Dragon Ash(ドラゴンアッシュ,Doragon Asshu) is a Japanese rap rock group founded in 1996 by Kenji "KJ" Furuya and Sakurai Makoto. They were one of the first groups to popularize hip hop in Japan. Dragon Ash is a member of Mob Squad, which is an affiliation with the bands Source and Endive. Dragon Ash uses the French fleur-de-lis as their band logo/symbol.
Dragon Ash started out as a punk rock group. Lead singer and guitarist Kenji Furuya, son of actor Ikko Furuya, met drummer Makoto Sakurai when they were junior high students in a Tokyo suburb, and the two started playing together. Though temporarily sidetracked into following in his father's footsteps, Furuya gave up the few acting gigs that he was getting on TV dramas to concentrate on music in high school. In 1996, they took on bass player Ikuzo Baba, ten years their senior. The group debuted in 1997 with two EPs at the beginning of the year, The Day Dragged On and Public Garden, influenced by Nirvana. By the end of the year and time of their release, Mustang!, the group had progressed to a blend of various pop and rock influences.
Through 1998 their popularity increased, and by the time of Buzz Songs, their sound had solidified to rap rock, helped with the mixing skills of DJ Bots, who occasionally appeared on some songs. Two singles – "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" and "Grateful Days," the latter featuring hardcore rapper Zeebra and soulstress ACO – sold so well that they cracked the Japanese Oricon charts, usually reserved for pop music.
Their fourth single, "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go", reached number 7 on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart, and eventually climbed to number 4, selling a total of 640,000 copies. The band simultaneously released their fifth and sixth singles, "Grateful Days" and "I Love Hip Hop", which debuted at number 3 and number 4, respectively. When these two singles debuted, "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" had not yet dropped off the top 10 chart, giving Dragon Ash three top 10 singles at the same time.
The band finally reached the peak of their success when they released their third album, Viva la Revolution, in July 1999 and it hit number 1 on its debut week. The album has sold in excess of 2,000,000 copies.
During 1999, Dragon Ash had become a four-piece, with DJ Bots essential to the mix. In 2000, Dragon Ash undertook the Total Music Communication Tour, touring Japan with a lineup that included other rising rock acts, such as Missile Girl Scout, Penpals, and Skebou Kings. Meanwhile, Furuya and DJ Bots formed a duo of sorts, writing and producing songs for acts such as Sugar Soul under the name Steady & Co. Likewise, Baba and Sakurai sidelined as a remixing unit called Motor Headphone, popping up on various compilations. The full band released Lily of da Valley in 2001.
Dragon Ash collaborated with the hip hop group Rappagariya on "Deep Impact" in 2000. In 2003 the group expanded to include its full current roster of members, bringing in Hiroki, Atsushi, and Dri-V. In 2007 they celebrated their 10th anniversary by simultaneously releasing two best-of albums, The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1 and The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2. Both albums hit number 1 upon their debut.
Bandleader Kenji Furuya released his first solo album Everything Becomes The Music from Victor Entertainment in mid-2015. Following his solo debut song "Swallow Dive" in March 2015, anime director Kenji Kamiyama directed a music video for "Stairway", the leading track from the album.
As the front-man and founding member of Dragon Ash, Kenji is also a popular model in Japan and Asia for style and fashion magazines. As a model he has also promoted brands Levis, Stussy, Adidas & Ray-ban (including appearing in a Japanese commercials for these brands). Kenji Furuya had been the spokesperson for the Sony Walkman series in the late 1990s and early 2000s (during the Walkman popularity in Japan), appearing in many commercials featuring Dragon Ash's latest music releases. In July 2008, Kenji married Japanese singer/actress Megumi Yamano, who he had been dating since 2005. Kenji has appeared in various Japanese movies with main and cameo roles, and has also made his J-Drama debut in 2013, appeared as an actor in the NHK drama Yae of Sakura. Kenji will also make his main role debut for the Japanese film 'Ally Cat' to be released July 2017. K.J.'s father Ikko Furuya is also a well known actor in Japan.
