Dragon Ash

Dragon Ash
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active1996–present
LabelVictor Entertainment/Mob Squad
MembersKJ
Makoto Sakurai
Bots
Hiroki
Past membersIküzöne
Dri-V
Atsushi
Websitedragonash.co.jp

Dragon Ash (ドラゴンアッシュ, Doragon Asshu) is a Japanese rap rock group founded in 1996 by Kenji "KJ" Furuya and Makoto Sakurai. They were one of the first groups to popularize hip-hop in Japan. Dragon Ash is a member of Mob Squad, which is an affiliation with the bands Source and Endive. Dragon Ash uses the French fleur-de-lis as their band logo/symbol.

History

Dragon Ash started out as a punk rock group. Lead singer and guitarist Kenji Furuya, son of actor Ikko Furuya, met drummer Makoto Sakurai when they were junior high students in a Tokyo suburb, and the two started playing together. Though temporarily sidetracked into following in his father's footsteps, Furuya gave up the few acting gigs that he was getting on TV dramas to concentrate on music in high school. In 1996, they took on bass player Ikuzo Baba, ten years their senior. The group debuted in 1997 with two EPs at the beginning of the year, The Day Dragged On and Public Garden, influenced by Nirvana. By the end of the year and time of their release, Mustang!, the group had progressed to a blend of various pop and rock influences.

Through 1998 their popularity increased, and by the time of Buzz Songs, their sound had solidified to rap rock, helped with the mixing skills of DJ Bots, who occasionally appeared on some songs. Two singles – "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" and "Grateful Days," the latter featuring hardcore rapper Zeebra and soulstress ACO – sold so well that they topped the Japanese single and album Oricon charts; also simultaneously, usually reserved for pop music.

Their fourth single, "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go", reached number 7 on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart, and eventually climbed to number 4, selling a total of 640,000 copies. The band simultaneously released their fifth and sixth singles, "Grateful Days" and "I Love Hip Hop", which debuted at number 3 and number 4, respectively. When these two singles debuted, "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" had not yet dropped off the top 10 chart, giving Dragon Ash three top 10 singles at the same time.

The band finally reached the peak of their success when they released their third album, Viva la Revolution, in July 1999 and it hit number 1 on its debut week. The album has sold in excess of 2,000,000 copies.

During 1999, Dragon Ash had become a four-piece, with DJ Bots essential to the mix. In 2000, Dragon Ash undertook the Total Music Communication Tour, touring Japan with a lineup that included other rising rock acts, such as Missile Girl Scout, Penpals, and Skebou Kings. Meanwhile, Furuya and DJ Bots formed a duo of sorts, writing and producing songs for acts such as Sugar Soul under the name Steady & Co. Likewise, Baba and Sakurai sidelined as a remixing unit called Motor Headphone, popping up on various compilations. The full band released Lily of da Valley in 2001.

Dragon Ash collaborated with the hip-hop group Rappagariya on "Deep Impact" in 2000. In 2003 the group expanded to include its full current roster of members, bringing in Hiroki, Atsushi, and Dri-V. In 2007 they celebrated their 10th anniversary by simultaneously releasing two best-of albums, The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1 and The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2. Both albums hit number 1 upon their debut.

Bandleader Kenji Furuya released his first solo album Everything Becomes The Music from Victor Entertainment in mid-2015. Following his solo debut song "Swallow Dive" in March 2015, anime director Kenji Kamiyama directed a music video for "Stairway", the leading track from the album.

Dragon Ash covered "Rocket Dive" for the June 6, 2018 hide tribute album Tribute Impulse.

Members

Former members

Support member

Accomplishments timeline

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Album/single Oricon sales milestones

Albums

  • [1997.11.21] Mustang! (200,000) [gold]
  • [1998.09.02] Buzz Songs (1,000,000) [million]
  • [1999.07.23] Viva La Revolution (2,000,000) [2 million]
  • [2001.03.14] Lily Of Da Valley (1,000,000) [million]
  • [2001.11.28] Chambers (500,000) [double platinum] ((Kenji Furuya & DJ Bots with 'Steady&Co.'))
  • [2003.03.19] Mob Squad (200,000) [gold] ((Dragon Ash with Mach25 & SOURCE))
  • [2003.07.23] Harvest (500,000) [double platinum]
  • [2005.09.09] Río de Emoción (200,000) [gold]
  • [2007.02.21] Independiente (200,000) [gold]
  • [2007.09.05] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1 (250,000) [platinum]
  • [2007.09.05] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2 (250,000) [platinum]
  • [2009.03.04] Freedom (100,000) [gold]
  • [2010.12.08] Mixture (100,000) [gold]
  • [2012.08.22] Loud & Peace (100,000) [gold]
  • [2014.01.15] The Faces (100,000) [gold]
  • [2017.05.31] Majestic (100,000) [gold]

