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.

GET YOUR GUN
布袋寅泰 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

中途半端なフリーダム
曖昧なラブ＆ピース
街中コピーロボット
イヤダ!イヤダ! NO! NO! NO!

時空の扉開いて
一緒に探しにゆこう
ボヘミアン達が見た夢

今こそ GO! GO! GO!

常識ハズレててもロマンチストは勝つ
つらぬけその美学男だろ?女だろ?

GET YOUR GUN 闇を裂いて
響け魂のノイズ
GET YOUR GUN この世界は
おまえだけのものさ

サイエンティストたちは言う「未来はそこにある」
恐くなんかないさ男だろ?女だろ?

GET YOUR GUN 夜の空を
彷徨う星たちのように
GET YOUR GUN 俺とお前の
旅に終わりはない

GET YOUR GUN 闇を裂いて
響け魂のノイズ

GET YOUR GUN ロマンチストよ
明日に向かって撃て

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of the song "GET YOUR GUN" by Japanese musician and guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei seem to confront the concept of an incomplete freedom and an indistinct love and peace that can be witnessed in society. The setting is that of a copy-robot ridden town that limits individuality and self-expressionism. The lyrics express a desire to break free from this monotonous way of living and embrace the essence of freedom by opening the door of space and time to search for the dream of bohemians. The song is all about breaking the norms and being a romantic, true to one's self and one's aesthetics, be it in defiance of the prevailing traditional gender roles or the scientific claims of a predictable future.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "GET YOUR GUN" and asks the listener to tear through the darkness and create a noise that resonates with their soul. The repetition of this phrase possibly symbolizes the need for strength, courage, and determination to pursue one's passion and individuality regardless of the obstacles and challenges faced, much like wielding a figurative gun.

Overall, the song encourages listeners to embrace their individuality, defy societal norms, and take ownership of their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

中途半端なフリーダム
Half-hearted freedom

曖昧なラブ＆ピース
Ambiguous love and peace

街中コピーロボット
Copy robots on the streets

イヤダ!イヤダ! NO! NO! NO!
No! No! No! I don't want that!

時空の扉開いて
Opening the door to space and time

一緒に探しにゆこう
Let's go search together

ボヘミアン達が見た夢
The dream Bohemians saw

今こそ GO! GO! GO!
Now let's go! Go! Go!

常識ハズレててもロマンチストは勝つ
Even if common sense is lacking, the romanticist wins

つらぬけその美学男だろ?女だろ?
Endure that aesthetic, whether you're a man or a woman