Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋寅泰 , born February 1, 1962 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture… Read Full Bio ↴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.

When the band broke up in 1988, Hotei established himself as a solo star, as did Himuro. Hotei also made two albums with Koji Kikkawa as Complex, both of which went to number one in the national charts. Hotei frequently records overseas and has collaborated with many foreign musicians, including playing on The Stranglers Hugh Cornwell’s 1993 solo album, on stage with David Bowie at Nippon Budokan in 1996, and at the closing ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games with Michael Kamen.

He later recorded “Guitar Concerto” with Kamen. He has also worked with Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, guitarist Chris Spedding and Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones. Hotei also sometimes plays in Europe, including a number of major festivals. His regular drummer in recent years, Zachary Alford, has previously played with Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie. Hotei's 1998 album Supersonic Generation, recorded in part with Apollo 440 and Ofra Haza, was released in 14 European countries.

In addition to many bestselling solo albums, Hotei composed and performed the score for Hiroyuki Nakano’s Samurai Fiction, as well as starring in the film. He composed the score to Terry Gilliam’s feature film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas together with Ray Cooper. Hotei's song “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” was used in the Quentin Tarantino’s feature film Kill Bill, the PlayStation 2 version of Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA,and Michael Bay’s feature film Transformers. Hotei recorded a cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” for Merry Axemas, an instrumental guitar Christmas album featuring tracks from guitarists including Jeff Beck, Joe Perry, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai and Steve Morse.

The Nintendo DS game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan features his song "Thrill". The game's sequel, Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii, features another Hotei song, "Bambina". (Both songs are cover versions.) Hotei is featured in “Grace” on the Apocalyptica album Worlds Collide. The song is featured in the game NHL 09.

気まぐれ天使
布袋寅泰 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

サディスティックな眼差しで
時計の針を見つめながら
笑うお前は... 気まぐれ天使
"スリリングな瞬間を
見逃したくない"
と言って瞬きしない... 危ない天使
その素敵な前髪を切らないで
夜風が嘆くから

この気持ちポラロイドでその胸に
映しだせたなら
I ALWAYS LOVE YOU いつまでも
今のままの君でいて

コケティッシュな唇に
小さな微笑みを秘めて
怒ったりする...気まぐれ天使
サングラスかけたまま
いつものソファーで眠ってる
夢は見えるかい? 危ない天使
猫のようにしなやかなその肢体
そっと抱きよせて
泉にゆらめき映る恋心
朝まで重ねたい
I ALWAYS LOVE YOU いつまでも
今のままの君でいて

その素敵な前髪を切らないで
夜風が嘆くから WOW...
この気持ちポラロイドでその胸に
映しだせたなら UH...
I ALWAYS LOVE YOU いつまでも
今のままの君でいて
I ALWAYS LOVE YOU いつまでも
気まぐれ天使でいてほしい

MY LITTLE ANGEL...
MY LITTLE ANGEL...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 布袋寅泰's song 気まぐれ天使 describe a whimsical and unpredictable angel, who stares at the clock and laughs with a sadistic gaze. The singer describes this angel as one who doesn't want to miss out on thrilling moments, and who speaks of dangerous things. Despite this, the singer can't help but love this angel and hopes that they will never change. The singer asks the angel not to cut their lovely bangs, because the night wind would weep, and imagines taking a picture of their heart with a Polaroid camera.

The lyrics go on to describe the angel's coquettish lips and a small smile that they always seem to hold. Even when angry, they are still an unpredictable and whimsical angel. They sleep on the couch with sunglasses on, and the singer wonders if they can still dream. The angel's body is described as supple like that of a cat, and the singer wants to embrace it gently. They see their love for the angel as being reflected in a spring, and wishes to spend the night with them.

Overall, the lyrics suggest that the singer is enamored with this unpredictable and whimsical angel, despite their seemingly dangerous and sadistic nature. They want the angel to remain as they are, with their lovely bangs intact, and to continue to be their little angel forever.

Line by Line Meaning

サディスティックな眼差しで
With a sadistic gaze

時計の針を見つめながら
Staring at the clock hands

笑うお前は... 気まぐれ天使
You who laugh... the fickle angel

"スリリングな瞬間を見逃したくない" と言って瞬きしない... 危ない天使
"I don't want to miss any thrilling moments" And you don't blink... the dangerous angel

その素敵な前髪を切らないで
Don't cut that lovely bangs

夜風が嘆くから
Because the night wind mourns

この気持ちポラロイドでその胸に映しだせたなら
If I could capture this feeling on a Polaroid and show it in your heart

I ALWAYS LOVE YOU いつまでも
I ALWAYS LOVE YOU forever

今のままの君でいて
Just the way you are now

コケティッシュな唇に小さな微笑みを秘めて
With coquettish lips hiding a small smile

怒ったりする...気まぐれ天使
Getting angry...the fickle angel