Singles

  • [1998.05.21] "Hi wa Mata Noborikuri Kaesu" (200,000) [gold]
  • [1999.03.03] "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" (500,000) [double platinum]
  • [1999.05.01] "Grateful Days" (feat. ZEEBRA & ACO) (1,000,000) [million]
  • [1999.05.01] "I ♥ Hip Hop" (500,000) [double platinum]
  • [2000.03.15] "Deep Impact" (feat. Rappagariya) (500,000) [double platinum]
  • [2000.07.12] "Summer Tribe" (250,000) [platinum]
  • [2000.11.29] "Lily's e.p." (500,000) [double platinum]
  • [2001.07.08] "Stay Gold" (250,000) [platinum] ((Kenji Furuya & DJ Bots with 'Steady&Co.'))
  • [2001.10.24] "Shunkashuutou" (250,000) [platinum] ((Kenji Furuya & DJ Bots with 'Steady&Co.'))
  • [2002.01.23] "Life goes on" (1,000,000) [million]
  • [2002.03.06] "Fantasista" (500,000) [double platinum]
  • [2003.06.25] "Morrow" (200,000) [gold]
  • [2004.07.14] "Shade" (100,000) [gold]
  • [2005.06.01] "Crush the Window" (100,000) [gold]
  • [2005.07.13] "Yuunagi Union" (100,000) [gold]

Best-selling music artists list in Japan (Top 50 of all time)

  • [1996–present] Dragon Ash Total Sales (15,000,000+)

Top 5 highest weekly Oricon chart ranking milestones

Albums

  • [1999.07.23] Viva La Revolution (No.1)
  • [2001.03.14] Lily Of Da Valley (No.2)
  • [2001.11.28] Chambers (No.2) (Kenji Furuya & DJ Bots with 'Steady&Co.')
  • [2003.07.23] Harvest (No.1)
  • [2005.09.09] Río de Emoción (No.1)
  • [2007.02.21] Independiente (No.4)
  • [2007.09.05] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1 (No.3)
  • [2007.09.05] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2 (No.2)
  • [2012.08.22] Loud & Peace (No.3)
  • [2014.01.15] The Faces (No.3)
  • [2017.05.31] Majestic (No.3) ((No.2)) ((Billboard Japan Hot 100))

Singles

  • [1999.03.03] "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" (No.4)
  • [1999.05.01] "Grateful Days" (feat. Zeebra & ACO) (No.1)
  • [1999.05.01] "I Love Hip Hop" (No.4)
  • [1999.09.08] "Garden" (No.2) (Sugar Soul feat. Kenji Furuya of 'Dragon Ash')
  • [2000.03.15] "Deep Impact" (feat. Rappagariya) (No.2)
  • [2000.07.12] "Summer Tribe" (No.4)
  • [2000.11.29] "Lily's e.p." (No.2)
  • [2001.07.08] "Stay Gold" (No.2) (Kenji Furuya & DJ Bots with 'Steady&Co.')
  • [2001.10.24] "Shunkashuutou" (No.2) (Kenji Furuya & DJ Bots with 'Steady&Co.')
  • [2002.01.23] "Life goes on" (No.1)
  • [2002.03.06] "FANTASISTA" (No.1)
  • [2003.06.25] "Morrow" (No.2)
  • [2004.07.14] "Shade" (No.2)
  • [2005.06.01] "Crush the Window" (No.2)
  • [2005.07.13] "Yuunagi Union" (No.4)
  • [2010.06.16] "AMBITIOUS" ((No.4)) ((Billboard Japan Hot 100))

DVD/Blu-ray

  • [2001.04.18] LILY DA VIDEO (No.2)

Discography

EPs

Albums

Compilation albums

  • [2007.09.05] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1
  • [2007.09.05] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2
  • [2012.08.22] Loud & Peace

