External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
| International | |
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| Artists | |
Back Number | |
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| Origin | Gunma Prefecture, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | backnumber |
Back Number (Japanese: バックナンバー, Hepburn: Bakku Nambā; stylized in all lowercase) is a Japanese rock power trio formed in 2004. The band consists of Iyori Shimizu (lead vocals, guitar), Kazuya Kojima (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Hisashi Kurihara (drums, percussion). The group signed to independent record label Idolsmith Recordings in 2009 and released their debut EP Nogashita Sakana (逃した魚, Fish Set Free) (2009) and studio album Ato no Matsuri (あとのまつり, Too Late) (2010). They signed to Universal Sigma in 2011. The band have a major cult following in Japan.
The group's biggest hit is "Christmas Song", which peaked at number-one for three weeks on the Japan Hot 100 chart, and was later certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Their first compilation album, Encore (2016), reached number one on the Billboard Japan Hot Album for two consecutive weeks in 2016 and also ranked number five on the Oricon yearly best-selling album chart of 2017. In 2018, back number successfully held a Dome Tour titled “stay with you”, including a 2-night-concert in Tokyo Dome. All tickets for 5 concerts are sold out within 2 hours, mobilized over 45,000 guests per concert.
Current members
Former members
In 2004, Iyori Shimizu formed the band in Gunma Prefecture. Prior to the band's formation, Shimizu lost a girlfriend to another band member. This experience made him feel "outdated", which is why he named the band "back number".
In November 2004, the band performed their first live show at Isezaki DUSTBOWL.
Since 2005, voluntary live performances were held annually in November (until 2007), following the release of the demo CD.
In 2007, the band performed a one-man live show, mobilized over 150 people and the tickets were sold out. In the same year, the band was chosen as the semi-best rocker (second place) from more than 100 bands at the band audition "ROCKERS 2007" sponsored by FM Gunma, which is a gateway for the northern Kanto band. It became well known in the local media.
In April 2008, their regular radio program "PIZZA SMALL WORLD" started broadcasting at the radio station FM TARO for an area of Ota City, Gunma Prefecture (broadcast ended in March 2014). In June 2008, the band won a qualifying competition from among 500 pairs of entries at the Shonan Music Festival Opening Act Audition and secured an appearance at the large outdoor festival Shonan Music Festival Vol. 2.
On February 18, 2009, the band released their first mini album, Nogashita Sakana, and became HMV push item "HOT PICKS", TOWER RECORDS push item "Tawareko Men" for the first time, selected as power play of FM station and Sony Ericsson CS commercial song, the band then was widely known throughout the country. On May 27, Tawareko, a back number free live with HMV as the co-ownership was held at SHIBUYA-BOXX, and more than 500 people joined, which exceeded the capacity of the regular entry. In June, the band finished a tour at the Ferrari Temple Park Outdoor Stage in Isezaki City with a crowd of 500 people. After that, the band also positively appeared in events such as "SAKAE-SPRING", "MINAMI WHEEL", "TREASURE", "MUSIC CUBE" all over the country, school festival, install alive, etc.
On June 2, 2010, released their first full-length album, Ato no Matsuri.
On April 6, 2011, the band made their major debut with the single "Hanabira".
On September 7, 2013, the band held a one-man live "back number live at Nippon Budokan - stay with us-" at Nippon Budokan.
From April 2014, the band was appointed as a regular personality of Nippon Broadcasting "All Night Nippon" on every Tuesday. On September 14, 2014, at the Yokohama Arena, the first arena performance "love stories tour 2014 - Yokohama love story 2 ~" was held.
On December 15, 2015, their fifth album, Chandelier, reached first place on the Oricon chart for two consecutive weeks.
On December 28, 2016, the band released their own all-time best album, Encore, which reached number one on the Billboard Japan Hot Album for two consecutive weeks.
On December 20, 2017, the band released their 17th single, Mabataki, which reached number one on the Recochoku Weekly Download Charts for two weeks.
