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
Taisetsuna Hito
Anzenchitai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ふたつの長い影
さみしさまで
わかちあえるひとは 誰?
みどりの風に吹かれた
一枚の落ち葉を
川に浮かべ
あなたはそうたったひとり
ひとりしかいない
どんなものにも代わらない
たいせつなひとだから
いつまでも
拾ったガラスの瓶に
挿した白い花
あたたかい手
ふれてくれたひとは 誰?
僕らはそうずっとふたり
歩いてゆくんだ
どんなものにも代わらない
たいせつなひとだから
忘れないで
あなたはそうたったひとり
ひとりしかいない
どんなものにも代わらない
たいせつなひとだから
いつまでも
The song "Taisetsuna Hito" by Anzenchitai is about the importance of having someone special in our lives. The lyrics describe two people walking down a road enjoying the warmth of the sun and casting long shadows. The question is asked, "who can share even loneliness with us?" This line suggests that the person we are walking with is not just anyone, but someone who understands and relates to us on a deeper level.
As the two continue their journey, they come across a falling leaf carried by the green wind. They decide to put it on a river and make it into a boat, symbolizing their desire to go where life takes them together. The lyrics emphasize that the person we cherish is unique and irreplaceable, someone who we will never forget. The song concludes with the two people walking hand in hand, forging their path together into an uncertain future.
Overall, the song highlights the importance of treasuring the special person in our life, recognizing their worth, and never taking them for granted. It emphasizes that true happiness comes from sharing, understanding, and walking together through life's ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
陽だまりの道を歩く
Walking on the sunny path
ふたつの長い影
Two long shadows
さみしさまでわかちあえるひとは 誰?
Who is the one who can share loneliness with me?
みどりの風に吹かれた 一枚の落ち葉を 川に浮かべ どこまでも行く舟にしよう
Let's make a boat that will go anywhere, by placing a fallen leaf which was blown by the green wind and floated on the river
あなたはそうたったひとり ひとりしかいない どんなものにも代わらない たいせつなひとだから いつまでも
You are the only one and irreplaceable, a precious person forever
拾ったガラスの瓶に 挿した白い花 あたたかい手 ふれてくれたひとは 誰?
Who is the one who placed a white flower in a glass bottle I picked up, and touched me with a warm hand?
僕らはそうずっとふたり 歩いてゆくんだ どんなものにも代わらない たいせつなひとだから 忘れないで
We will keep walking together because we are each other's irreplaceable precious person, so please do not forget
あなたはそうたったひとり ひとりしかいない どんなものにも代わらない たいせつなひとだから いつまでも
You are the only one and irreplaceable, a precious person forever
Writer(s): Koji Tamaki
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.