Koji Tamaki

Kōji Tamaki (玉置 浩二, born September 13, 1958) is a prominent Japanese singer-songwriter and actor, celebrated for his significant contributions to the music scene. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist of the rock band Anzen Chitai, which debuted in 1982 and thrived particularly during the 1980s. Tamaki's career as a solo artist commenced in the 1990s, showcasing his remarkable vocal prowess and songwriting skills.

In 2014, a panel of 200 music experts crowned him with the title of having the best singing voice in Japan. His acclaim continued to soar, as in 2021 he was recognized as the greatest active male Japanese singer, with 190 specialists praising him as a "living national treasure of music," highlighting his exceptional expressiveness that deepens with age.

As a vital member of Anzen Chitai, Tamaki collaborated with notable lyricists like Gorō Matsui and Yōsui Inoue, producing several hit songs until the band's hiatus in 1993. His solo debut came in 1987 with the single "All I Do," and over the years, he released 23 singles and more than a dozen studio albums. His 1996 hit "Den-En" reached number two on the Japanese Oricon charts, selling over 900,000 copies.

In addition to his music career, Tamaki has acted in seven feature films and numerous television dramas, beginning with the movie "Prussian Blue no Shozo" in 1986. Anzen Chitai reunited in 2010, releasing their single "Aoi Bara/Wine Red no Kokoro (2010 version)." His 2012 album "Offer Music Box" featured a cover of Yuki Saito's "Kanashimi yo Konnichi wa," which gained popularity as the theme song for the anime series Maison Ikkoku.