Sophia (Japanese band)


Sophia is a Japanese rock band formed in 1994 by vocalist Mitsuru Matsuoka, guitarist Kazutaka Toyota, bassist Yoshio Kuroyanagi, drummer Yoshitomo Akamatsu and keyboardist Keiichi Miyako. Currently signed to Avex Trax since 2011, they made their major debut in 1995 on Toy's Factory. They changed over to Toshiba EMI in 2004, and Universal Music Japan in 2009.
Their album Alive was named one of the top albums from 1989 to 1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazine Band Yarouze. Their single "Boku wa Koko ni Iru" was used as the 2nd ending theme for the anime Kaleido Star. Keyboardist Miyako announced on March 21, 2010, that he was diagnosed with lymphoma, and on April 10 the band went on a hiatus. Sophia, as a quartet, was a guest of honor at Anime Expo in Los Angeles from July 1–4, 2010, having their first concert in the US on the 3rd. The group ended the hiatus on August 13, 2011, after a live show at the Nippon Budokan, but eventually ended up disbanding for good on August 12, 2013, following one more live show at the Nippon Budokan. On March 27, 2022, Sophia announced their reformation, and played their comeback live on October 11 of that year at the Nippon Budokan.
Sophia is often considered a visual kei band, despite the fact that for nearly their entire career their appearance was tame compared to most others in the movement. On October 23, 2011, the band performed at V-Rock Festival 2011. Their song "Machi" was covered by Doremidan on the compilation Crush! , which was released on January 26, 2011, and features current visual kei bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement. "Gokigen Tori " was covered by Annie's Black on its sequel, Crush! 2 , that was released on November 23, 2011. "Eternal Flame" was covered by Makoto for Crash! 3 , which was released on June 27, 2012, and featured then-current visual kei bands covering love songs by visual kei bands of the '90s.
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Members

  • Mitsuru Matsuoka – vocals
  • Kazutaka Toyota – guitar
  • Yoshio Kuroyanagi – bass guitar
  • Yoshitomo Akamatsu – drums
  • Keiichi Miyako – keyboards

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Little CircusAliveMaterial Shinkaron Yume EverblueWe2007Band Age
  • ''Mirai Otona Sengen''

Live

  • ''1999''

Compilations

The Short Hand: Singles Collection The Long Hand: Members' Selection 10th Anniversary Best 15 All Singles All B-Side
  • ''All: 1995–2010''

EPs

Sophia BoysGirls
  • ''Kiss the Future''

Singles

  • "Himawari"
  • "Early Summer Rain"
  • "Believe"
  • "Little Cloud"
  • "Machi"
  • "Kimi to Yurete Itai"
  • "Gokigen Tori "
  • "Kuroi Boots "
  • "Beautiful"
  • "Place"
  • "Oar"
  • "Missile"
  • "Walk"
  • "Shinkaron "
  • "Kuru Kuru"
  • "Strawberry & Lion"
  • "Thank You"
  • "Hard Worker"
  • "Rock Star"
  • "Mada Minu Keshiki"
  • "Wake Naki New Days"
  • "Boku wa Koko ni Iru"
  • "Tabi no Tochū"
  • "Please, Please"
  • "Hana wa Karete Mata Saku"
  • "Aoi Kisetsu"
  • "Answer "
  • "One Summer Day"
  • "Endroll" / "Brother & Sister"
  • "Stain"
  • "Kimi to Tsuki no Hikari"
  • "Hoshi"
  • "Aozora no Kakera"
  • "Baby Smile"
  • "Cod-E: E no Angō"
  • "Rainbow Rain/Sayonara Itoshi no Peter Pan Syndrome"