Spyair

Spyair (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese rock band from Nagoya, formed in 2005. The band currently consists of Yuji "UZ" Nakai (guitar, programming), Kenji "Momiken" Momiyama (bass guitar, leader), Kenta Sasabe (drums) and Yosuke (vocals).[4][5] The band's name was determined in one shot by the members, which came from the word spyware, a type of computer virus.[5]

Spyair
Spyair in September 2013Left to right: Momiken, Ike, UZ, Kenta
Spyair in September 2013
Left to right: Momiken, Ike, UZ, Kenta
Background information
OriginNagoya, Japan
Genres
Years active2005–present
Labels
MembersUZ (guitar, programming)
Momiken (bass guitar, leader)
Kenta (drums)
Yosuke (vocals)
Past membersIke (vocals)
Enzel☆ (DJ)
Websitewww.spyair.net

History

The band was formed in 2005 and produced and released a number of materials themselves up until 2009 when they signed with the indie label U-Project. While with U-Project, they released the singles "Japanication" and "Kanjō Discord" before signing a major record deal with Sony Music in 2010. Their major debut single, "Liar," was released on August 11 and was used as the theme song for the drama Hammer Session!.[6] Their second major single, "Last Moment," was released on December 1 and was used as the 25th ending song for the anime Bleach.[7]

Spyair's indies debut single "Japanication" was re-released on March 16, 2011, followed by their fourth major single, "Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)," on June 8, which was used as the 17th ending song to the anime Gin Tama.[8] In early 2012, the single "My World" was used as the second ending song for Mobile Suit Gundam AGE.[9] The single "0 Game (Love Game)" was used as an official soundtrack for the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man in Japan.[10] They also provided the theme song for the second Gin Tama movie, "Genjō Destruction".[11] Their eighth major single "Naked" was released on September 5[12] and was followed by the announcement of the band's second album, Just Do It, which features 12 tracks including their last three singles.[13]

In October, DJ Enzel☆ announced that he would be leaving the band after their Nippon Budokan concert on December 18.[14] The single "Wendy: It's You" was used as the theme song for the drama Koi Suru Hae Onna, which started airing in November.[15] On December 18, the band successfully held their first live concert at the Nippon Budokan, performing a total of 21 songs including their latest singles. This concert was Enzel's last performance with the group. After the concert, they announced a new single, "Sakura Mitsutsuki," set for release on March 13, 2013. It was used as the 13th opening song for Gin Tama for the month of January.[16]

Spyair's third studio album, Million, was released on August 7. On September 23, it was released by JPU Records in Europe, where the CD only version included three bonus tracks: "Last Moment," "Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)" and "My World." In October, the single "Just One Life" was used as the first opening song of the anime Samurai Flamenco.[17] Their next single "Imagination" was released on April 30, 2014, and served as the first opening song of the anime Haikyū!!.[18] The single "Firestarter," released on July 22, 2015, was used as the theme song for the drama The Last Cop.[19] In October, Spyair contributed with the first opening song of the second season of Haikyū!!, "I'm a Believer",[20] and a year later, their single "Rage of Dust" was used as the opening song of the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans.[21]

On March 31, 2022, it was announced that Ike would be leaving the band due to struggles with ulcerative colitis.[22] On April 13, 2023, Ike's replacement was announced to be 24 year old Yosuke.

Musical style and influences

The members of the band have cited their musical influences to be Korn,[23] Linkin Park,[23][24] and Michael Jackson.[23][25] SPYAIR combines elements of rock, pop and electronic music.

Band members
  • UZ (中井祐二, Nakai Yuji, born December 13, 1984) — guitar, programming (2005–present)
  • Momiken (籾山健二, Momiyama Kenji, born November 14, 1984) — bass guitar, leader (2005–present)
  • Kenta (笹部健太, Sasabe Kenta, born March 16, 1985) — drums (2005–present)
  • Yosuke — vocals (2023–present)
Former member
  • Enzel☆ (岩田洋輔, Iwata Yosuke, born May 11, 1985) — DJ[26] (2009–2012)
  • Ike (池田秀文, Ikeda Hidefumi, born April 18, 1984) — vocals (2005–2022)

