Toru Kitajima

Toru Kitajima (Japanese: 北嶋 徹, Hepburn: Kitajima Tōru, born December 23, 1982 in Tokyo), better known as TK, is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He rose to prominence as lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Ling Tosite Sigure, which formed in 2002. In 2011, he started to release solo material as TK from Ling Tosite Sigure (TK from 凛として時雨).[1]

Toru Kitajima
北嶋 徹
TK performing live with Ling Tosite Sigure
TK performing live with Ling Tosite Sigure
Background information
Also known as
  • TK
  • TK from Ling Tosite Sigure
Born (1982-12-23) December 23, 1982
Tokyo, Japan
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • guitarist
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • bass
Years active2002–present
LabelsSony Music Associated Records
Websitehttp://tkofficial.jp

Biography

TK started his solo career with a limited DVD titled Film A Moment. Released in 2011, the DVD features a photobook and a movie shot on 8mm film that acts as a music video for the three tracks on the disc.[2]

TK's first album, Flowering, was released on June 27, 2012 and featured alternate versions of "Film A Moment" and "White Silence" (both being originally featured on the DVD release Film A Moment) along with seven new tracks and an additional hidden track titled "Sound_am326." The limited press version featured a live studio session (DVD) of selected tracks from the album directed by P.B. Anderson. Musicians such as BOBO from Miyavi Crew, and Hidekazu Hinata from Nothing's Carved in Stone featured on the album.[3]

Kitajima's second release was prefaced by the single "Unravel", which acted as the opening for the popular anime series Tokyo Ghoul and the mini-album Contrast. "Unravel" had three versions to note, one of them featuring artwork inspired by the series it fronted, the other featuring a DVD titled Killing You Softly (an acoustic live DVD) featuring the track "Jewel of Sin", which would be featured on TK's third album White Noise. And both TK and Ling Tosite Sigure tracks reworked as acoustic pieces. The other version pressed was the standard edition, which featured three tracks, one being featured as the BGM for the Flowering DVD.[4]

The mini-album Contrast was released the same year as "Unravel", being 2014 and featured a live DVD from the 2013 Rock in Japan Festival along with a bonus video filmed in Berlin for the song "Tokio" (limited pressing only). The album also featured a live reworking of the Ling Tosite Sigure song "Illusion is Mine". Both "Unravel" and "Contrast" contained additional B-sides.[5]

Fantastic Magic is TK's second album and features seven new tracks, one featuring vocalist Chara, a reworking of "Dramatic Slow Motion", and the other being "Contrast". The limited pressing contains music videos for songs featured on the album, along with "Haze", released on Flowering.[6]

Secret Sensation was released in early 2016, Kitajima's second mini-album. As before it featured a live track, this one being "White Silence" and a song that would be reworked on White Noise along with respective B-sides as before. The limited press contained two music videos, one for "Secret Sensation" and the other for "Like There is Tomorrow".

TK's second single, "Signal", was featured as an opening for the anime 91 Days. "Signal" had two versions, one being a digipak release with artwork inspired by 91 Days, the other a standard jewel case. Both versions contained a reworked version of "Shandy", a Ling Tosite Sigure track from the album Still a Sigure Virgin?; and the acoustic version of "Unravel".

White Noise, being released in November 2016, featured six new tracks: a reworking of "Like There is Tomorrow", the singles "Signal" and "Secret Sensation", and a proper studio recording of "Jewel of Sin". The limited version featured a live DVD from the Secret Sensation Tour.[7] In 2017, TK started to collaborate with Masayuki Nakano from the former electronic music band Boom Boom Satellites.[8]

On November 21, 2018, TK released a new single, containing the song "Katharsis" and its instrumental and TV edit versions, and a song titled "Memento". "Katharsis" was used as the opening theme for the second season of Tokyo Ghoul:re.[9] Its music video was released on November 20, 2018.[10] On December 10, 2018, it was announced that TK will perform the theme song "P.S. Red I" for the Japanese release of the animated film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which was released in Japan on March 8, 2019.[11]

On April 15, 2020, TK released his fourth studio album, 彩脳. April 14, 2021, he released his third EP by the name of Yesworld.

