Japan
, on March 3, 1960. He was a student at the Bukkyo University
, private university
with philosophy based on Pure Land Buddhism
.
In 1983, Chachamaru co-founded progressive rock band Gerard
, as a leader vocalist
and guitar. It was until 1986 the band disbanded because their signed label King Records no longer supported progressive music. After a two year long break, with Shusei Tsukamoto formed a progressive/hard rock band Vienna
being on vocals and guitar. In the same year they released their first album "Overture". With one more album and live record they went on a hiatus. During 1989, he was a guitarist for Minoru Niihara
, at the time ex and now current singer of famous Loudness
, session metal band Ded Chaplin for releasing their first album "Ded Chaplin 1st".
In 1990 he participated Gerard reunion for a new recording, although shortly after due to musical divergences left the band. Not long after, Chachamaru with Minoru Niihara re-formed metal band Ded Chaplin. Within two more years on music scene, they released two more albums, and "The Best Works of Ded Chaplin" until their disbandment. Without another period of band activities, in 1994 to 1995 helped Toshi
from X Japan
on his second studio album "Grace" for composing and guitar playing, and live supporting as a lead guitarist and backing vocals. In the next year, until then being known under his real name, changed to stage name "Chachamaru" and joined the session hard rock band Girl U Need to release self-titled album on the same year. As a part of Vienna reunion, they managed to publish one more album "Unknown" until their final disbandment.
Since 2000, when Chachamaru joined the solo artist Gackt
, he is an associate producer and the lead guitarist for his live support band, as well as backing vocalist. In 2010 was the tenth anniversary of their musical collaboration.
ist, is considered as a technical guitarist, known for his loose yet melodic and controlled playing and also for his unique tuning. His musical style varies from progressive rock, metal, soul and blues with experimental playing.
/Charvel
luthier Itaru Kanno designed several guitar models for the companies, among them the 27-fretter „Jackson Falcon Custom“ for Chachamaru, a guitar never sold outside of Japan. When around 94s Jackson's contract with the Japanese trading company Kyowa-Shokai expired and they opted not to renew their contact with Jackson guitars, Itaru as one of the main designers at the Chushin Gakki factory, in 95s established a new guitar company, the Caparison Guitars
. Their new model, 27-fretter „The Caparison Horus“ made its debut in the same year, and more than ten years later, the collaboration with Chachamaru is still improving, as the model being the most famous company guitar.
Albums
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist and associate music producer for Gackt
Gackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
.
Biography
Yukihiro "Chachamaru" Fujimura was born in Kyoto PrefectureKyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, on March 3, 1960. He was a student at the Bukkyo University
Bukkyo University
is a private university in Kita-ku, Kyoto in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1912, and it was chartered as a junior college in 1949. Bukkyo means Buddhism in Japanese Language. And this university's philosophy is based on Pure Land Buddhism.-External links:*...
, private university
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
with philosophy based on Pure Land Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism , also referred to as Amidism in English, is a broad branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism and currently one of the most popular traditions of Buddhism in East Asia. Pure Land is a branch of Buddhism focused on Amitābha Buddha...
.
In 1983, Chachamaru co-founded progressive rock band Gerard
Gerard (band)
Gerard is a Japanese progressive rock band.The current members are :* Toshio Egawa : keyboards* Kenichi Fujimoto : drums* Atsushi Hasegawa : bass-Biography:Gerard is led by the keyboardist Toshio Egawa...
, as a leader vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
and guitar. It was until 1986 the band disbanded because their signed label King Records no longer supported progressive music. After a two year long break, with Shusei Tsukamoto formed a progressive/hard rock band Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
being on vocals and guitar. In the same year they released their first album "Overture". With one more album and live record they went on a hiatus. During 1989, he was a guitarist for Minoru Niihara
Minoru Niihara
is the original and current lead singer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.His first band was Earthshaker, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly his voice to the high pitch tones requested in a heavy metal act...
, at the time ex and now current singer of famous Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
, session metal band Ded Chaplin for releasing their first album "Ded Chaplin 1st".
In 1990 he participated Gerard reunion for a new recording, although shortly after due to musical divergences left the band. Not long after, Chachamaru with Minoru Niihara re-formed metal band Ded Chaplin. Within two more years on music scene, they released two more albums, and "The Best Works of Ded Chaplin" until their disbandment. Without another period of band activities, in 1994 to 1995 helped Toshi
Toshi (musician)
, better known by his stage name Toshi , is a Japanese singer and musician. He is best known as vocalist and co-founder of the heavy metal group X Japan. The band elevated to legendary status in Japan, until its disbanding in 1997. Toshi then went on to have an extensive solo career...
from X Japan
X Japan
is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
on his second studio album "Grace" for composing and guitar playing, and live supporting as a lead guitarist and backing vocals. In the next year, until then being known under his real name, changed to stage name "Chachamaru" and joined the session hard rock band Girl U Need to release self-titled album on the same year. As a part of Vienna reunion, they managed to publish one more album "Unknown" until their final disbandment.
Since 2000, when Chachamaru joined the solo artist Gackt
Gackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
, he is an associate producer and the lead guitarist for his live support band, as well as backing vocalist. In 2010 was the tenth anniversary of their musical collaboration.
Music Style and technique
Chachamaru primarily being as the lead guitarLead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist, is considered as a technical guitarist, known for his loose yet melodic and controlled playing and also for his unique tuning. His musical style varies from progressive rock, metal, soul and blues with experimental playing.
Guitar Legacy
At the time, JacksonJackson Guitars
__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
/Charvel
Charvel
Charvel is a brand of guitar originally founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and then later, Glendora, California. Charvel guitars became popular in the 1980s due to their association with famous rock guitarists such as Edward Van Halen , Richie Sambora , Warren DeMartini ,...
luthier Itaru Kanno designed several guitar models for the companies, among them the 27-fretter „Jackson Falcon Custom“ for Chachamaru, a guitar never sold outside of Japan. When around 94s Jackson's contract with the Japanese trading company Kyowa-Shokai expired and they opted not to renew their contact with Jackson guitars, Itaru as one of the main designers at the Chushin Gakki factory, in 95s established a new guitar company, the Caparison Guitars
Caparison Guitars
Caparison Guitars is a Japan-based manufacturer of custom shop electric guitars.-History:The Caparison Guitar company was established in 1995 by former Jackson/Charvel Japan designer Itaru Kanno and was owned by Kyowa Shokai, a company that made contracts with factories to produce guitars for them...
. Their new model, 27-fretter „The Caparison Horus“ made its debut in the same year, and more than ten years later, the collaboration with Chachamaru is still improving, as the model being the most famous company guitar.
Discography
In 2002, Chachamaru managed to release a solo album "Air". He brought some of his old friends, Shusei Tsukamoto, Masafumi Nishida and Ryuichi Nishida, as well new friends You Kurosaki and Gackt Camui who took part in it as a guest vocalist, into the studio to record.Albums