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.

薔薇と雨
布袋寅泰 Lyrics

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A ROSE IN THE RAIN
雨に濡れうつむく薔薇...
お前の面影に似たそのシルエット
A ROSE IN THE RAIN
追憶の日々が雨に誘われて
俺の胸に蘇る
愛し合うと同時に傷つけ合い
枯れるように終わったふたりの恋

A ROSE IN THE RAIN
花びらをつたう雨の雫は
お前の涙涙

あの時何故お前を強く強く
抱きしめてやれなかったのだろう
淋しさに震えてる小さな肩
この胸で受け止めてやれなかった
A ROSE IN THE RAIN

花びらをつたう雨の雫は
お前の涙涙涙涙

Overall Meaning

In "A Rose in the Rain,"布袋寅泰 (Hotei Tomoyasu) sings about a rose that is drenched in the rain, symbolizing a love that has come to an end. The lyrics describe a silhouette resembling the person he used to love, and how the memories of their past days together are brought back by the rain, flooding his heart. The song reflects on a love that was both beautiful and painful, where they loved each other while also hurting each other, leading to a withering end.

The repetition of "A Rose in the Rain" emphasizes the melancholic mood and the cyclical nature of the emotions being portrayed. The rain, depicted by the raindrops falling on the petals, represents the tears of the person he once loved. The lyrics express the singer's regret and longing for not being able to hold them tightly during a time of loneliness, symbolized by the trembling small shoulders. It conveys the sadness of missed opportunities and the unfulfilled desire to provide comfort and support.

Line by Line Meaning

A ROSE IN THE RAIN
A beautiful rose stooping under the rain...

雨に濡れうつむく薔薇...
An image that resembles your presence, soaking in the rain.

お前の面影に似たそのシルエット
A silhouette reminiscent of your memory.

A ROSE IN THE RAIN
Days of reminiscence being compelled by the rain.

追憶の日々が雨に誘われて
The days of memories are lured by the rain, reviving in my heart.

俺の胸に蘇る
Both loving and hurting each other simultaneously, our love ended as if withering.

愛し合うと同時に傷つけ合い
The raindrops trailing along the petals are your tears, tears.

枯れるように終わったふたりの恋
Why couldn't I hold you tight, so tightly at that time?

あの時何故お前を強く強く
Your small shoulders trembling in loneliness, I couldn't embrace them with my heart.

抱きしめてやれなかったのだろう
A ROSE IN THE RAIN

淋しさに震えてる小さな肩
The raindrops trailing along the petals are your tears, tears, tears, tears.