DJ BOTS joined Dragon Ash in 1999. In 2015 DJ Bots completed a DJ mix album for Dragon Ash, titled 'dodecahedron mix "by DJ BOTS". Tetsuya an avid fan for the sport of soccer; he is also the captain of his own official soccer team.
Dri-V first joined Dragon Ash being introduced by Japanese Hiphop group Rip Slyme. He was first a support member for Dragon ash from 2001, then a full member in 2003. From 2015 Masaki has started his own project and YouTube channel called Dri-V Dance School.
Former members
Ikuzo "IKÜZÖNE" Baba (馬場育三) – bass, mentor (1996–2012)
Ikuzone had a long-term friendship with Japanese rock musician hide (X-Japan). Ikuzone's musical influences came from Japanese metal. He died on April 21, 2012, from acute heart failure.
Oricon Single Sales – "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" (500,000)
Oricon Single Sales – I ♥ Hip Hop (500,000)
Oricon Single Sales – Sugar Soul – "Garden" (featuring KJ of Dragon Ash) (1 Million)
Oricon Weekly Album Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking – Viva La Revolution(No. 1)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking – "Grateful Days" (featuring Zeebra & Aco) (No. 1)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking – "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" (No. 4)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking – "I ♥ Hip Hop" (No. 4)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking – Sugar Soul - "Garden" (featuring KJ of Dragon Ash) (No. 2)
Oricon Top 100 Best Selling Albums of the Year – Viva La Revolution(No. 13)
Oricon Top 100 Best Selling Singles of the Year – "Grateful Days" (No. 13)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Ranking 3 Singles At The Same Time (May 1999) – "Grateful Days" (featuring Zeebra & Aco) (No. 3), "I ♥ Hip Hop" (No. 4), "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go" (No. 7)
'Let Yourself Go' Dragon Ash National Tour (all 13 performances)
'Freedom of Expression' Dragon Ash National Tour (all 19 performances)
Dragon Ash presents 'Total Music Communication 1999 Tour' (all two performances)
2000
Japan Gold Disc Awards – Rock Album of the Year – Viva la Revolution(Winner)
Oricon Single Sales – "Deep Impact" (featuring Rappagariya) (500,000)
Oricon Single Sales – "Summer Tribe" (250,000)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking – "Deep Impact" (featuring Rappagariya) (No. 2)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking – Summer Tribe (No. 4)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking – TMC ALLSTARS – TMC Graffiti (with KJ & DJ Bots of Dragon Ash)(No. 9)
Dragon Ash presents 'Total Music Communication 2000 Spring Tour' (all 14 performances)
Dragon Ash presents 'Total Music Communication 2000 Summer Tour' (all 18 performances)
Oricon Weekly Album Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Río de Emoción (No. 1)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - crush the window (No. 2)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Yuunagi Union (No. 4)
Dragon Ash '~Río de Emoción~ National Tour' (all 22 performances)
2006
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Ivory (No. 10)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - few lights till night (No. 9)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Yume de Aetara (No. 10)
2007
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best BuzzAsia Japan - Ivory (Nomination)
Oricon Album Sales - The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1 (250,000)
