YURA YURA TEIKOKU

YURA YURA TEIKOKU was formed in 1989 with vocalist/guitarist Shintaro Sakamoto as leader, bassist Chiyo Kamekawa and a succession of other members. Drummer Ichiro Shibata joined in 1997 to form the current lineup,and the trio soon signed with Midi Records. The band released five studio albums, one live recording album and two greatest hits albums on Midi.In 2005, YURA YURA TEIKOKU signed with Sony Music Associated Records and released their ninth studio album, "SWEET SPOT," and a remix 12-inch,“SOFT DEATH / FRANKIE TEARDROP.” “SOFT DEATH" created a buzz in the alternative dance scene, and "SWEET SPOT" was elected one of the best albums of the year in various media. The band also released a live album of material from their Midi years titled "na.ma.shi.bi.re.na.ma.me.ma.i," on New York-based Mesh-Key Records. In October of the same year, the band played two shows in New York (their first shows ever outside Japan), and was welcomed with rave reviews by local media and artists, who packed into the venues to see the band's one-of-a-kind performance. In June, 2006, the CD single “Into The Next Night” and remix 12-inch“Into The Next Night / You Can't Fight Fate”were released. In July, Mesh-Key Records released the 12-inch“SOFT DEATH / IT WAS A ROBOT" and brought the band back for a second batch of New York shows, which were even more successful than the first. The "SOFT DEATH" 12-inch created a buzz in the US dance music scene and made its way onto deejays Rub'N Tug and DJ Harvey's playlists. The band also headlined at various major festivals in Japan and Taiwan. In May 2007, Mesh-Key Records released the US version of "SWEET SPOT." In the same year, YURA YURA TEIKOKU went on their first Australian tour. In July, they released the single“Beautiful," which earned them a career-high 23 on the Oricon Weekly Chart. Fall 2007 they released their first studio album in two and a half years,"Hollow Me." A domestic (US) release is in the works.Related notes: Vocalist Shintaro Sakamoto, who designs all the band's artwork, published his first illustration/artwork anthology, "SHINTARO SAKAMOTO ARTWORKS 1994-2006" (Shogakukan) in July 2007. Bassist Chiyo Kamekawa has been a member of The Stars, led by producer You Ishihara (ex-White Heaven) since 1999. They have released three studio albums.