Vinyl records

  • [1998.12.19] Free Your Mind #33
  • [2000.03.15] Deep Impact (feat. Rappagariya)
  • [2000.07.12] Summer Tribe
  • [2000.07.26] TMC Graffiti (Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS with 'TMC ALLSTARS')
  • [2000.08.23] Episode 2 (feat. Shun & Shigeo from SBK)
  • [2000.11.29] Amploud
  • [2000.11.29] Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan wo (静かな日々の階段を; The Stair Steps of a Quiet Day)
  • [2001.07.08] Stay Gold (Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS with 'Steady&Co.')
  • [2001.10.24] Shunkashuutou (春夏秋冬; Spring Summer Autumn Winter) (Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS with 'Steady&Co.')
  • [2001.12.01] One Holy Story (Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS with 'Steady&Co.')
  • [2004.03.24] Harvest Remixes

Singles

  • [1997.10.22] Rainy Day and Day
  • [1998.05.21] Hi wa Mata Noborikuri Kaesu (陽はまたのぼりくりかえす; The Sun Will Rise Again and Again)
  • [1998.07.23] Under Age's Song
  • [1999.03.03] Let yourself go, Let myself go
  • [1999.05.01] Grateful Days (feat. Zeebra & Aco)
  • [1999.05.01] I ♥ Hip Hop
  • [2000.03.15] Deep Impact (feat. Rappagariya)
  • [2000.07.12] Summer Tribe
  • [2000.11.29] Lily's E.P.
  • [2002.01.23] Life goes on
  • [2002.03.06] Fantasista
  • [2003.06.25] morrow
  • [2004.07.14] Shade
  • [2005.06.01] Crush the Window
  • [2005.07.13] Yuunagi UNION (夕凪UNION; Twilight Union)
  • [2006.07.19] Ivory
  • [2006.09.27] Few Lights Till Night
  • [2006.12.06] Yume de Aetara (夢で逢えたら; If We Met in My Dream)
  • [2008.06.18] Velvet Touch
  • [2008.12.03] Tsunagari SUNSET (繋がりSUNSET; Linking Sunset)
  • [2009.02.04] Unmei Kyoudoutai (運命共同体; Fate Cooperative System)
  • [2010.06.16] Ambitious
  • [2010.11.03] Spirit of Progress E.P.
  • [2012.09.19] Run to the Sun / Walk with Dreams
  • [2013.05.29] Here I Am
  • [2013.11.27] Lily
  • [2016.11.09] Hikari no Machi (光りの街; The City of Light)
  • [2017.03.29] Beside You
  • [2019.07.19] Fly Over
  • [2021.04.14] Endeavour

Digital download-limited singles

  • [2009.08.01] Callin'
  • [2010.10.20] Rock Band (feat. Ko-Ji Zero Three [from 'GNz-WORD'] & Satoshi [from 'YAMAARASHI'])
  • [2012.07.04] Walk with Dreams
  • [2014.01.22] Curtain Call
  • [2017.02.21] Mix It Up