Oricon Album Sales - The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2 (250,000)
Oricon Album Sales - INDEPENDIENTE (200,000)
Oricon Weekly Album Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - INDEPENDIENTE (No. 4)
Oricon Weekly Album Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1 (No. 3)
Oricon Weekly Album Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2 (No. 2)
Oricon Weekly DVD/Blu-ray Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes (No. 8)
Oricon Weekly Album Chart Top 10 Ranking 2 Albums At The Same Time (September 2007) - The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2 (No. 2) , The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1 (No. 3)
Dragon Ash '~DEVELOP THE MUSIC~ National Tour' (all 22 performances)
2008
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Velvet Touch (No. 7)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Tsunagari Sunset (No. 10)
2009
Oricon Album Sales - Freedom (100,000)
Oricon Weekly Album Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Freedom (No. 6)
Dragon Ash '~FREEDOM~ National Tour' (all 19 performances)
Summer Sonic Music Festival - Multiple Appearances (2000, 2002, 2009)
Rising Sun Rock Festival - Multiple Appearances (1999, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009)
2010
Oricon Album Sales - Mixture (100,000)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Ambitious (No. 8)
Oricon Weekly Single Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Spirit of Progress E.P. (No. 9)
Oricon Weekly Album Chart Top 10 Highest Ranking - Mixture (No. 7)
MUSIC ON TV Music Festival - Multiple Appearances (2007, 2009-2010)
2011
Goo Ranking Top 15 Most Talented Second-Generation Japanese Artists of All Time - (Kenji Furuya of Dragon Ash)(No. 3)
[2010.11.03] Ghost Remains (feat. UZI-ONE from AGGRESSIVE DOGS)
[2010.11.03] Rock Band (feat. Satoshi [from Yamaarashi] & KO-JI ZERO THREE [from GNZ-WORD)
[2014.01.15] Still Goin' On (feat. 50caliber, HAKU the ANUBIZ & WEZ from YALLA FAMILY)
[2014.01.15] The Live (feat. KenKen from RIZE)
Remixes [Produced by Dragon Ash]
[1998.09.02] Invitation [Buzz Mix]
[1998.12.19] Fever [Free Your Mind Remix] (feat. MIHO)
[1999.05.01] Grateful Days [Remix] (feat. Zeebra & ACO)
[2000.07.12] Summer Tribe [Komorebi Mix]
[2000.11.29] Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan wo [e.p. version]
[2003.07.23] Mob Squad [RITMO ACELERADO Remix]
[2004.03.24] Landscape [Techno-X Mix]
[2015.03.09] Viva La Revolution [Paint The Lily Remix]
Hidden tracks from albums
[1998.09.02] Iceman
[1999.07.23] Hot Cake
[2001.03.14] Hanakotoba (花言葉; The Language of Flowers)
[2005.09.19] Something In View
List of songs inspired by 'Floriography' (The Language of Flowers)
[1997.02.21] The Day dragged on
[1997.04.23] Public Garden
[2000.03.15] Lily Da Kid
[2001.03.14] Yuri no Saku Basho De (百合の咲く場所で; At the Place where the Lily Blooms)
[2001.03.14] Lily of da Valley
[2001.03.14] Hanakotoba (花言葉; The Language of Flowers)
[2003.07.23] Landscape
[2003.07.23] Harvest
[2004.07.14] The Lilly
[2005.09.09] Cloverleaf
[2013.11.27] Lily
Cover Songs
[2008.06.18] La Bamba((Originally by 'Ritchie Valens'))
[2011.07.13] DREAMIN'((Originally by 'BOØWY'))
[2013.12.18] Saraba Seishun (さらば青春; Farewell Youth)((Originally by 'Elephant Kashimashi'))
[2014.06.11] THAT'S THE WAY WE UNITE((Originally by 'BACK DROP BOMB'))
[2014.10.08] Tsuki Akari Shita De (月灯りの下で; Under the Moon Light)((Originally by 'MONGOL800'))
Tribute/Inspired Songs
