Formed in 1973 as the high-school garage band Invader in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, its original members included vocalist Koji Tamaki, guitarist Yutaka Takezawa and guitarist/keyboardist Toshiya Takezawa, who is also Yutaka's brother. Later, in late 1973, Koji's brother and drummer, Kazuyoshi Tamaki and bassist Takahiro Miyashita joined. In 1977, the band changed its name to Anzen Chitai ("Safety Zone"), and Kazuyoshi Tamaki left the group to be replaced by Ichiji Ohira. By December 1977, Anzen Chitai merged with another band, the Haruyoshi Rokudo Band (六土開正バンド, Rokudō Haruyoshi Bando?), and added three more members: bassist Haruyoshi Rokudo, guitarist Wataru Yahagi, and drummer Yuji Tanaka. By this point, they had expanded to an eight-member group. Within the next three years, Toshiya Takezawa and Takahiro Miyashita would leave. Yuji Tanaka would also leave at this point.
In 1981, they began work as a backup band for singer-songwriter Yōsui Inoue, and released their debut single, "Moegi Iro no Snap" (萌黄色のスナップ, Moegi Iro no Sunappu?) under the Kitty Records in February 1982. However, the final personnel change would occur as Ichiji Ohira would leave, and Yuji Tanaka would return in his place, establishing the current lineup.
Under the guidance of their producer and co-arranger Masaru Hoshi (星 勝, Hoshi Masaru?), lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock group The Mops, the band continued to refine their craft in the studio. Their status as a backup band would soon change: in 1984, "Wine Red o Kokoro" (ワインレッドの心, Wain Reddo No Kokoro?, lit. Wine Red Heart) reached No. 1 on the Oricon charts, to be followed by among others, "Kanashimi ni Sayonara" (悲しみにさよなら) and "Suki Sa" (好きさ) (featured on the popular Rumiko Takahashi anime series Maison Ikkoku). "Wine Red no Kokoro" was composed by Koji Tamaki with lyrics by Yōsui Inoue. Koji Tamaki was credited as the sole composer in virtually all of Anzen Chitai's music, with Gorō Matsui being the lyricist frequently. Their popularity in the 1980s culminated in a five-day soldout concert tour at the Nippon Budokan in 1987, which had a total attendance of 60,000.
Despite a couple of hiatuses for the sake of solo careers (July 1988-March 1990, 1993-2001), Anzen Chitai continued to record and tour. A new studio album was released in 2004, titled Anzen Chitai X (their tenth studio album). After their Japanese concert tour in support of the "Anzen Chitai X" album, the band announced at the end of 2004 that they are taking yet another indefinite hiatus.
As of 2006, Koji Tamaki remains active as a solo performer and television actor, with Wataru Yahagi performing in both his solo albums and concerts. Yutaka Takezawa is also active in the music business as a composer, producer, arranger and session guitarist.
On April 28, 2008, fan club members were notified that Tamaki has announced his retirement from music, as well as the closing of the official Koji Tamaki & Anzenchitai fan club, Star. Illness that requires long-term treatment was cited for his decision.
During the second half of 2009, the band held secret meetings and decided to regroup. Similar to their amateur days, band members lodged together to practise and compose music.
On January 2010, the band announced the resumption of their career. Switching back to Universal Music Japan (which has absorbed their former label Kitty Records and is the distributor of their pre-Sony Music Japan catalog) as their record label, a music video for their new single (scheduled for release in early March, 2010) has been released. Along with making apprearance on TV, the band intend to perform in public following the release of their upcoming single.
Their double A-side single "Aoi Bara/Wine Red no Kokoro (2010 version)" was released on March 3, 2010. Tamaki wrote the lyrics and music of "Aoi Bara." The single debuted at #9 on Oricon weekly charts, becoming their first Top 10 single in 21 years 6 months since their single "Hohoemi ni Kanpai" in 1988.
MEMBERS:
* Koji Tamaki (玉置 浩二, Tamaki Kōji?) - Vocals, Guitars & Percussion (1973-present)
* Yutaka Takezawa (武沢 豊, Takezawa Yutaka?) - Guitars (1973-present)
* Wataru Yahagi (矢萩 渉, Yahagi Wataru?) - Guitars (1977-present)
* Haruyoshi Rokudo (六土 開正, Rokudō Haruyoshi?) Bass, Piano & Keyboards (1977-present)
* Yuji Tanaka (田中 裕二, Tanaka Yūji?) - Drums (1977-1978, 1982-present)
PAST MEMBERS
* Toshiya Takezawa (武沢 俊也, Takezawa Toshiya?) - Guitars, Keyboards (1973-1981)
* Takahiro Miyashita (宮下 隆宏, Miyashita Takahiro?) - Bass (1973-1978)
* Kazuyoshi Tamaki (玉置 一芳, Tamaki Kazuyoshi?) - Drums (1973-1977)
* Ichiji Ohira (大平 市治, Ōhira Ichiji?) - Drums (1977-1982)
Origin: Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan
Genres: Japanese rock
Years active: 1973-1992, 2002-2004, 2009-present
Labels : Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Kitty Records, Universal Music Group
Associated acts : Yōsui Inoue
Deai
Anzenchitai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
元気でいますか
好きだったあの声
耳に残ってる
そばにいなくても
抱きしめられて
いたのでしょうか
このぬくもりを
あなたに出逢えた
このよろこびを
いつまでも
いつまでも
忘れない
あなたを愛してる
覚えていますか
いまでもあの歌を
The lyrics to Anzenchitai's song Deai center around the theme of longing and reminiscing about a past relationship. The singer expresses their desire to reconnect with an old flame, asking if they are still doing well even though they have not kept in touch. The memory of the person's voice lingers in their ears, and they wonder if despite not being physically present, they still held onto the warmth of their embrace. The singer expresses their wish to convey their own warmth and love to this person, even after all this time.
The second half of the lyrics speak directly to the joy and happiness the singer felt when they first met this person, highlighting the enduring impact this relationship had on them. They vow to never forget their love for this person, even if they are unable to reconnect with them in the present. Overall, the lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past love, while also expressing the enduring power of that love to shape and impact our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
連絡はないけど
We haven't been in touch, but I wonder if you're doing well
元気でいますか
Are you still healthy and strong?
好きだったあの声
I still remember that voice I loved
耳に残ってる
It's still lingering in my ears
そばにいなくても
Even if you're not by my side
抱きしめられて
I can still feel your embrace
いたのでしょうか
Did you feel it too?
あなたに伝えたい
I want to tell you
このぬくもりを
About this warmth I feel
あなたに出逢えた
I'm grateful for meeting you
このよろこびを
This happiness that you gave me
いつまでも
Forever
いつまでも
Forever
忘れない
I won't forget
あなたを愛してる
That I love you
覚えていますか
Do you still remember?
いまでもあの歌を
That song that we loved
Writer(s): Goroo Matsui, Kazumi Tamaki, Satoko Ando
Contributed by Sadie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.