Junichi Inagaki
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese popular music
singer.
, and graduated from Miyagi Prefectural Technical High School. One of his earliest musical influences was Stevie Wonder
. While a student in middle school, he joined a local band called Faces as a vocalist and drummer. Later, he also performed in bands that entertained United States military personnel
stationed in Yokosuka
and Tachikawa
. Beginning with his commercial debut single "Rainy Regret" (雨のリグレット Ame no riguretto) in 1982, Inagaki released a series of popular hits.
Inagaki's music became especially well known throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His songs have appeared on several drama programs and numerous commercial advertisements on Japanese television
. His 1992 ballad "When The Christmas Carols Play" (クリスマスキャロルの頃には Kurisumasu kyaroru no koro ni wa) was featured on the TBS
drama series Homework (ホームワーク), and remains one of the most popular holiday songs
in Japan.
As of 2010, Inagaki continues to tour in Japan, and will perform in Tokyo
, Osaka
, and Nagoya in June 2010. In a rare performance abroad, he held a private concert in San Francisco sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
on January 11, 2009.
Inagaki's first wife of more than 30 years died in 2006. He remarried in October 2007 to a woman 10 years his junior, and hosted a wedding reception in Tokyo for family and close friends in March 2008.
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...
ese popular music
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
singer.
Biography
Inagaki was born and raised in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi PrefectureMiyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
, and graduated from Miyagi Prefectural Technical High School. One of his earliest musical influences was Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
. While a student in middle school, he joined a local band called Faces as a vocalist and drummer. Later, he also performed in bands that entertained United States military personnel
United States Forces Japan
The refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the United States is obliged to defend Japan in close cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces for...
stationed in Yokosuka
United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka
U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, or Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka is a United States Navy base, in Yokosuka, Japan. Its mission is to maintain and operate base facilities for the logistic, recreational, administrative support and service of the U.S. Naval Forces Japan, U.S. 7th Fleet and...
and Tachikawa
Tachikawa Airfield
is an airfield in the city of Tachikawa, the western part of Tokyo, Japan. Currently under the administration of the Ministry of Defense, it has also served as the civil aviation with Japan's first scheduled air service.-Operations:...
. Beginning with his commercial debut single "Rainy Regret" (雨のリグレット Ame no riguretto) in 1982, Inagaki released a series of popular hits.
Inagaki's music became especially well known throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His songs have appeared on several drama programs and numerous commercial advertisements on Japanese television
Television in Japan
Television broadcasting in Japan started in 1939, making the country one of the first in the world with an experimental television service. In spite of that, because of the beginning of World War II in the Pacific region, this first experimentation lasted only a few months...
. His 1992 ballad "When The Christmas Carols Play" (クリスマスキャロルの頃には Kurisumasu kyaroru no koro ni wa) was featured on the TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
drama series Homework (ホームワーク), and remains one of the most popular holiday songs
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
in Japan.
As of 2010, Inagaki continues to tour in Japan, and will perform in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, and Nagoya in June 2010. In a rare performance abroad, he held a private concert in San Francisco sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
on January 11, 2009.
Inagaki's first wife of more than 30 years died in 2006. He remarried in October 2007 to a woman 10 years his junior, and hosted a wedding reception in Tokyo for family and close friends in March 2008.
Original studio albums
| Year | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 246:3AM | July 21, 1982 |