[1997.02.21] The Day dragged on((Punk rock song inspired by the dayflower family (also known as 'Commelinaceae') from 'Floriography'))
[1999.05.01] Freedom of Expression((Hard rock song with intense singing vocals with lyrics inspired by the love for original hiphop culture))
[1999.05.01] I Love HIP HOP((Hiphop song with rap vocals and soft rock sound samples with lyrics inspired by the love for original hiphop culture))
[1999.07.23] Viva la Revolution((Song inspired by Revolutionary 'Che Guevara'))
[2001.03.14] Lily of da Valley((Song inspired by the flower 'Lily of the Valley'))
[2001.03.14] Hanakotoba (花言葉; The Language of Flowers)((Song inspired by 'Floriography'))
[2001.03.14] Yuri no Saku Basho De (百合の咲く場所で; At the Place where the Lilly Blooms)((Song inspired and known as the Dragon Ash Mosh Pit concert performance))
[2002.03.06] Fantasista (Dragon Ash Official Anthem Song)((Song inspired by the soccer methodical position 'Playmaker', also known as 'Fantasista' within soccer analytics))
[2003.07.23] Byakuya((Tribute song for fictional animation character 'Byakuya' from the anime/manga 'Iyunusha'))
[2003.07.23] Art of Delta((Song inspired consisting of the fusion by the expression of creativity 'Art' and one of the linguistics from the greek alphabet 'Delta'))
[2004.07.14] The Lilly((Poem originally by Writer 'William Blake'))
[2005.07.13] Spriggan((Tribute song for Anime/Manga 'Spriggan'))
[2005.09.09] Los Lobos((Song inspired by Mexican band 'Los Lobos'))
[2005.09.09] Palmas Rock((Song inspired by the handclapping style from Flamenco music known as 'Palmas'))
[2006.04.05] Injurious (KJ (Dragon Ash) & SHIGEO (SBK) as 'LAS VELAS')((Tribute song for Kurt Kobain))
[2006.07.19] F.C. Fellows((Song inspired by the international sport 'Soccer'))
[2007.02.21] Samba'n'bass((Song inspired by the fusion of musical genres; the dance style music of Brazil 'Samba', the electronic music of the UK 'Drum & Bass'))
[2007.09.05] For divers area((Song inspired by the Brazilian genres 'Samba' & 'Bossa Nova', and the rock music tradition during concerts known as 'stage diving'))
[2009.03.04] Dear Mosh Pit((Song inspired by the genre 'Folk Music', and the rock music tradition during concerts known as 'moshing'))
[2009.03.04] Desperado((Song inspired by the 1973 song 'Desperado', by the country rock band 'The Eagles'))
[2013.05.29] Dance with Apps((Song inspired by the utilization of producing music via a mobile device application))
Songs included in Anime/Film Soundtracks & Official Commercials
[1997.04.23] Realism II((Asahi National Broadcasting Co.'s "Sports Spotters" official theme song))
[1997.10.22] Rainy Day And Day((Virus Anime OST - featured as official opening theme song))
[1998.07.23] Hi wa Mata Noborikuri Kaesu (陽はまたのぼりくりかえす; The Sun Will Rise Again and Again)((DT Eightron Anime OST))
[2000.03.15] Deep Impact(Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
[2000.11.29] Amploud((Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
[2000.11.29] Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan wo (静かな日々の階段を; The Stair Steps of a Quiet Day)((Battle Royale Movie OST - featured as official ending credits song))
[2000.11.29] Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan wo (e.p. version)((Sony Walkman Official commercial song))
[2001.03.14] Revolater((DREAM Mixed Martial Arts official theme song))
[2001.12.01] One Holy Story (Kenji Furuya & DJ BOTS with 'Steady&Co.')((Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
[2002.01.23] Life goes on((Sony Walkman Official commercial song))
[2002.03.06] Fantasista((FIFA 2002 World Cup - Japan Official theme song))
