is a Japanese rock band, formed in 1973 by five musicians in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. After debuting in Tokyo in 1982, they became one of Japan's most successful rock bands of the 1980s.Mark Schilling The Encyclopedia of Japanese pop culture 1997 0834803801 p.230 "In the latter half of the 1980s rock bands like Rebecca, Checkers, Hound Dog, Tube, Anzen Chitai, Bakufu Slump, and Kome Kome Club began to take center stage on the pop scene. Unlike earlier bands, who played Western-style rock for hard-core fans, these groups had a more Japanized sound that ordinary kids could relate to. Also, taking a hint from New Music queen YUMINC, who mounted spectacular stage shows.."
History 1970s: Beginnings Formed in 1973 as the high-school garage band Invader in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 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 , 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 left. Yuji Tanaka also left at this point.
1980s: Commercial success In 1981, they began work as a backup band for singer-songwriter Yōsui Inoue, and released their debut single, under the Kitty Records in February 1982. However, the final personnel change occurred as Ichiji Ohira left, and Yuji Tanaka returned in his place, establishing the current lineup.
Under the guidance of their producer and co-arranger , 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 soon changed: in 1984, 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 sold-out concert tour at the Nippon Budokan in 1987, which had a total attendance of 60,000. They also held concerts outside Japan, including concerts in Hong Kong Coliseum.
1990s and 2000s: Frequent hiatuses 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 October 2003, 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 2003 that they are taking yet another indefinite hiatus.
In 2006, Koji Tamaki remained active as a solo performer and television actor, with Wataru Yahagi performing in both his solo albums and concerts. Yutaka Takezawa was 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 had announced his retirement from music, as well as the closing of the official Koji Tamaki & Anzenchitai fan club, Star. Illness requiring long-term treatment was cited as the reason for as 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.
2010–present: Returning from hiatus On January 8, 2010, the band announced the resumption of their career along with making appearance on the television program Tokudane!. 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 "Aoi Bara" was released. 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 No. 9 on Oricon weekly charts, becoming their first Top 10 single in 21 years and 6 months since "Hohoemi ni Kanpai" in 1988.
Anzen Chitai released Anzenchitai XI Starts "Mata ne...", their first album in nearly seven years, on May 26, 2010. They then released Anzen Chitai Hits on June 30, 2010. This album encapsulated the rerecorded versions of their singles throughout the 1980s. Their next studio album, Anzenchitai XII, was released on September 14, 2011, quickly followed by Anzenchitai XIII Junk just months later on November 16, 2011. The band's fourteenth studio album, Anzenchitai XIV ~The Saltmoderate Show~, was released on March 16, 2013.
On December 23, 2022, it was announced that drummer Yuji Tanaka had died on December 17, at the age of 65.
On March 12, 2025, guitarist Yutaka Takezawa revealed on Twitter that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2021 and had undergone surgery and chemotherapy, and his illness had gone into remission since then.
Members Current members – vocals, guitars, percussion (1973–present) – guitars (1973–present) – guitars (1977–present) bass, piano, keyboards (1977–present)
Former members – guitars, keyboards (1973–1981) – bass (1973–1978) – drums (1973–1977) – drums (1977–1982) – drums (1977–1978, 1982–2022; his death)
Discography
Singles YearAlbumChart positions(JP)Label1982 –Kitty Records –1983 –119842059319852121986(w/ Inoue Yosui)6"Friend"7419872"Juliet"7198813146199031199116199223199314200220Sony Music Records5720034020109Universal Music Japan17201159202218Nippon Columbia27 "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Albums Studio albums Title Album details Peakchartpositions Certifications JPNOricon Released: January 25, 1983 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming22 Released: May 1, 1984 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming2 Released: December 1, 1984 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming3 Released: November 24, 1985 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming1 International Platinum Disc Released: December 14, 1986 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape1 Released: April 10, 1988 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming1 International Gold Disc Released: July 25, 1990 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming2 Released: December 11, 1991 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming7 Released: August 7, 2002 Label: Sony Music Records Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming13 Released: October 22, 2003 Label: Sony Music Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming20 Released: May 26, 2010 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download, streaming3 Released: September 14, 2011 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download, streaming10 Released: November 16, 2011 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download, streaming18 Released: March 6, 2013 Label: Saltmoderate Formats: CD, digital download, streaming38
Live albums Title Album details Peakchartpositions JPNOricon "Endless" Released: April 25, 1984 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download – Released: November 5, 1986 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download – Released: June 10, 1987 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download – "ONE NIGHT THEATER 1985" Released: August 19, 1998 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, digital download – Released: November 9, 2005 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download 99 Released: December 8, 2010 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download 94 Released: August 10, 2020 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 21 Released: January 12, 2022 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 30 Released: February 21, 2024 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 35 "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Self-cover albums Title Album details Peakchartpositions JPNOricon Released: June 30, 2010 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming14 Released: August 22, 2012 Label: Saltmoderate Formats: CD, digital download27
Soundtrack albums Title Album details Peakchartpositions JPNOricon Released: August 10, 1986 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape4
Compilation albums Title Album details Peakchartpositions Certifications JPNOricon Released: December 10, 1988 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download 4 International Platinum Disc Released: August 25, 1993 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download 10 Released: August 25, 1994 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, digital download – Released: September 24, 1994 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming – Released: August 25, 1995 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD – Released: April 25, 1996 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD –"Treasure Collection" Released: June 30, 1999 Label: Kitty Records Formats: CD – Released: June 21, 2001 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD –"Goro Matsui & Koji Tamaki Ballad Collection: Only You" Released: May 29, 2002 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD – Released: March 23, 2005 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD – Released: July 5, 2006 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD156"All Time Best" Released: July 5, 2006 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download9 Released: September 20, 2019 Label: Stereo Sound Publishing Formats: LP, SACD – Released: February 27, 2020 Label: Stereo Sound Publishing Formats: LP – Released: July 25, 2022 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download24 "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Box sets Title Album details Peakchartpositions JPNOricon Released: October 2, 1996 Label: Kitty Records Formats: 12CDs – Released: June 23, 2010 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: 12CDs+1DVD – "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Video albums Title Album details Peakchartpositions JPNOricon Released: October 25, 1984 Label: Kitty Records Formats: VHS, LD, DVD, VHD, Betamax – Released: December 21, 1985 Label: Kitty Records Formats: VHS, LD, DVD, VHD, Betamax – Released: November 21, 1986 Label: Kitty Records Formats: VHS, LD, DVD, VHD, Betamax – Released: June 21, 1987 Label: Kitty Records Formats: VHS, LD, DVD, VHD, Betamax – Released: March 1, 1989 Label: Kitty Records Formats: VHS, LD, DVD – Released: August 25, 1993 Label: Kitty Records Formats: VHS, LD, DVD – Released: August 25, 1994 Label: Kitty Records Formats: VHS, LD, DVD – Released: December 22, 2010 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: DVD, BD –"30th Anniversary Concert "The Ballad House" Released: December 22, 2012 Label: Saltmoderate Formats: DVD 13"ANZENCHITAI & KOJI TAMAKI RARE ARCHIVE 2012" Released: July 30, 2013 Label: Saltmoderate Formats: DVD, BD –"30th Anniversary Concert Tour Encore “The Saltmoderate Show" " Released: September 25, 2013 Label: Saltmoderate Formats: DVD, BD – Released: April 2, 2014 Label: Saltmoderate Formats: DVD – Released: November 13, 2019 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: DVD, BD 9 (DVD) 11 (BD) Released: July 29, 2020 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: DVD, BD 13 (Blu-Ray) 16 (DVD) Released: May 31, 2023