On August 5, 2021, TK releases his first teaser for "egomaniac feedback" compilation album, with release date of Oct 13th, 2021.[12]

Continuing his solo music project, TK, collaborated with Koshi Inaba of B'z at the start of 2022 to release the single As Long as I Love/Scratch on March 26, 2022.

At the end of 2022, TK will go on to release his hit song First Death with an official music video, do numerous interviews, and release a live of First Death from the Last Death tour filmed on his birthday, December 23.

Discography

Albums
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
[13]
flowering[14]
  • Released: June 27, 2012
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download
 14
Fantastic Magic[15]
  • Released: August 27, 2014
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download
 12
white noise[16]
  • Released: September 28, 2016
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray, digital download
 14
Sainou (彩脳)[17]
  • Released: April 15, 2020
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD
 7

Compilation Albums
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
[13]
egomaniac feedback 19

Extended plays
Title EP details Peak positions
JPN
[13]
contrast[18]
  • Released: March 5, 2014
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download
 10
Secret Sensation[19]
  • Released: March 2, 2016
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download
 11
yesworld[20]
  • Released: April 14, 2021
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download
 13

Singles
Title Year Peak positions Notes Sales Certifications Album
JPN
Oricon
[21]		 JPN
Billboard
[22]
"Film a Moment"[23] 2011 — — — Flowering
"Unravel"[24] 2014 9 6[25] OP for the first season of the anime series Tokyo Ghoul.[26]
  • JPN: 10,112+ (CD)[27]
  • JPN: 250,000+ (DL)[28]
 Fantastic Magic
"Signal"[29] 2016 18 28[30] OP for the anime 91 Days.[31] — White Noise
"Katharsis"[9] 2018 21 33[32] OP for the anime series Tokyo Ghoul: re Season 2.[9] Sainou (彩脳)
"Melt" 2019 — — Released as a digital single. Featured the vocals of Suis from Yorushika. —
"P.S. Red I" 25 90[34] Theme song for the Japanese release of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.[11]
"Chō no Tobu Suisō"

(蝶の飛ぶ水槽)

 2020 33 — OP for the anime Pet.
"Will-ill" 2021 33 — ED for the 15th anniversary broadcast of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion in Japan. Egomaniac Feedback
"As long as I love / Scratch"
(with Koshi Inaba)		 2022 6 — Theme song for the new Magic: The Gathering card expansion "Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty" animated trailer. Non-album singles
"First Death" 24 — 8th ED for the anime Chainsaw Man.[37]

Production
Title Role(s) Album Album Artist Year
"Mode Inversion" Guitarist Code Acid Android 2010
"Switch" (TK Remix) Remixer Alcove/#1 2011
"Nano" (TK Kaleidoscope Remix) Remixer, guitarist Since 2 Spangle call Lilli line[38] 2013
"Tenohira no Sekai"
(掌の世界)		 Composer, lyricist, producer Joy!! SMAP
"Miruiro no Hoshi"
(みるいろの星)		 Arranger, strings arranger Panorama Asaco Nasu[39] 2014
"Dramatic Starlight" Composer, lyricist, producer Mr. S SMAP
"Zephyr" (TK Remix) Remixer (arranger, guitarist) Immortalis Sukekiyo 2015
"Us" Composer, lyricist, arranger, producer, recording, mixer, programming, guitarist, additional vocals Daydream Aimer[40] 2016
"Kowairo"
(声色)		 Composer, lyricist, arranger, producer, recording, mixer, mastering, guitarist
"Last Eye" Composer, producer Itadakimono Yuko Ando
"Draw (A) Drow" Composer, arranger, producer, guitarist Draw (A) Drow Seiko Omori[41] 2017
"Stand By You" Composer, lyricist, arranger, strings arranger, producer, recording engineer, guitarist, additional vocals Penny Rain Aimer[42] 2019
"image _____" Producer image_____ MEMAI SIREN[43] 2020
"Hikari no Akuma"
(光の悪魔)		 Lyricist, composer, arranger Gin no Yuri/Banzai RIZING!!!/Hikari no Akuma εpsilonΦ[44]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee/work Result
2015 Newtype Anime Awards Best Theme Song "Unravel"
(from anime Tokyo Ghoul)		 9th place[45]

