Yourness
Yourness | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Fukuoka, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | Hip Land Music |
| Members |
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| Website | yourness |
Yourness (ユアネス, Yuanesu) is a Japanese four-piece rock band formed in Fukuoka, Japan. The band consists of Yuji Kurokawa (vocals and guitar), Shohei Koga (guitar), Yudai Tanaka (bass), and Takahiro Ono (drums).
Biography
The band’s early days involved Shohei Koga and Yudai Tanaka connecting in high school through a mutual acquaintance on the social media platform Gree, leading to their first studio session and the formation of a cover band.[1] They later enrolled at Fukuoka School of Music & Dance (FSM), where they met Yuji Kurokawa, who was studying in the PA course rather than singing. Koga discovered Kurokawa’s singing talent through school connections and a video of him performing at a high school cultural festival, covering songs by One Ok Rock. Despite Kurokawa’s initial lack of serious musical ambition, the other members’ drive to make a living through music inspired him to commit fully to the band. In 2017, after their original drummer left for Tokyo, Yourness invited Takahiro Ono, a standout drummer from their FSM cohort, to join officially. Ono’s bold personality and skill, demonstrated during a memorable self-introduction at school where he declared his intent to make a living through music, made him a natural fit. This lineup change marked a turning point, accelerating the band’s growth. The band’s name, a portmanteau, was created by combining letters from each member’s name in a group chat, resulting in a unique term that sounds like a real word but exclusively refers to the band when searched online. Initially, the band lacked a clear concept, forming casually to perform live, but their shared ambition to pursue music professionally solidified their direction.[1]
In March 2018, they released their first nationally distributed mini-album, Ctrl+Z, which marked their entry into the broader Japanese music scene.[2] Approximately one month after Ctrl+Z, the band relocated to Tokyo, seeking a better environment for music creation.[1] The move allowed them to focus more on music, free from the demands of part-time jobs that had dominated their time in Fukuoka, while living close to each other in Tokyo helped them adjust to the city and enhance their creative process.[1] The release of Ctrl+Z was followed by a successful tour with sold-out shows and appearances at major summer festivals, which boosted their popularity.[2]
In late 2018, Yourness released their first EP, Shift, which they described as forming a conceptual whole with Ctrl+Z.[2] The EP was crafted to explore a broader sonic palette while reaffirming their identity as a guitar rock band. The title Shift references the computer command, complementing Ctrl+Z (undo), symbolizing a process of revisiting and moving forward from the past.[2]
In 2019, Yourness focused on building their foundation through extensive live performances, including touring with the band Mol-74, and performing with Kami wa Saikoro o Furanai in their hometown of Fukuoka.[3] On November 20, 2019, they released their second EP, entitled ES.[3]
In 2020, Yourness achieved significant milestones, including providing the opening theme "Kago no Naka ni Tori" (The Bird in the Cage) for the anime series Sing "Yesterday" for Me, which became a long-hit on streaming platforms and garnered international attention, with fans from various countries covering it on YouTube despite the language barrier.[4][5] They also composed, arranged, and performed the instruments on the track "Yakudō" for Maaya Sakamoto, which was used as second theme song for second phase of smartphone game Fate/Grand Order.[5] This marked their first songwriting for another artist, with Sakamoto’s lyrics and direction providing a new perspective on production, influencing Koga’s approach to band work.[4] In November of that year, Yourness released their third EP, Be All Lie, which featured five songs, including the title track with a fully animated music video directed by Koga.[4]
On December 1, 2021, Yourness released their debut full-length album, 6 Case, via Hip Land Music. As their sixth disc overall, the title derives from the initial letters of their previous works, serving as a conceptual summary of their career to date.[5]
In 2023, Maaya Sakamoto invited them to collaborate with her again on her album Kioku no Toshokan, where Koga composed and arranged the song "Taion," while the band handled its instrumentation.[6]
Band members
- Yuji Kurokawa (黒川 侑司, Kurokawa Yūji) – vocals, guitars
- Shohei Koga (古閑 翔平, Koga Shōhei) – guitars, programming
- Yudai Tanaka (田中 雄大, Tanaka Yūdai) – bass
- Takahiro Ono (小野 貴寛, Ono Takahiro) – drums
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| 6 Case |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Ctrl＋Z |
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| Shift |
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| ES |
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| Be All Lie |
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| VII |
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Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [8] | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 | "Kago no Naka ni Tori" (籠の中に鳥, lit. 'The Bird in the Cage') | — | 6 Case | |||||||||||
| 2021 | "Alles Liebe" | — | ||||||||||||
| "Amulet" (アミュレット) | — | |||||||||||||
| "49/51" (feat. Nemoi) | — | |||||||||||||
| 2022 | "Arienai yo" (ありえないよ。) | — | 'Non-album single' | |||||||||||
| "Blur" | — | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | "Tsutaetakatta Koto" (伝えたかったこと, lit. 'What I Wanted You to Know') | — | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | "ECG" (feat. Rino) | — | IV | |||||||||||
| 2025 | "Tenkyū" (天泣, lit. 'Heaven's Tears') | — | 'Non-album single' | |||||||||||
| "Gen" (眩, lit. 'Dazzling') | — | |||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
References
- ^ a b c d Tayama, Yūji (December 20, 2018). "ユアネス「Shift」インタビュー｜隅々まで楽しめる仕掛けを凝らした1枚". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Yamaguchi, Tomō (December 2018). "ユアネス インタビュー - 人気上昇中のユアネスが前作と2枚でひとつの作品になるEPをリリース". Skream Magazine (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Tayama, Yūji (November 29, 2019). "ユアネス「ES」インタビュー｜古閑翔平へのソロインタビューで紐解くバンドの新境地". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c Tayama, Yūji (November 18, 2020). "ユアネス「BE ALL LIE」インタビュー｜初のアニメ主題歌や坂本真綾への楽曲提供、大きな経験を経てスケールアップしたバンドの1年を振り返る". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c Shinkai, Satoshi (December 1, 2021). "ユアネス、バンドの名刺代わりと言える1stフルアルバム「6 case」完成｜メンバーインタビュー＋6組の表現者からのコメント". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ Shimohara, Kenji (May 31, 2023). "坂本真綾インタビュー｜忘れてしまった記憶はどこへいくのか、"記憶の図書館"から持ち出された12篇の物語". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "ユアネスの古閑翔平がペンネーム神村 翔の名前で立ち上げた新たな音楽プロジェクト「souzoucity」". Friendship Official Website (in Japanese). Hip Land Music Corporation Inc. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "Yourness profile". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 3, 2025.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)