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.

Captain Rock
布袋寅泰 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

哀愁の都市に生まれ
奇跡夢見る Boys & Girls
昆虫のような日々に
情熱走る　Sensation
逆巻くカミカゼあいつが来る
雷電（Rydeen）を滑り降りた
銀河の果ての SuperStar
ワイルドに煽る台詞

孔雀色した　Hair ＆ make
弾くギターはファイアー
闇を焦がす
Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo
最後の予言者　Captain Rock
Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo
愛はまだ生きているかい？
Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo
憂僻な女神たぶらかし
Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo
死んでた未来揺り起こす
Here comes the superstar,
CAPTAIN ROCK
coming down, make you dance
Here comes the superstar,
CAPTAIN ROCK
coming down, make it rock

曖昧なカオスの壁
ぶち壊すのもPerformance
エンジェルの透けた胸が
誘う淫らな　Fantasy
雲の下のヘヴン　ドアを叩け
Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo
最後の魔術師　Captain Rock
Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo
愛は光に染まるかい？
Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo
ノイズの彼方を夢見て
Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo
迷子の人類踊らせる
Here comes the superstar,
CAPTAIN ROCK
coming down, make you dance
Here comes the superstar,
CAPTAIN ROCK
coming down, make it rock
Here comes the superstar,
CAPTAIN ROCK
coming down, make it rock
Here comes the superstar,

CAPTAIN ROCK
coming down, make it rock

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Captain Rock" by 布袋寅泰 (also known as Hotei Tomoyasu) paint a vivid picture of a city filled with melancholy, where boys and girls dream of miracles and live in insect-like days. In this chaotic and ambiguous world, Captain Rock emerges as the last prophet and superstar. He brings a sensation of passion and energy, sliding down like a kamikaze and igniting the darkness with his wild and captivating words. With his peacock-colored hair and makeup, he strums his guitar like fire, creating a sensation that burns through the night. The lyrics question if love is still alive and if the manipulative goddess, with her secretive nature, can awaken the dormant future. Captain Rock is the one who breaks through the walls of this ambiguous chaos, his performance shattering the barriers. His angelic and enticing presence invites the audience into a sinful fantasy. Bringing his magic to the sky below, he asks if love can be dyed in light. Beyond the noise, he dreams of a world where lost humanity is dancing. The repetition of "Here comes the superstar, CAPTAIN ROCK, coming down, make it rock" emphasizes his arrival and the transformative power he brings through his music. Overall, the lyrics convey the image of Captain Rock as a charismatic and influential figure who challenges the status quo and embodies the rebellious spirit of rock music.

Line by Line Meaning

哀愁の都市に生まれ
I was born in a city of sadness

奇跡夢見る Boys & Girls
Boys & Girls dreaming of miracles

昆虫のような日々に
In days like insects

情熱走る Sensation
Passionate sensations running

逆巻くカミカゼあいつが来る
The turbulent Kamikaze, he's coming

雷電（Rydeen）を滑り降りた
Sliding down from the thunderstorm (Rydeen)

銀河の果ての SuperStar
The SuperStar at the edge of the galaxy

ワイルドに煽る台詞
Wildly provoking words

孔雀色した　Hair ＆ make
Hair & make-up in peacock colors

弾くギターはファイアー
Playing the guitar like fire

闇を焦がす
Burning the darkness