| Back Number discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 7 |
| EPs | 1 |
| Compilation albums | 1 |
| Singles | 22 |
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN | ||||
| Nogashita Sakana |
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132 | ||
| Ato no Matsuri (後の祭り, "Too Late") |
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55 | ||
| Superstar |
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4 |
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| Blues |
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7 |
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| Love Story |
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2 |
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| Chandelier |
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1 |
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| Encore |
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2 |
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| Magic |
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1 |
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| Humor |
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1 |
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| Release date | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | November 2005 | Gift×Life |
| 2nd | November 2006 | then Fish |
| 3rd | November 2007 | Distance Knock Tender |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Physical sales (JPN) | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon |
JPN Hot |
KOR |
WW | |||||
| "Shiawase" (幸せ) | 2011 | — | 46 | — | — | Superstar | ||
| "Hanabira" (はなびら) | 45 | 13 | — | — | 3,000 |
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| "Hanataba" (花束) | 18 | 3 | — | — | 13,000 |
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| "Omoidasenakunaru Hi Made" (思い出せなくなるその日まで) | 24 | 1 | — | — | 5,000 |
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| "Koi" (恋) | 2012 | 24 | 12 | — | — | 7,000 |
|
Blues |
| "Nichiyoubi" (日曜日) | 24 | 9 | — | — | 7,000 |
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| "Watagashi" (わたがし) | 14 | 3 | — | — | 9,000 |
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| "Aoi Haru" (青い春) | 14 | 4 | — | — | 10,000 |
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| "Takane no Hanako-san" (高嶺の花子さん) | 2013 | 11 | 3 | — | — | 15,000 |
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Love Story |
| "Fish" | 2014 | 4 | 5 | — | — | 21,000 |
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| "Tsunaida Te Kara" (繋いだ手から) | 9 | 6 | — | — | 11,000 |
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| "Heroine" (ヒロイン) | 2015 | 6 | 2 | 55 | — | 43,000 |
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Chandelier |
| "Sister" | 9 | 5 | — | — | 32,000 |
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| "Tegami" (手紙) | 4 | 2 | — | — | 29,000 |
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| "Christmas Song" (クリスマスソング) | 2 | 1 | — | — | 100,000 |
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| "Boku no Namae o" (僕の名前を) | 2016 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 33,000 |
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Encore |
| "Happy End" (ハッピーエンド) | 5 | 4 | — | — | 59,000 |
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| "Mabataki" (瞬き) | 2017 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 61,000 |
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Magic |
| "Dai Fuseikai" (大不正解) | 2018 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 45,000 |
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| "Old Fashion" (オールドファッション) | 4 | 1 | — | — | 65,000 |
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| "Happy Birthday" | 2019 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 45,000 |
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| "Kīro" (黄色) | 2021 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 26,000 |
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Humor |
| "To New Lovers" (新しい恋人達に) | 2024 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 24,843 |
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Non-album single |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Hot |
WW | ||||
| "Kuroi Neko no Uta" (黒い猫の歌) | 2016 | 12 | — | Encore | |
| "Emerald" (エメラルド) | 2020 | 7 | — |
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Humor |
| "Phantom Thief" (怪盗) | 2021 | 3 | 87 |
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| "Suiheisen" (水平線) | 2 | 123 |
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| "Velvet no Uta" (ベルベットの詩) | 2022 | 13 | — |
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| "I Love You" (アイラブユー) | 5 | — |
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| "Size of the Kaiju" (怪獣のサイズ) | 2023 | 16 | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Fuyu to Haru" (冬と春) | 2024 | 9 | — |
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| "Blue Amber" (ブルーアンバー) | 2025 | 1 | — |
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| "Sincerely, from a Future" (ある未来より愛を込めて) | 22 | — | |||
| "The Unveiling" (幕が上がる) | 7 | — | |||
| "Want Want Want" (どうしてもどうしても) | 7 | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Hot | ||||
| "Stay with Me" | 2010 | 89 | Ato no Matsuri | |
| "Superstar ni Nattara" (スーパースターになったら) | 2011 | — |
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Superstar |
| "Check no One Piece" (チェックのワンピース) | 73 |
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| "Ritz Party" (リッツパーティー) | — |
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| "Setagaya Love Story" (世田谷ラブストーリー) | 2014 | — |
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Love Story |
| "Urban Life" (アーバンライフ) | 2015 | 100 | Heroine | |
| "Apple Pie" (アップルパイ) | 89 |
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| "Boku wa Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakedo Kimi wa Boku o Betsu ni Suki Janai Mitai" (僕は君の事が好きだけど君は僕を別に好きじゃないみたい) | 45 |
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Chandelier | |
| "Kimi no Koibito ni Nattara" (君の恋人になったら) | 2016 | 41 |
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Happy End |
| "Secret Kiss" (秘密のキス) | 2023 | 76 |
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Humor |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||
| Release date | Title | Highest rank (Oricon) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | February 25, 2015 | "Love stories tour 2014 ~ Yokohama love story 2 ~" | 3 |
| 2nd | November 15, 2017 | "All Our Yesterdays TOUR 2017 at SAITAMA SUPER ARENA" | 1 |
| 3rd | March 25, 2020 | "NO MAGIC TOUR 2019 at Osaka-jo Hall" | 2 |
| 4th | October 11, 2023 | "in your humor tour 2023 at Tokyo Dome" | 1 |
| Schedule | Title | Conference venue |
|---|---|---|
| December 6 - December 22 | Super Tour 2011 | 4 locations nationwide, 4 shows
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| March 16 - April 30 | Love is blind tour 2012 | 12 locations nationwide, 12 performances
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| January 14 - March 30 | Back to the blues tour 2013 | 17 places nationwide, 19 performances
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| May 14 - September 23 | Love stories tour 2014 | 22 places nationwide, 24 performances
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| March 25 - June 7 | Urban Live Tour 2015 | 10 places nationwide, 16 performances
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| January 24 - July 24 | Mirrorball and Chandelier Tour 2016 | 32 places nationwide, 39 performances
Hall performance
Arena performance
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| February 25 - June 11 | Back number "All Our Yesterdays Tour 2017" | 15 places nationwide, 30 performances
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| International | |
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| Artists | |