References
  1. "TK from 凛として時雨 の記事まとめ" [TK from Ling Tosite Sigure overview]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  2. "film A moment". tkofficial.jp. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  3. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨 (in Japanese). Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  4. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨 (in Japanese). Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  5. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨 (in Japanese). Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  6. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨 (in Japanese). Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  7. "white noise web site｜TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨 特設サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  8. "Posted by nakano 2017.8.12". August 12, 2017.
  9. Sherman, Jennifer (September 10, 2018). "Tokyo Ghoul:re Season 2's Promo Video Streamed". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  10. "TK from 凛として時雨、本日11/21リリースのTVアニメ"東京喰種:re"最終章OP曲「katharsis」MVフル公開" [TK from Ling Tosite Sigure releases the MV for TV anime "Tokyo Ghoul: re" final chapter OP song "Katharsis" publicly]. Skream! (in Japanese). Gekirock Entertainment. November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  11. "'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' Japanese theme song to be performed by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure". Moshi Moshi Nippon. December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  12. "- YouTube". YouTube.
  13. "北嶋徹のアルバム" [Toru Kitajima's albums]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  14. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  15. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  16. "white noise web site｜TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨 特設サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  17. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨 (in Japanese). Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  18. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  19. "Secret Sensation / TK from 凛として時雨". Secret Sensation / TK from 凛として時雨 (in Japanese). Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  20. "yesworld / Oricon". Secret Sensation / TK from 凛として時雨. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  21. "北嶋徹のシングル" [Toru Kitajima's singles]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  22. "TK from Ling Tosite Sigure | Billboard Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  23. "film A moment". tkofficial.jp. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  24. "TK from 凛として時雨". TK from 凛として時雨. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  25. "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". Billboard. August 9, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  26. Loveridge, Lynzee (June 1, 2014). "TK from Ling Tosite Sigure, People in the Box perform Tokyo Ghoul songs". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  27. "週間 シングルランキング 2014年08月04日付（2014年07月21日～2014年07月27日）" [Weekly single ranking August 4, 2014 (July 21, 2014 – July 27, 2014)] (in Japanese). Oricon. August 4, 2014. Archived from the original on August 1, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  28. "有料音楽配信認定" [Paid Music Distribution Certification] (Select 2016年10月 on the drop-down menu) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. October 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  29. Co.,LTD., Label Gate. "音楽ダウンロード・音楽配信サイト mora ～WALKMAN公式ミュージックストア～". mora ～WALKMAN公式ミュージックストア～ (in Japanese). Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  30. "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". Billboard. September 24, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  31. Hallmark, Kyle (May 29, 2016). "TK from Ling Tosite Sigure, ELISA perform "91 Days" theme songs". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  32. "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". Billboard. October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  33. "週間 シングルランキング 2018年12月03日付（19 November 2018 ～25 November 2018 ）" [Weekly single ranking December 3, 2018 (November 19–25, 2018)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  34. "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". Billboard. March 16, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  35. "週間 シングルランキング 2019年03月18日付（2019年03月04日～2019年03月10日）" [Weekly single ranking March 18, 2019 (March 4–10, 2018)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  36. "週間 CDシングルランキング 2020年02月03日付" [Weekly CD Single Ranking for February 3, 2020] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  37. Leung, Hilary (October 13, 2022). "'Chainsaw Man': Get To Know Every Artist Singing the Opening & Ending Themes". CBR. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  38. "Spangle call Lilli line "nano – TK kaleidoscope Remix" (Official Music Video)" – via YouTube.
  39. "Recording "みるいろの星" by 南壽あさ子 – MusicBrainz". beta.musicbrainz.org. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  40. "Recording "us" by Aimer – MusicBrainz". beta.musicbrainz.org. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  41. "大森靖子「draw (A) drow」(Music Video / 千葉雄大Ver.)". Retrieved October 17, 2017 – via YouTube.
  42. "再販売のお知らせ" (in English and Japanese). April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Facebook.
  43. "眩暈SIREN - image _____ (OFFICIAL VIDEO) / TVアニメ「pet」ED曲". Retrieved May 2, 2020 – via YouTube.
  44. "アルゴナビス from BanG Dream! AAside「光の悪魔」/εpsilonΦ（イプシロンファイ） Music Video". Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via YouTube.
  45. "ニュータイプアニメアワード2015" [2015 Newtype Anime Awards]. Newtype (in Japanese). October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
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