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.

VAMPIRE
布袋寅泰 Lyrics

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爛(ただ)れた月のゼリーに濡れて
棺の様なベッドが軋む
愛しき生贄(ひと)よ身悶えながら
悲鳴のアリアを歌え
震動(バイブ)に光る蜜を舐めると
消えた女神の匂いにる満ちる
虫ケラ達の快楽じゃない
欲しいものはその心

闇よりも深い愛があると
ふるえる乳房にそっと囁く
背負った痛みの十字架さえ
砕け散るのさ
ギラついて☆ザラついて☆
噛みついて
エロスの火が燃える
人は皆☆哀しみの☆バンパイア
孤独を焼き尽くせ

手錠の傷痕撫でる指が
おまえの涙に火傷しそうだ
飢えた魂を宥(なだ)めるには
気だるい夏さ
イキそうで☆シニそうで☆
ナキそうで
淫らな妄想(ゆめ)の中
血が滲む☆首筋に☆絡みつく
背徳のロマンス
ギラついて☆ザラついて☆
噛みついて
エロスの火が燃える

人は皆☆哀しみの☆バンパイア
孤独を焼き尽くせ

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from the song "VAMPIRE" by 布袋寅泰 (Hotei Tomoyasu). The lyrics paint a picture of a dark and seductive world, filled with sensuality and longing. The singer describes being soaked in the jelly of a decadent moon, with a bed that creaks like a coffin. The person the singer loves is referred to as a sacrificial lamb, and they are urged to sing an aria of screams. The sensation of licking honey that glimmers in vibration brings the scent of a vanished goddess. The singer contrasts this with the shallow pleasure of insects, expressing a desire for something deeper - the heart of the subject of their affection, which they believe is even deeper than darkness.

The chorus emphasizes the eroticism and longing felt by everyone, who are described as vampires of sadness, destined to burn their loneliness. The lyrics further evoke a powerful imagery of scratching, biting, and burning sensations, both physical and emotional. The scars on handcuffs are compared to the touch of a finger that might burn with another's tears. The sultry summer heat is mentioned as a means to soothe a hungry soul. The lyrics convey a sense of intensity and forbidden romance, as blood mingles and clings to the neck, symbolizing the allure of taboo desires.

Line by Line Meaning

爛(ただ)れた月のゼリーに濡れて
Soaked in the jelly of a tattered moon

棺の様なベッドが軋む
A bed resembling a coffin creaks

愛しき生贄(ひと)よ身悶えながら
Oh beloved sacrifice, writhing in agony

悲鳴のアリアを歌え
Sing the aria of screams

震動(バイブ)に光る蜜を舐めると
When you taste the honey shining in vibration

消えた女神の匂いにる満ちる
It is filled with the scent of the vanished goddess

虫ケラ達の快楽じゃない
This is not the pleasure of insects

欲しいものはその心
What I desire is that heart

闇よりも深い愛があると
There is a love deeper than darkness

ふるえる乳房にそっと囁く
Softly whisper to shivering breasts

背負った痛みの十字架さえ
Even the cross of carried pain