Collaborations

  • [1998.12.19] Fever [Free Your Mind Remix] (feat. MIHO)
  • [1999.05.01] Grateful Days (feat. Zeebra & ACO)
  • [1999.07.23] Nouvelle Vague #2 (feat. Mayumi Chiwaki)
  • [1999.07.23] Viva la Revolution (feat. MIHO)
  • [2000.03.15] Deep Impact (feat. Rappagariya)
  • [2000.07.26] TMC Graffiti (Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS [from Dragon Ash] with 'TMC ALLSTARS')
  • [2000.08.23] Episode 2 (feat. Shun & Shigeo from SBK)
  • [2001.11.28] Chambers [Full Album] ((Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS [from Dragon Ash], Shigeo [from SBK] & Illmari [from Rip Slyme] as 'Steady&Co.'))
  • [2001.11.28] One Holy Story ((Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS [from Dragon Ash], Shigeo [from SBK] & Illmari [from Rip Slyme] as 'Steady&Co. [feat. Azumi from 'Wyolica']))
  • [2002.03.06] Mob Squad (feat. ONO-G, Kuro-nee [from 'Source'] & PASSER, HUNTER [from 'MACH25'])
  • [2003.03.19] Mob Squad II (feat. ONO-G, Kuro-nee [from 'Source'] & PASSER, HUNTER [from 'MACH25'])
  • [2003.07.23] United Rhythm (feat. 43K, EIG from POSSIBILITY)
  • [2003.07.23] Episode 4 (feat. Shun & Shigeo from SBK)
  • [2005.06.01] Resound (feat. HIDE [from DT.] & 136)
  • [2005.09.07] Palmas Rock (feat. UZI-ONE from AGGRESSIVE DOGS)
  • [2005.09.07] Loca Burnin' (feat. Ainee [from Smorgas] & Shinji Takeda)
  • [2007.02.21] El Alma (feat. Shinji Takeda)
  • [2007.02.21] Luz del Sol (feat. Daizo from Ketsumeishi)
  • [2007.09.05] Wipe Your Eyes (feat. Kaori Mochida from Every Little Thing)
  • [2009.03.04] Episode 6 (feat. Shun & Shigeo from SBK)
  • [2010.06.16] Sky Is the Limit (feat. Takumi from 10FEET)
  • [2010.06.16] Beat Surf (feat. PES [from Rip Slyme] & VERBAL [from M-Flo])
  • [2010.11.03] Ghost Remains (feat. UZI-ONE from AGGRESSIVE DOGS)
  • [2010.11.03] Rock Band (feat. Satoshi [from Yamaarashi] & KO-JI ZERO THREE [from GNZ-WORD)
  • [2014.01.15] Still Goin' On (feat. 50caliber, HAKU the ANUBIZ & WEZ from YALLA FAMILY)
  • [2014.01.15] The Live (feat. KenKen from RIZE)
  • [2019.07.10] Fly Over (feat. T$UYO$HI [from 'The BONEZ'])

Remixes

  • [1998.09.02] Invitation [Buzz Mix]
  • [1998.12.19] Fever [Free Your Mind Remix] (feat. MIHO)
  • [1999.05.01] Grateful Days [Remix] (feat. Zeebra & ACO)
  • [2000.07.12] Summer Tribe [Komorebi Mix]
  • [2000.11.29] Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan wo [e.p. version]
  • [2003.07.23] Mob Squad [RITMO ACELERADO Remix]
  • [2004.03.24] Landscape [Techno-X Mix]
  • [2015.03.09] Viva La Revolution [Paint the Lily Remix]

Cover songs

  • [2008.06.18] La Bamba (Originally by 'Ritchie Valens')
  • [2011.07.13] Dreamin' (Originally by 'BOØWY')
  • [2013.12.18] Saraba Seishun (さらば青春; Farewell Youth) (Originally by 'Elephant Kashimashi')
  • [2014.06.11] That's the Way We Unite (Originally by 'BACK DROP BOMB')
  • [2014.10.08] Tsuki Akari Shita De (月灯りの下で; Under the Moon Light) (Originally by 'MONGOL800')
  • [2018.06.06] Rocket Dive (Originally by 'HIDE')

Soundtrack and commercial songs

  • [1997.04.23] Realism II (Asahi National Broadcasting Co.'s "Sports Spotters" official theme song)
  • [1997.10.22] Rainy Day and Day (Virus Anime OST - featured as official opening theme song)
  • [1998.07.23] Hi wa Mata Noborikuri Kaesu (陽はまたのぼりくりかえす; The Sun Will Rise Again and Again) (DT Eightron Anime OST)
  • [2000.03.15] Deep Impact (Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
  • [2000.11.29] Amploud (Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
  • [2000.11.29] Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan wo (静かな日々の階段を; The Stair Steps of a Quiet Day) (Battle Royale Movie OST - featured as official ending credits song))
  • [2000.11.29] Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan wo (e.p. version) (Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
  • [2001.03.14] Revolater (DREAM Mixed Martial Arts official theme song)
  • [2001.12.01] One Holy Story (Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS with 'Steady&Co.') (Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
  • [2002.01.23] Life Goes On (Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
  • [2002.03.06] Fantasista (FIFA 2002 World Cup - Japan Official theme song)
  • [2005.06.01] Crush the Window (Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
  • [2005.09.09] Palmas Rock (feat. UZI-ONE) (Nissan Cube Official commercial song)
  • [2006.12.20] Resound (feat. HIDE & 136) (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Movie OST)
  • [2007.02.21] El Alma (feat. Shinji Takeda) (Salaryman NEO J-Drama - Official insert song)
  • [2007.02.21] Rainy (Kissmark Official commercial song)
  • [2007.11.24] Thought & Action (Shabake J-Drama OST - featured as official ending credits song)
  • [2008.06.18] Velvet Touch (FIFA Asia Cup 2008 - Japan Official theme song)
  • [2008.06.18] La Bamba (Kyocera W64SA Mobile Phone commercial song)
  • [2010.06.16] Ambitious (FIFA 2010 World Cup - Japan Official theme song)
  • [2012.07.04] Walk with Dreams (Pocari Sweat Official commercial song)
  • [2013.05.29] Here I Am (Fuji TV ONE - Variety Show 'Pachi Journey' official ending theme)
  • [2013.05.29] Trigger (Resident Evil: Revelations Video Game official theme song)
  • [2013.11.27] Lily (J-League Soccer Team TV Program - Official theme song)
  • [2014.01.22] Curtain Call (Tenchu J-Drama - Official theme song)
  • [2014.04.09] Blow Your Mind (Crows Explode Movie OST)
  • [2016.11.09] Hikari no Machi (光りの街; The City of Light) (g.o.a.t app - Commercial Song)
  • [2017.07.02] Ode to Joy (Budweiser - Commercial Song)