[2005.06.01] crush the window((Sony Walkman Official commercial song)
[2005.09.09] Palmas Rock (feat. UZI-ONE)((Nissan Cube Official commercial song)
[2006.12.20] Resound (feat. HIDE & 136)((The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Movie OST))
[2007.02.21] El Alma (feat. Shinji Takeda)((Salaryman NEO J-Drama - Official insert song))
[2007.02.21] Rainy((Kissmark Official commercial song))
[2007.11.24] Thought & Action((Shabake J-Drama OST - featured as official ending credits song))
[2008.06.18] Velvet Touch((FIFA Asia Cup 2008 - Japan Official theme song))
[2008.06.18] La Bamba((Kyocera W64SA Mobile Phone commercial song))
[2009.04.08] loud (AGGRESSIVE DOGS feat. KJ of Dragon Ash)((Crows Zero 2 Movie OST))
[2010.06.16] Ambitious((FIFA 2010 World Cup - Japan Official theme song))
[2012.07.04] Walk with Dreams((Pocari Sweat Official commercial song))
[2013.05.29] Here I Am((Fuji TV ONE - Variety Show 'Pachi Journey' official ending theme))
[2013.05.29] Trigger((Resident Evil: Revelations Video Game official theme song))
[2013.11.27] Lily((J-League Soccer Team TV Program - Official theme song))
[2014.01.22] Curtain Call((Tenchu J-Drama - Official theme song))
[2014.04.09] Blow Your Mind((Crows Explode Movie OST))
[2015.05.20] Stairway (Kenji Furuya of Dragon Ash)((LAVIE Hybrid ZERO - Commercial Song))
[2015.10.22] One Voice (Kenji Furuya of Dragon Ash)((Audio-Technica SOLID BASS Headphones - Commercial Song))
[2016.11.09] Hikari no Machi (光りの街; The City of Light)((g.o.a.t app - Commercial Song))
Unreleased Songs/Live Performed Only
[2000.xx.xx] 休日 (Holiday)
[2001.xx.xx] Can't Stop Shinin'
[2002.xx.xx] Come to Light
Cover Songs Performed Live Only
[2001.08.03] Redemption Song((Originally by 'Bob Marley'))
VHS/Video
[1999.10.21] Buzz Clips
[2000.03.15] THE REAL BASS PLAY OF Dragon Ash
[2001.04.18] LILY DA VIDEO
[2003.12.24] POSSE IN VIDEO
DVD
[2000.03.15] THE REAL BASS PLAY OF Dragon Ash
[2001.04.18] Buzz Clips
[2001.04.18] LILY DA VIDEO
[2003.12.24] POSSE IN VIDEO
[2005.12.21] Video de Emoción
[2007.09.26] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes
[2011.09.21] MIXTURE DVD -VIDEO MIX & DOCUMENT-
[2013.07.03] LIVE & PIECE
[2014.09.03] VIDEO THE FACES
[2014.09.17] Live Tour THE SHOW MUST GO ON Final At BUDOKAN May 31, 2014
[2016.11.09] The Lives at Ishimaki Blue Resistance June 24, 2016
[2017.03.29] 20 years of Dragon Ash Documentary
Blu-ray
[2013.07.03] LIVE & PIECE
[2014.09.03] The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes
[2014.09.03] VIDEO THE FACES
[2014.09.17] Live Tour THE SHOW MUST GO ON Final At BUDOKAN May 31, 2014
iTunes Store Concert Film Download
[2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -1999.10.17 YOKOHAMA ARENA-
[2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2001.05.05 Tokyo Bay NK Hall-
[2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2003.11.23 Tokyo Bay NK Hall-
[2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2009.05.08 Zepp Tokyo-
[2013.07.03] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2011.04.22 Zepp Tokyo-
[2014.09.17] Dragon Ash: LIVE -2014.05.31 BUDOKAN-
Photobooks
[1999.12.01] Grateful Days
[2003.08.13] Live Goes On~Dragon Ash Tour02
[2013.07.03] LIVE & PIECE
[2014.09.17] Dragon Ash Tour THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Cookbooks
[2011.05.01] Sakurai Dining Room Family Rice((Makoto Sakurai of Dragon Ash))
[2012.08.29] Sakurai Cafeteria Pasta((Makoto Sakurai of Dragon Ash))
[2017.xx.xx] Sakurai BBQ((Makoto Sakurai of Dragon Ash))