| 1983 | Shylights Japan Record Award Japan Record Award for outstanding achievements in the Japan Composer's Association, is major music awards show held annually in Japan.- Categories :The Japan Record Award are four awards which are not restricted by genre.... for one of the 10 Best Albums of 1983 25th Japan Record Awards The 25th Japan Record Awards were held December 31, 1983. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the this year.- Award winners :*Japan Record Award:**Takashi Hosokawa for "Yagiri no Watashi"*Best Vocalist:**Masako Mori*Best New Artist:... |
February 1, 1983 |
| 1983 | J.I. | September 1, 1983 |
| 1984 | Personally | May 19, 1984 |
| 1985 | No Strings | May 1, 1985 |
| 1986 | Realistic Japan Record Award Japan Record Award for outstanding achievements in the Japan Composer's Association, is major music awards show held annually in Japan.- Categories :The Japan Record Award are four awards which are not restricted by genre.... for Outstanding Album 28th Japan Record Awards The 28th Annual Japan Record Awards took place at the Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo, December 31, 1986, starting at 6:30PM JST. The primary ceremonies were televised in Japan on TBS.- Award winners :*Japan Record Award:**Akina Nakamori for "DESIRE"... |
March 1, 1986 |
| 1987 | Mind Note | March 4, 1987 |
| 1988 | Edge of Time | April 25, 1988 |
| 1989 | Heart & Soul | April 19, 1989 |
| 1990 | Self Portrait | April 4, 1990 |
| 1991 | Will | April 3, 1991 |
| 1992 | Sketch of Heart | May 20, 1992 |
| 1993 | For my Dearest | March 24, 1993 |
| 1994 | Signs of Trust | April 6, 1994 |
| 1995 | J's Dimension | June 14, 1995 |
| 1996 | Primary | September 21, 1996 |
| 1997 | V.O.Z. | November 21, 1997 |
| 2000 | My One | June 21, 2000 |
| 2001 | endless chain | November 21, 2001 |
| 2002 | Junichi Inagaki | November 21, 2002 |
| 2011 | Just For You... (たったひとりの君へ… Tatta hitori no kimi e) | April 20, 2011 |
Compilation and live albums
| Year | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | J. Live | December 21, 1983 |
| 1985 | Complete | August 22, 1985 |
| 1985 | Ballad Selection/P.S. I Want to Give You A Hug (抱きしめたい Dakishimetai) | September 29, 1986 |
| 1988 | 16 Candles | December 1, 1988 |
| 1990 | New Best Now Complete | September 27, 1990 |
| 1992 | On Television | December 2, 1992 |
| 1998 | Super Best Collection | September 30, 1998 |
| 1999 | Super Best/Single Hits Collection | January 21, 1999 |
| 1999 | Super Best/Album Favorite Collection | January 21, 1999 |
| 2001 | Love Ballad Best Collection/P.S. I Want to Give You A Hug (抱きしめたい Dakishimetai) | August 22, 2001 |
| 2002 | Love Beat Best Collection/Dramatic Rain (ドラマティック・レイン) | January 23, 2002 |
| 2002 | Super Best Single Hits Collection Released on DVD Audio only. | December 18, 2002 |
| 2003 | Slow Songs (スロー ソングス) | November 26, 2003 |
| 2005 | Complete Single Collection | December 16, 2005 |
| 2007 | Rainy Voice 〜greatest hits & mellow pop〜 | September 5, 2007 |
| 2009 | Ballad Best (バラードベスト) | March 11, 2009 |
Cover and duet albums
| Year | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Another Page | July 2, 1986 |
| 1990 | Ten | December 1, 1990 |
| 1996 | Revival | December 4, 1996 |
| 1999 | FM AOR | March 25, 1999 |
| 2004 | Revival II | November 3, 2004 |
| 2005 | Unchained Melody | December 23, 2005 |
| 2008 | A Man and A Woman (男と女 Otoko to onna) Two Hearts Two Voices | November 19, 2008 |
| 2009 | A Man and A Woman 2 (男と女2 Otoko to onna 2) | October 28, 2009 |
| 2009 | A Man and A Woman 2 (男と女2 Otoko to onna 2) Special Edition | October 28, 2009 |
| 2010 | A Man and A Woman 3 (男と女3 Otoko to onna 3) | September 29, 2010 |
| 2010 | A Man and A Woman 3 (男と女3 Otoko to onna 3) Special Edition | September 29, 2010 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "Rainy Regret (雨のリグレット Ame no riguretto)" | January 21, 1982 |
| 1982 | "246:3AM" | July 21, 1982 |
| 1982 | "Dramatic Rain (ドラマティック・レイン)" | October 21, 1982 |
| 1983 | "Escape (エスケイプ)" | March 1, 1983 |
| 1983 | "Summer Horn (夏のクラクション Natsu no kurakushon)" | July 21, 1983 |
| 1983 | "Long Version (ロング・バージョン)" | November 1, 1983 |
| 1983 | "Ocean Blue (オーシャン・ブルー)" | April 28, 1984 |
| 1985 | "Blue-Jean' Pierrot (ブルージン・ピエロ)" | March 21, 1985 |
| 1985 | "Bachelor Girl (バチェラー・ガール)" | July 1, 1985 |
| 1986 | "A Dozen Excuses (1ダースの言い訳 1 dāsu no iiwake)" | February 21, 1986 |
| 1987 | "Thinking Of The Beach Club (思い出のビーチクラブ Omoide no bīchikurabu)" TBS Tokyo Broadcasting System , TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named .... Japan Songwriting Award Grand Prize |
April 22, 1987 |
| 1987 | "A Ballad For You (君のためにバラードを Kimi no tame ni barādo wo)" | October 5, 1987 |
| 1988 | "Southern Cross (サザンクロス)" | March 5, 1988 |
