布袋寅泰

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Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋 寅泰 , born February 1, 1962 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture) is a Japanese musician, guitarist and actor. Hotei rose to prominence in the 1980s as the guitarist for BOØWY, one of Japan’s most popular rock bands, before starting a solo career. In 2003, he was ranked number 70 on HMV Japan’s list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. He ranked second in a 2011 poll on who the Japanese people thought was the best guitarist to represent Japan after Tak Matsumoto.

Hotei is best known internationally for his song “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” , which has been used in numerous films, commercials, and video games, most notably Quentin Tarantino’s feature film Kill Bill.

Born to a Korean father and a Japanese/Russian mother, Hotei first began playing the guitar in junior high school. In high school, his band Blue Film finished runners up in a school contest to Death Penalty, a band led by Kyosuke Himuro. Hotei was expelled shortly before graduation. The reason was that, when warned about his long hair he replied “Jesus had long hair!” Shortly after, he went to Tokyo where one day he received a phone call from Himuro. The two had never really known each other but hit it off and went on to hold auditions for a new band, which in 1981 became the six-member BOØWY. The band became major stars in Japan, in 1985 played the Marquee in London, and in 1986 had their first million seller, Beat Emotion.
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  • ideal_insomnia

    Come Rain Come Shine!!! ♥

    18 Mar 6:20pm Reply

  • fire_blizzard

    new album http://www.hotei.com/info/index21.html

    29 Dec 2012 Reply

  • Jackpi88

    he's incredible.... i totaly love the way he play!!!!

    29 Sep 2012 Reply

  • azukitan

    absolutely love this guy.

    2 Aug 2012 Reply

  • Moxxxu

    gill pill

    17 Jul 2012 Reply

  • Angeltearx

    Hotei performs the best on his live's. Especially guitar wise. Listen to the guitar outro of Lonely Wild on Doberman 2004. Its insane.

    7 Jul 2012 Reply

  • JP_underground

    HOTEI is playing a very special and rare show in London on 18 December, don't miss it! http://www.last.fm/event/3316937+Tomoyasu+Hotei:+Electric+Samurai+Live+in+London

    18 Jun 2012 Reply

  • dokate

    splendid

    5 Apr 2012 Reply

  • cogsturning

    wow the cornelius remix of battle is unrecognizable lol

    3 Oct 2011 Reply

  • Angeltearx

    The Guitarhythm on All Time Super Guest is kinda of a letdown. Why is it only 6 min, why not 10 or so? I was suspecting miyavi popslapping guitar style, but there is none. Also Imai is hard to hear. I think you can hear him on the background (and ive im right, he got a solo at the beginning of the instrumental part). And what he does isnt bad, but its hard to hear. At the end there is some pretty interesting guitar at the background (very noice like) but its hard to hear. I personally prefer the 10min live verson of the song. In that version, the part when the song begins to slow down (which is in the middle) is also better arranged, especially with the guitar. Also its more instrumental, and doenst have those synthesized drum feeling to it. Dont get me wrong, its not a bad song, but i expected more of song written by so many guitarists.

    17 Aug 2011 Reply

  • Archaenon

    Vote up! Current photoshoot for All time super best + fellows: http://www.last.fm/music/%E5%B8%83%E8%A2%8B%E5%AF%85%E6%B3%B0/+images/67405242

    6 Aug 2011 Reply

  • Archaenon

    Pretty much everything he does has good guitar. Howling is one of my favorites and Jingi.

    6 Aug 2011 Reply

  • Angeltearx

    Just discovered him. I really like is guitar style. Im searching for Hotei instrumentals or songs with emphasise on guitar (songs with long solo's etc). Allready found the 10 min live version of guitarhythm (which sounds great), BWHOH (obviously) and Guitar Concerto. Other then that, did i missed some jewels of songs with good guitar? Would love to get some suggestions : D

    3 Aug 2011 Reply

  • Archaenon

    As much as I love the look for Electric Samurai, stop voting recent pics down. Let's keep them current.

    1 Jun 2011 Reply

  • ideal_insomnia

    Love that new single.

    25 May 2011 Reply

  • utauouji

    cool.

    9 May 2011 Reply

  • reki007

    A drug score part 1 - the best :D

    2 Apr 2011 Reply

  • Archaenon

    I wonder how many people realize that album is based on the Battles without Honor or Humanity 8 movie set? Each song is in reference to those. Little tidbit if no one knew. @dememe Sadly Hotei isn't as popular as he should be imo, I like Slash, but I don't know anyone who thought he did that song, they just plain have no idea. ALSO...does anyone know if the BOOWY 30TH is going on dvd, Hotei has been tweeting mostly about Iwate quake help, I don't even know if it was canceled.

    28 Mar 2011 Reply

  • dememe

    @ Archaenon - Since it's licensed through EMI, at least officially he should get some royalties paid back, but for things like ads on TV and the such I don't know. I'm so fed up of arguing that point with people that Hotei wrote and performed BWHOH, I think that most people seem to be convinced it's by Slash of GnR. Then it's time for me to break out some BOOWY and Hotei CDs until "education" is achieved.

    6 Mar 2011 Reply

  • Archaenon

    I wonder how much he gets in Royalties for Battles since I'm sure 90% of the English speaking world has no idea who does that song.

    17 Feb 2011 Reply
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