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.

My Name Is Desire
布袋寅泰 Lyrics

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MY NAME IS DESIRE
いつもオマエの中にいる
満たされぬ感情の中に
MY NAME IS DESIRE
望むなら砂漠の日々に
浴びせよう禁断の雨を

MY NAME IS DESIRE

いつかオマエを支配する
悲しみと快楽の海
MY NAME IS DESIRE
ドーベルマンを解き放ち
噛み千切れ運命の鎖
魔性の女銀のモーターバイク
それとも地位や名誉なのか
欲しいものを叫んだ時
粉れもないオマエがいる
DESIRE DESURE DESIRE
人間の輝きは
DESIRE DESURE DESIRE
煩悩が反射しているだけ

触れた指先焦がしてまで
炎のダイヤ奪えばいい
欲しいものが手に入ると
オマエはまたオレを探す
DESIRE DESURE DESIRE
冤罪を喚いても
DESIRE DESURE DESIRE
共犯者なのさオレ達は
DESIRE DESURE DESIRE
人間の輝きは

DESIRE DESURE DESIRE
煩悩が反射しているだけ

Overall Meaning

In "My Name Is Desire" by 布袋寅泰 (Hotei Tomoyasu), the author explores the theme of desire and its role in shaping human identity. The lyrics suggest that desire is ever-present and all-consuming, an essential part of one's being, and that it can take both positive and negative forms, giving rise to feelings of pleasure as well as pain. The song opens with the lines "I am always inside you / In the midst of unfulfilled emotions." Here, the singer presents himself as desire, a force that resides within the individual and is intimately connected to their innermost feelings and desires. The repetition of "My Name is Desire" throughout the song drives home the idea that desire is a constant presence that cannot be ignored or denied.

The lyrics go on to suggest that desire has the power to dominate and control an individual, to lead them along a path of both pleasure and suffering. The lines "One day, I will rule you / The sea of happiness and sadness" imply that desire can become all-consuming, taking over the individual's thoughts, emotions, and actions. This is further emphasized by the image of the unleashed Doberman and the idea of breaking free from the chains of fate. The singer suggests that desire can be a driving force, pushing the individual to pursue what they want, even if it means breaking rules or facing consequences.

Overall, "My Name Is Desire" suggests that desire is a complex and multifaceted aspect of human nature that plays a central role in shaping identity, motivation, and desire. The lyrics combine dark imagery with themes of liberation and self-discovery, creating a sense of tension between the positive and negative aspects of desire.

Line by Line Meaning

MY NAME IS DESIRE
I am the overwhelming feeling of wanting or wishing for something unattainable

いつもオマエの中にいる
I am always present within you, never leaving your thoughts and emotions

満たされぬ感情の中に
I exist within the unsatisfied emotions that you feel

望むなら砂漠の日々に
If you desire it, I can bring forbidden rain pouring down on the desert of your life

浴びせよう禁断の雨を
I can quench the thirst of wanting with rain of forbidden desires

いつかオマエを支配する
Someday, I will dominate and control you

悲しみと快楽の海
I am a force that dwells in the ocean of both sadness and pleasure

ドーベルマンを解き放ち
I set the dogs free, allowing them to bite and snap at the chains of fate

噛み千切れ運命の鎖
Their sharp teeth sink and tear through the chains of fate

魔性の女銀のモーターバイク
I am the seductive woman riding the silver motorcycle

それとも地位や名誉なのか
What you desire could be power, status, or fame