Anzen Chitai (安全地帯?, literally "Safety Zone") is a Japanese rock band, form… Read Full Bio ↴Anzen Chitai (安全地帯?, literally "Safety Zone") is a Japanese rock band, formed in 1973 by five musicians in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan. It debuted in 1982 in Tokyo, Japan. They became one of Japanese most successful rock bands in the 1980s of Japan.
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

Happiness
Anzenchitai Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ピアスが粋じゃない東京湾(Tokio Bay)で
泣くからソーダの瞳
Tic Tac 聴いたかい止まらないね
ジキルに戻れないハイド
でも 8分あなたのその手で
誘惑されてみたい
そう 8分死ぬほどスリルな
ダンスをしよう

ほら Happiness Happiness
じらしてじらされて
ほら Happiness Happiness
あなたがほどけてく

シルクの胸元にこぼれそうな
トパーズの汗に High
片手にあまらない古い Lady
忘れたくなる Tonight
もう 8分ハートを遅らせ
あなたに追いつきたい
いま 8分もてあましぎみに
気分がでない

ほら Happiness Happiness
このままみないふり
ほら Happiness Happiness
シュールに壊れたい

発奮うつろな目で Baby
8分恋がもてば Baby
うまくいける

ほら Happiness Happiness
じらしてじらされて
ほら Happiness Happiness
あなたがほどけてく

ほら Happiness Happiness
このままみないふり
ほら Happiness Happiness
シュールに壊れたい

ふたりは粋じゃない夢見てね
時間にクールな愛

Tic Tac 聴いてるみみもとで
ジキルが呼んでるハイド

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Anzenchitai's "Happiness" describe a couple's desire for excitement and adventure in their relationship. The piercings aren't cool enough for the singer and they want to experience more excitement. The references to Tokyo Bay and soda eyes create a sense of youthful vitality while the mentions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde evoke a darker side. The lines "8 minutes with your hand in mine / I want to be tempted" and "8 minutes of the thrill of dying / Let's dance" suggest the couple's willingness to risk everything for the sake of their passion.

The chorus of "Happiness" repeats the word "happiness" twice and ends with the line "You're unraveling." This repetition highlights the couple's shared desire for excitement and their belief that being with each other will bring them happiness. However, the final lines of the song reveal a sense of desperation as the couple realizes that their lives are lacking in substance and meaning. They want to break free from their mundane existence, but they're not sure if they can.

Overall, "Happiness" is a song that captures the youthful energy and desire for adventure that characterizes many romantic relationships. The lyrics use a combination of light-hearted imagery and dark symbolism to create a sense of drama and excitement. While there is a sense of danger and risk in the song, the final lines suggest that the couple is willing to take that risk in order to find true happiness.

Line by Line Meaning

ピアスが粋じゃない東京湾(Tokio Bay)で
Wearing earrings is not significant enough when I'm crying in front of Tokio Bay

泣くからソーダの瞳
My tears may be blue like the color of soda

Tic Tac 聴いたかい止まらないね
Can you hear the sound of Tic Tac? It doesn't ever stop

ジキルに戻れないハイド
I can't go back to being Jekyll from being Hyde

でも 8分あなたのその手で
But for eight minutes, I want you to seduce me with your hands

誘惑されてみたい
I want to be tempted

そう 8分死ぬほどスリルな
Yes, for eight minutes, let's dance till our hearts stop with passion

ダンスをしよう
Let's dance

ほら Happiness Happiness
Look, happiness, happiness

じらしてじらされて
Teasing and being teased

あなたがほどけてく
You are loosening up