Timeline

Discography

Albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[27]		 JPN
Billboard		 KOR
Gaon
[28]
Alive — — —
Rockin' the World 8 8[29] 67
Just Do It
  • Released: September 19, 2012
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 20 25[30] 44
Million
  • Released: August 7, 2013
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 2 2[31] 34
Best
  • Released: November 26, 2014
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 3 6[32] 36
4
  • Released: November 18, 2015
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 6 7[33] 66
Kingdom
  • Released: October 11, 2017
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 5 5[34] 61
Unite
  • Released: March 31, 2021
  • Label: Sony Music, JPU Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Notes Album
JPN
Oricon
[35]		 JPN
Billboard
[36]		 KOR
Gaon
[28]
"Japanication" 2009 84 — — Released under the label, U-Project Non-album singles
"Kanjō Discord" — — —
"Liar" 2010 55 26[37] — Spyair's major debut single, used as Hammer Session! theme song Rockin' the World
"Last Moment" 43 95[38] — Bleach 25th ending song
"Japanication" 2011 — — — Re-released
"Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)" 18 40[39] —
  • JPN: 250,000+
 Gin Tama 17th ending song
"Beautiful Days" 34 67[41] — Don Quixote theme song
"My World" 2012 21 31 — Mobile Suit Gundam AGE second ending song Just Do It
"0 Game" 15 10 — The Amazing Spider-Man Japanese theme song
"Naked" 47 22[42] —
"Rock This Way" — 52[43] — Collaboration with Japanese hip-hop artist Seamo Non-album single
"Wendy: It's You" 29 26[44] — Koi Suru Hae Onna theme song Best
"Sakura Mitsutsuki" 2013 10 8 —
  • JPN: 100,000+
 Gin Tama 13th opening song Million
"Niji" 20 24[45] — Sennyu Tantei Tokage theme song
"Genjō Destruction" 6 5[46] —
  • JPN: 100,000+
 Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya theme song
"Just One Life" 23 15[47] — Samurai Flamenco opening song Best
"Imagination" 2014 9 3 —
  • JPN: 100,000+
 Haikyū!! opening song
"Glory" — — —
"Rockin' Out" 2015 11 17 50 4
"Firestarter" 18 26 — The Last Cop theme song
"I'm a Believer" 9 5 —
  • JPN: 100,000+
 Haikyū!! Season 2 opening song
"This Is How We Rock" 2016 8 17 59 Kingdom
"Rage of Dust" 10 7 64
  • JPN: 100,000+
 Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 opening song
"Be With"[48] 2017 12 34 55
"Midnight" 20 65 — Utsubokazura no Yume theme song
"I Wanna Be..." 2018 26 24[50] — Gintama 21st Opening song Unite
"We'll Never Die" digital single
"B-the One" 2019 2018–19 B.League season theme song[51]
"Pride of Lions"
"Inside of Me" 2020 digital single
"One Day" Haikyu!! To the Top 2nd ending song
"Wadachi" 2021 Gintama: The Final theme song
"iris" digital single
"All I Need" digital single Non-album single

Music videos
Year Song Director(s)
[52]
2012 "ジャパニケーション"

(Japanication)

 Takahide Ishii
"0 Game" Kensaku Kakimoto
"Liar" Wataru Saito
"Last Moment" Takuya Tada
"Beautiful Days" Tatsuya Murakami
"My World"
"サムライハート(Some Like It Hot!!)"

(Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!))

"Naked" Masakazu Fukatsu
"Wendy ～It's You～"
"Movin' On" Dan Nishi
2013 "サクラミツツキ"

(Sakura Mitsutsuki)

 Masakazu Fukatsu
"虹"

(Niji, Rainbow)

"現状ディストラクション"

(Genjō Destruction)

"Just One Life" Hideaki Sugawara
2014 "イマジネーション"

(Imagination)

 Masakazu Fukatsu
"Glory" Masahiko Tsuruo
2015 "Rockin' Out" Masakazu Fukatsu
"ファイアスターター"

(Firestarter)

"アイム・ア・ビリーバー"

(I'm a Believer)

2016 "This is How We Rock" Wataru Saito
2017 "Be with" Yamado Yuki
"Midnight" Masakazu Fukatsu
2018 "I Wanna Be…"

