Anzen Chitai

Anzen Chitai, or Anzenchitai (安全地帯) was one of Japan's most successful rock bands in the 1980s.

Formed in 1973 as the high-school garage band Invader in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, its original members included vocalist Koji Tamaki , guitarist Yutaka Takezawa , and guitarist / keyboardist Toshiya Takezawa (Yutaka's brother). Later in 1973, drummer Ichibou Tamaki (Koji's brother) and bassist Takahiro Miyashita joined. In 1977, the band changed its name to Anzen Chitai ("Safety Zone"), and Ichibou left the group to be replaced by Shiji Taihei. By December 1977, Anzen Chitai merged with another band, the Haruyoshi Rokudo Band, and added three more members: bassist Haruyoshi Rokudo , guitarist Wataru Yahagi , and drummer Yuji Tanaka . By this point, they had swollen to an eight-member group, and within three years, Toshiya Takezawa and Takahiro Miyashita would leave. Yuji Tanaka would also leave at this point.

In 1981, they began work as a backup band for singer Yousui Inoue , and released their debut single, Moegi Iro no Snap in February 1982. However, the final cast change would occur as Shiji Taihei would leave, and Yuji Tanaka would return in his place, establishing the current lineup. Their status as a backup band would soon change: in 1984, Wine Red no Kokoro reached No. 1 on the OriCon charts, to be followed by among others, Kanashimi no Sayonara and Suki sa (featured on the anime series Maison Ikkoku). Their popularity in the 1980s culminated in a five-day concert at the Budokan in 1987 which had an attendance of 60,000.

Despite several hiatuses for the sake of solo careers, Anzen Chitai has continued to record and tour, and they released a new album in 2004, titled Anzen Chitai Tenth.

External link

Their official website is at: http://www.anzenchitai.com/