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.

Nocturne No.9
布袋寅泰 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

不意に見上げた夜空には
無気味なほどの LAZY CRAZY M00N
いつでもロマンティックで
そのくせ破滅的な
俺たちの恋はサスペンス
果てても果てしなく
燃え盛る本能心と身体のラビリンス
背中の傷と赤い爪野性と情熱の証

瞳と唇で愛は貧り合うもの
胸の痛みさえエルドラド
究極のエゴイストも
仮面を剥ぎとれば
ハートは孤独に震えてる
闇のヴェールめくりあげて覗く
不滅のエロス胸に灯る
ダイアモンドの光抱きしめて
月明かり盗んで愛を照らそう
二人の伝説を創るのさ
吐息の炎で奏でよう
堕天使の調ベ NOCTURNE No.9

壊れるほど強く抱くほどに狂おしく
咲き誇る愛のデカダンス
濡れた指が探し当てた宇宙
無限のリビドー
身体中に響き渡る
永遠のセレナーデ
月明かり盗んで愛を照らそう
二人の伝説を創るのさ

吐息の炎で奏でよう
堕天使の調ベ NOCTURNE No.9

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 布袋寅泰's song Nocturne No.9 is a depiction of a passionate and intense love story that involves a sense of danger and unpredictability. The lyrics begin by describing the strange and eerie moonlit night sky, which contrasts with the romantic but destructive nature of the love affair in question. The lyrics suggest that the singer's love feels both romantic and suspenseful, with a sense of endlessness.

The lyrics then go on to describe the burning passion and intensity between the two lovers, referring to body language and physical touch. There is a mention of a back wound and red claws, symbols of wildness and passion. Love, according to the song, is about the connection between the heart, the body, and passionate love.

The lyrics further delve into the idea of loneliness and heartbreak as a price of pursuing such a love affair. The song also describes a sense of wonder and beauty, even in the midst of decadence and destruction. The lyrics ultimately suggest that the two lovers are creating a legend of their own making, and their love is worthy of the nocturnal symphony titled Nocturne No.9.

Line by Line Meaning

不意に見上げた夜空には
As I looked up at the night sky unexpectedly,

無気味なほどの LAZY CRAZY M00N
I saw such an unsettlingly LAZY CRAZY MOON

いつでもロマンティックで
that despite always being romantic,

そのくせ破滅的な
it was still destructive and dangerous,

俺たちの恋はサスペンス
just like the suspenseful love between us

果てても果てしなく
that seems to never end

燃え盛る本能心と身体のラビリンス
It's a labyrinth of burning passion and instinct inside our hearts and bodies

背中の傷と赤い爪野性と情熱の証
The scars on our backs and our sharp, red nails are proof of our wild nature and passion

瞳と唇で愛は貧り合うもの
Our love is a meager thing, represented only by our eyes and lips

胸の痛みさえエルドラド
Even our pain is like a treasure trove, like El Dorado

究極のエゴイストも
Even the ultimate egotist