Awards and nominations
Billboard Japan Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Spyair Animation Artist of the Year[53] Nominated
2013 Spyair Animation Artist of the Year[54] Nominated
JpopAsia Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 "Niji" Best Single[55] Nominated[56]
Ike (Spyair) Best Use of Social Media[55] Nominated[56]
Neo Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Spyair Best Musical Act[57] Nominated

See also

References
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  2. "SPYAIR Overview". JaME USA. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  3. "SPYAIRの基本情報" [SPYAIR Basic Information]. Cube-music (in Japanese). Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  4. "SPYAIR Biography". JpopAsia. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  5. "SPYAIRの記事まとめ" [SPYAIR Overview]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  6. "SPYAIR : Biography". Barks. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  7. "SPYAIR、新曲「Last Moment(BLEACH ver.)」配信開始" [SPYAIR's new song "Last Moment" (Bleach ver.) released]. Barks Japan (in Japanese). December 10, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  8. "SPYAIR、新曲「サムライハート(Some Like It Hot!!)」が2週連続1位を獲得" [SPYAIR's new song "Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot !!)" won 1st place for 2 consecutive weeks]. Barks Japan (in Japanese). April 19, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  9. "「機動戦士ガンダムAGE」新OP&EDテーマはねごととSPYAIRが担当" [Negoto and SPYAIR perform the new OP & ED themes of "Mobile Suit Gundam AGE"]. Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). December 19, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  10. "SPYAIR新曲は「スパイダーマン」日本版テーマソング" [SPYAIR's new song was used as Spider-Man Japan theme song]. Natalie (in Japanese). June 8, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  11. "SPYAIR to sing for upcoming 'Gintama' movie". Tokyohive.com. May 3, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
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  13. "SPYAIR to release second album, "Just Do It"". Tokyohive.com. August 8, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  14. Loveridge, Lynzee (October 11, 2012). "SPYAIR's DJ Enzel Leaving Band After Nippon Budokan Concert". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  15. "SPYAIR to release new single, "WENDY ~It's You~"". Tokyohive.com. October 2, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  16. "SPYAIR holds their 1st live at Nippon Budokan + new single announcement". Tokyohive.com. December 19, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  17. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 5, 2013). "Galilei Donna, Samurai Flamenco Anime's TV Ad Posted". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  18. Loo, Egan (February 13, 2014). "Haikyuu! theme songs performed by Spyair, Nico Touches the Walls". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  19. "SPYAIR ドラマ『THE LAST COP/ラストコップ』主題歌のMV公開" [SPYAIR releases MV of The Last Cop drama theme song] (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 19, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  20. Green, Scott (August 30, 2015). ""Haikyuu!!" Second Season anime cast additions and theme song announced". Crunchyroll. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  21. "SPYAIR's new song to be opening theme for new 'Gundam' anime series". SBS. August 29, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  22. "SPYAIR Vocalist IKE Leaves Band Due to Ulcerative Colitis". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  23. "Anime Rock Stars SPYAIR Celebrate Album Launch with European Festival Appearance". JPU Records. September 18, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  24. "Interview with SPYAIR". JaME WORLD. September 21, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  25. "Profile | SPYAIR Official Website". Spyair.net (in Japanese). Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  26. "Profile | Spyair Official Web Site" (in Japanese). Spyair.net. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
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  38. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  39. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 20, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  40. "SPYAIR Digital Download Certifications" (Enter SPYAIR into the アーティスト then select 検索). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2018.
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  42. "Japan Hot 100". Billboard. September 22, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
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  48. "SPYAIR's next single to be titled 'Be with'". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. February 28, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  49. 2017년 04월 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  50. "Japan Hot 100". Billboard. August 4, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  51. "B.LEAGUE 2018‐19 SEASON テーマソングはSPYAIRの新曲「B-THE ONE」に決定" [B.League 2018-19 Season theme song is SPYAIR's new song "B-The One"] (in Japanese). B.League. September 24, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  52. "SPYAIRのミュージックビデオ情報" [SPYAIR music video information]. Space Shower TV (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2018.
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  54. "Billboard Japan Music Awards 2013" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  55. "SPYAIR and the GazettE Nominated in the JpopAsia Music Awards 2013". Japan Underground. January 9, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  56. "JpopAsia Music Awards 2013 Winner". JpopAsia. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  57. "Help JPU & Your Favourite Bands!". JPU Records. December 7, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
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