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.
CIRCUS
布袋寅泰 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
揺れる幻夢は Pleasure dome
鞭を手に男が叫ぶ
おまえの出番だ It's showtime
獅子は炎をくぐり
誇らしく月に吠える
空中に踊るブランコ
飛べないおまえは道化師
地獄の手前で夢を抱け
Fly high Fly high 星空に届け
Fly high Fly high 命のダーツ
目隠しをされた天使の
綱渡りはまだ続く
呪われた時代の隅で
俺達は恋に落ちる
悲しみのナイフ擦り抜け
交わす接吻はアクロバット
恋人よ淫らな指で
涙をちぎっておくれ
情熱が招く奇跡のサーカスさ
傷ついて愛は花になる
Fly high Fly high 星空に咲いた
Fly high Fly high 炎のダリア
流れゆく日々は儚いサーカスさ
この瞬間こそ夢を抱け
Fly high Fly high 星空に届け
Fly high Fly high 命のダーツ
Fly high Fly high 星空に咲いた
Fly high Fly high 愛しき
炎のダリア
The lyrics to 布袋寅泰's song "CIRCUS" describe a captivating and dreamlike world filled with light and shadow. The singer finds themselves in a Pleasure dome, a place where illusionary dreams sway and flicker. There is a feeling of anticipation as a man with a whip announces that it's showtime and the singer's turn to perform. The lyrics paint a picture of a circus-like atmosphere, where the lion passes through flames, proudly howling at the moon, and a clown dances on a swing in the air. However, the singer feels like they are unable to fly and are instead a jester in this world.
The song explores the themes of danger and uncertainty in life, comparing it to a circus. The lyrics encourage embracing dreams even when standing at the threshold of hell. The chorus lyrics "Fly high Fly high, reach for the stars in the sky" and "Fly high Fly high, darts of life" symbolize the longing for something greater and the desire to break free from limitations.
In the second verse, the song takes a more intimate turn by introducing the image of a blindfolded angel walking on a tightrope. Despite living in a cursed era, the singer falls in love. The lyrics suggest that love can transcend sadness and act as a kind of acrobatics, where the lovers exchange a passionate kiss. The request for the lover to tear apart tears with their lascivious fingers adds a sensual and provocative layer to the lyrics.
The song concludes with the idea that life is a transient circus, where each passing day is fleeting. It emphasizes the importance of embracing dreams in every moment. The final lines "Fly high Fly high, reach for the stars in the sky, Fly high Fly high, beloved Dahlia of flames" bring a sense of beauty and passion, reaffirming the idea that love can transform wounds into blooming flowers.
Line by Line Meaning
めくるめく光と影に
In the dazzling lights and shadows
揺れる幻夢は Pleasure dome
The swaying illusion is a Pleasure dome
鞭を手に男が叫ぶ
With a whip in hand, a man shouts
おまえの出番だ It's showtime
It's your turn, it's showtime
獅子は炎をくぐり
The lion passes through the flames
誇らしく月に吠える
It proudly howls at the moon
空中に踊るブランコ
A swing dances in the air
飛べないおまえは道化師
You, who can't fly, are a clown
人生はいつも危険なサーカスさ
Life is always a dangerous circus
地獄の手前で夢を抱け
Embrace your dreams just before hell
Fly high Fly high 星空に届け
Fly high, fly high, reach for the stars
Fly high Fly high 命のダーツ
Fly high, fly high, darts of life
目隠しをされた天使の
Blindfolded angel
綱渡りはまだ続く
The tightrope walking continues
呪われた時代の隅で
In the corner of a cursed era
俺達は恋に落ちる
We fall in love
悲しみのナイフ擦り抜け
Slipping through the knife of sorrow
交わす接吻はアクロバット
The exchanged kiss is acrobatic
恋人よ淫らな指で
Lover, with your lustful fingers
涙をちぎっておくれ
Tear them apart for me
情熱が招く奇跡のサーカスさ
The circus of miracles invited by passion
傷ついて愛は花になる
Love becomes a flower, wounded
Fly high Fly high 星空に咲いた
Fly high, fly high, blooming in the starry sky
Fly high Fly high 炎のダリア
Fly high, fly high, dahlia of flames
流れゆく日々は儚いサーカスさ
The passing days are fleeting circus
この瞬間こそ夢を抱け
Embrace your dreams in this very moment
Fly high Fly high 星空に届け
Fly high, fly high, reach for the stars
Fly high Fly high 命のダーツ
Fly high, fly high, darts of life
Fly high Fly high 星空に咲いた
Fly high, fly high, blooming in the starry sky
Fly high Fly high 愛しき
Fly high, fly high, beloved
炎のダリア
Dahlia of flames
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: moriyukinojou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
su ya
いつも参考にさせてもらってます！本当にすごい！！
Atsushi
ありがとうございます！
ひぐ
素晴らしい！
覚えるのに参考にさせていただきました。
しっかり練習して弾きこなせるようにしたいです。
Atsushi
ありがとうございます！
全部弾くと
かなり忙しい曲になりますよね涙笑
ryu
タブ譜があるのが神すぎです
Atsushi
ありがとうございます！ご参考になればと思います。
大鷲のケン
これはいいよ、ギター小僧には最高のお手本だわ！俺もこの曲が出た当時これがあったらなぁ〜。今はギターおっさんだけどさ。good job！👍
Atsushi
ありがたいコメント
ありがとうございます！
ギター小僧の心というのは
いつまでも
少年のままではないかと
思っています笑
SeaBirdチャンネル
わおっ！なんと素晴らしい✨✨✨
早速参考にさせてもらいます🤩
SeaBirdチャンネル
@Atsushi
ありがとうございます‼️
布袋さん弾きたくなって、動画やってる人いないかなぁと思って探してたらAtsushiさんを発見しました✨✨✨
超ありがたいです👍