VHS/Videos

  • [1999.10.21] Buzz Clips
  • [2000.03.15] THE REAL BASS PLAY OF Dragon Ash
  • [2001.04.18] Lily da Video
  • [2003.12.24] Posse in Video

DVDs

  • [2000.03.15] THE REAL BASS PLAY OF Dragon Ash
  • [2001.04.18] Buzz Clips
  • [2001.04.18] Lily da Video
  • [2003.12.24] Posse in Video
  • [2005.12.21] Video de Emoción
  • [2007.09.26] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes
  • [2011.09.21] Mixture DVD -Video Mix & Document-
  • [2013.07.03] Live & Piece
  • [2014.09.03] Video the Faces
  • [2014.09.17] Live Tour THE SHOW MUST GO ON Final At BUDOKAN May 31, 2014
  • [2016.11.09] The Lives at Ishimaki Blue Resistance June 24, 2016
  • [2017.03.29] 20 years of Dragon Ash Documentary
  • [2017.05.31] DRAGON ASH 20TH ANNIVERSARY LIVE SHOW「MIX IT UP」AT EX THEATER ROPPONGI FEB/21/2017
  • [2018.03.28] Live Tour MAJESTIC Final at YOKOHAMA ARENA

Blu-rays

  • [2013.07.03] Live & Piece
  • [2014.09.03] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes
  • [2014.09.03] Video the Faces
  • [2014.09.17] Live Tour THE SHOW MUST GO ON Final At BUDOKAN May 31, 2014
  • [2018.03.28] Live Tour MAJESTIC Final at YOKOHAMA ARENA

iTunes Store concert film downloads

  • [2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -1999.10.17 YOKOHAMA ARENA-
  • [2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2001.05.05 Tokyo Bay NK Hall-
  • [2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2003.11.23 Tokyo Bay NK Hall-
  • [2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2009.05.08 Zepp Tokyo-
  • [2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2011.04.22 Zepp Tokyo-
  • [2014.09.17] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2014.05.31 BUDOKAN-

Photobooks

  • [1999.12.01] Grateful Days
  • [2003.08.13] Live Goes On~Dragon Ash Tour02
  • [2013.07.03] Lice & Piece
  • [2014.09.17] Dragon Ash Tour THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Mobile phone apps

  • [2013.07.22] Dragon Ash Official App for Android
  • [2013.12.06] Dragon Ash Official App for iPhone

Music videos

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Collaboration music videos

2004

  • m-flo - "Way You Move" (featuring Dragon Ash)

Tours

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Nu Metal in Japan - Loco in Tokyo". 23 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Dragon Ash Official Website : BIOGRAPHY 1996". Dragon Ash Official Website (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  3. ↑ "Dragon Ashのプロフィール・ヒストリーならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  4. ↑ "Dragon Ashのベスト2作が初日1、2位独占！". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  5. 1 2 "hide最新トリビュート盤にHISASHI × YOW-ROW、西川貴教、MIYAVI、GRANRODEOら" (in Japanese). Barks. 2018-04-14. Retrieved 2018-04-14.