| 1988 | "1-2-3" | July 25, 1988 |
| 1989 | "Seventy Colors Girl (セブンティー・カラーズ・ガール)" | January 25, 1989 |
| 1989 | "You Don't Know (君は知らない Kimi wa shiranai)"/ "An Afternoon With You (君に逢いたい午後 Kimi ni aitai gogo)" |
May 25, 1989 |
| 1989 | "Unrequited Love 1969 (1969の片想い 1969 no kataomoi)" | October 25, 1989 |
| 1990 | "Shine On Me" | March 25, 1990 |
| 1990 | "Honesty From The Heart (心からオネスティー Kokoro kara onesutī)"/ "The Closest Stranger (いちばん近い他人 Ichiban chikai tanin)" |
June 1, 1990 |
| 1990 | "They Don't Say Merry Christmas (メリークリスマスが言えない Merī kurisumasu ga ienai)" | November 1, 1990 |
| 1991 | "Second Kiss/Rewind (セカンド・キス／リワインド)" | April 3, 1991 |
| 1991 | "Farewell My Love (さらば愛しき人よ Saraba aishiki hito yo)"/"Congratulations" | June 26, 1991 |
| 1991 | "They Don't Say Merry Christmas (メリークリスマスが言えない Merī kurisumasu ga ienai)" (Re-release) | November 1, 1991 |
| 1991 | "A Dozen Excuses (1ダースの言い訳 1 dāsu no iiwake)"/"April" (Re-release) | December 21, 1991 |
| 1992 | "You're Everything (あなたがすべて Anata ga subete)" | March 1, 1992 |
| 1992 | "Only You In The World (世界でたったひとりの君に Sekai de tatta hitori no kimi ni)" | May 20, 1992 |
| 1992 | "When The Christmas Carols Play (クリスマスキャロルの頃には Kurisumasu kyaroru no koro ni wa)" Japan Gold Disc Award Japan Gold Disc Award The Japan Gold Disc Awards for Music sales in the Recording Industry Association of Japan, is major music awards held annually in Japan also released as a CD.- List of the Artists of the Year :************... , One of the Year's Five Best Singles |
October 28, 1992 |
| 1993 | "I'm Still Here (僕ならばここにいる Boku naraba koko ni iru)" | January 13, 1993 |
| 1993 | "Marathon Race (マラソンレース)" | June 10, 1993 |
| 1993 | "When The Christmas Carols Play (クリスマスキャロルの頃には Kurisumasu kyaroru no koro ni wa)"/ "They Don't Say Merry Christmas (メリークリスマスが言えない Merī kurisumasu ga ienai)" (Re-release) |
November 26, 1993 |
| 1994 | "After The Kiss (キスなら後にして Kisu nara ato ni shite)" | March 24, 1994 |
| 1994 | "They Don't Say Merry Christmas (メリークリスマスが言えない Merī kurisumasu ga ienai)" (Remix version)/ "Eternal Kiss (永遠より長いキス Eien yori nagai kisu)" |
November 26, 1994 |
| 1995 | "Don't Talk (語らない Kataranai)" | May 25, 1995 |
| 1996 | "Rainy Days, Windy Nights (雨の朝と風の夜に Ame no asa to kaze no yoru ni)" | August 21, 1996 |
| 1997 | "Starting Over" | May 21, 1997 |
| 1997 | "Endless Love Song (終わらないLOVE SONG Owaranai LOVE SONG)" | October 22, 1997 |
| 1998 | "J's Love Song" | October 21, 1998 |
| 1999 | "Small Miracle (小さな奇蹟 Chīsa na kiseki)" | October 21, 1999 |
| 2000 | "The Way Your Eyes Look (君の瞳はそのままに Kimi no hitomi wa kono mama ni)" | February 23, 2000 |
| 2000 | "They Don't Say Merry Christmas (メリークリスマスが言えない Merī kurisumasu ga ienai)" (Re-release) | November 21, 2000 |
| 2001 | "Prayer" | October 24, 2001 |
| 2002 | "On the Canary Islands (カナリア諸島にて Kanaria shotō ni te)"/ "Endless Chain-With You Time Flies (きみという時の流れよ Kimi to iu toki no nagare yo)" |
February 27, 2002 |
| 2002 | "Platinum Astronauts (プラチナ・アストロノーツ)" | June 26, 2002 |
| 2002 | "Tokyo Elegy" | October 23, 2002 |
| 2007 | "Grown-Up Summer Scene (大人の夏景色 Otona no natsu keshiki)" | July 4, 2007 |
| 2008 | "A Message From Sayonara (サヨナラからのメッセージ Sayonara kara no messēji)" | February 6, 2008 |
| 2008 | "Can't Stop The Sadness (悲しみがとまらない Kanashimi ga tomaranai)" Duet with Yuki Koyanagi Yuki Koyanagi , is a Japanese pop singer. She released her first single, 'Anata no kisu o kazoemashô - You Were Mine' on September 15, 1999. This song was a huge hit in Japan and made the 17-year-old a sensation overnight. Her second album 'EXPANSION', sold over 1.3 million copies. She has done several albums ... . Cover version of song originally released by Anri Anri , real name , is a Japanese singer and singer-songwriter, born in Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She has written much of her own music as well as singing songs written by others such as her debut release Oribia o Kikinagara, by Amii Ozaki... in 1983. |
November 5, 2008 |
| 2009 | "When The Christmas Carols Play (クリスマスキャロルの頃には Kurisumasu kyaroru no koro ni wa)" Duet with Kohmi Hirose Kohmi Hirose is a J-pop singer-songwriter. She started piano lessons at the age of 4 and within a year was writing songs.-Biography:Asami Yonemitsu graduated from Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University and then Kunitachi College of Music in 1989. During her student days, she visited Los Angeles and decided to pursue a... . Remake of song originally released by Inagaki in 1992. |
November 18, 2009 |
| 2011 | "The More I Think of It, The Sweeter It Gets (思い出す度 愛おしくなる Omoi dasu tabi ito oshiku naru)" Duet with Midori Karashima. |
February 23, 2011 |