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.

I'm Free
布袋寅泰 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

転がったりよそ見したり
しながら見つけた小さな自由
きっと甘くてきっと素敵と
信じでいだけど知らなかった
人は皆自分に(戻りたい)
だけなのに何故か...
いつもゴマカシテばかりで
認めようとはしない

I'M FREE!
俺は俺の宇宙で
I'M FREE!
楽しませてもらうゼ

馬鹿バカシイしいほど切ない
人間関係なんてイラナイ
あの頃にもう一度(戻りたい)
戻れない二度と...も素直で無垢で
それていて狂ってた
I'M FREE!
俺は俺の宇宙で
I'M FREE!
楽しませてもらうぜ
I'M FREE!
お前はお前の宇宙で
I'M FREE!

好きなだけ楽しみナ
YES, FREE!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 布袋寅泰's song "I'm Free" express a sense of personal liberation and independence. The opening lines depict a series of actions like rolling around and looking elsewhere, which lead to the discovery of a small form of freedom. Though initially believed to be sweet and wonderful, the singer realizes they did not truly understand it. The song highlights a common human desire to revert back to one's true self, but questions why individuals often pretend and hide their true desires, constantly seeking validation from others. The repetition of "I'm Free" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's declaration of independence and their determination to enjoy life on their own terms.

Line by Line Meaning

転がったりよそ見したり
Rolling around, looking around

しながら見つけた小さな自由
I found a small freedom while doing so

きっと甘くてきっと素敵と
Surely sweet, surely wonderful

信じでいだけど知らなかった
I believed, but I didn't know

人は皆自分に(戻りたい)
Everyone wants to return to themselves

だけなのに何故か...
Only that, but why...

いつもゴマカシテばかりで
Always pretending

認めようとはしない
Refusing to admit

I'M FREE!
I'm free!

俺は俺の宇宙で
I am in my own universe

I'M FREE!
I'm free!