Akihito Okano

Akihito Okano (岡野昭仁, Okano Akihito, born 15 October 1974) is a Japanese musician, vocalist of rock band Porno Graffitti.^[1] Born in Nakasho, Innoshima City (now Onomichi City), Hiroshima.^[2]

Akihito Okano

Biography and early career

Early life

Okano is the youngest of three siblings (he has two older sisters). His parents wanted to name him "Satoru", but received the name of Akihito from his uncle, as part of a family tradition.

As a child, he wanted to be an athlete. He played baseball in elementary school, and was in track and field and soccer in junior high.^[3] His interest in music started in elementary school, when he started listening to Western music thanks to one of his sisters, and singing Japanese songs in family reunions.^[4][5]

High school years

In 1990, he entered Innoshima High School, where he met Haruichi Shindō. They became friends in the second year of high school, after attending a party where Shindō was in, to which Okano was invited by a friend. They began to go together to karaoke, and later on, Okano was invited by Shindō to form part of his band "No Score" as part of the chorus, to participate in the school festival. After the festival, Shindō decided to leave the vocals to Okano, and he made his vocalist debut at the entrance ceremony the following Spring.^[6][7]

Indies era

After graduating from high school in 1993, "No Score" was disbanded.

Starting in Spring 1993, Okano entered prep school, living in a dorm. While studying, and playing soccer and pachinko with dorm friends, his music interest had moved to heavy metal and hard rock, and he started to be interested the content in radio programs and music magazines. He continued to go to karaoke with friends, and had stated that he was going to have a band by next year.

The five members of "No Score" reunited in Osaka, forming a new band, but two members left after no activity. By Summer 1994, they formed another band, which they called "Porno Graffitti", and started having live performances and event appearances.

In March 1997, Okano (and Porno Graffitti) passed the "SD Audition"^[8] and signed a contract with SME and Amuse. By end of September of the same year, he moved his base of operations from Osaka to Tokyo. By Summer of 1998 he began producing music and recording for their major debut.^[9]

Musical career

Major debut era and beyond

On 8 September 1999, Pornograffitti made their debut with the single "Apollo".^[10]

On 31 December 2000, Pornografitti had their first appearance in NHK's Kouhaku (#51).^[11][12]

From 7 April 2007 to 30 March 2010, Okano hosted Nippon Broadcasting System's radio program "All Night Nippon". On 3 January 2021 he returned to hosting duties in the program. On 31 May 2022, he shared hosting duties with Satoru Iguchi (King Gnu).

In January 2008, he reported his marriage through the recently opened Porno Graffitti Fan Club.^[13]

From 5 October 2013 to 27 September 2014, he hosted FM802's radio program "Live it Up".^[14]

On 23 May 2020 he started the program "Dispatchers" on YouTube,^[15][16]

On 25 November 2020, Okano announced the start of the project "Walkin' with a song", and the information on the project's first song's release. The first song, "Hikari are", was released on 20 January 2021. The second song, "Shaft of Light", was released 12 April 2021. Third song, "Sono saki no hikari e", was released 2 July 2021. Fourth song, "Melody (prod.by Breimen)", was released 9 May 2022. An album containing all these songs and 6 more, was released on 23 August 2023, making it the first album released by Okano, his debut album as solo artist.^[17]

From 2013 and on, Okano has participated in several events and concerts as guest, including Soccer player and coach Toshiya Fujita's Farewell Match in Kokuritsu, "NIKE FTBL CUP" held at Toyosu MIFA Football Park (23 June 2018), the live viewing event "Bilibili Macro Link" (10-11 July 2021), Mayday's Nippon Budokan performance "Re:DNA ~2017 Reprint Edition~" (4 February 2017), the event "3rd Kakesugi Jamboree" hosted by Shikao Suga (29 February 2020) and "J-WAVE Holiday Special Tokyo Guitar Jamboree 2020 ~ Roppongi Basho" (20 March 2020).

Participating works as guest vocalist

Fairlife

• Forever friend (feat Akihito Okano from Pornograffitti) (Single "Eien no tomodachi", 23 September 2004)^[18]
• Winter vacation (feat Akihito Okano from Pornograffitti) (album "Have a nice life ", 1 December 2004)^[19]
• Sad autumn shower (feat Akihito Okano from Pornograffitti); Monster (feat Akihito Okano from Pornograffitti) (album "Bread, sheep and love letter", 7 March 2007)^[20]
• Tabiseyou wakoudo (feat Akihito Okano from Pornograffitti) (single "Tabiseyou wakoudo", 20 January 2010)^[21]
• Tabiseyou wakoudo (feat Akihito Okano from Pornograffitti); Michikusa (feat Akihito Okano from Pornograffitti) (album "Michikusa biyori", 3 February 2010)^[22]

Ukasuka-G

• Haru no uta (album "Amigo", 11 June 2014)^[23]

Mayday

• Song for you (album "History of Tomorrow", 1 February 2017)^[24]

Hiroyuki Sawano (as SawanoHiroyuki[nZk])

• Everchild (album "Remember", 9 March 2019)^[25]

Shikao Suga

• To you (Anata e) (YouTube exclusive video, 29 April 2020)^[26]

Participating works as composer

Watame Tsunomaki (VTuber)

• Fins (single "Fins".7 June 2023, song composition in collaboration with tasuku)

References

1. Porno Graffitti's Official Profile on Amuse (in Japanese)
2. ポルノグラフィティ ワイラノクロニクル―B.PASS SPECIAL EDITION (in Japanese). Japan: B-PASS. 2001. ISBN 978-4401616749.
3. ポルノグラフィティ ワイラノクロニクル―B.PASS SPECIAL EDITION (in Japanese). Japan: B-PASS. 2001. ISBN 978-4401616749.
4. "【高橋優】ポルノグラフィティ岡野昭仁との音楽談議/岡野昭仁と新藤晴一がカバーしていた曲/高橋優が好きな曲「オー！リバル」について/岡野にとってポップの概念とは【J-WAVE・WOW MUSIC】". YouTube. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
5. Porno Graffitti: Pati Pati Complete Book -15 Years File - book 1 (in Japanese). Japan: m-on entertainment. 2014. p. 6. ASIN B0CFK9ZXDL.
6. ポルノグラフィティ ワイラノクロニクル―B.PASS SPECIAL EDITION (in Japanese). Japan: B-PASS. 2001. ISBN 978-4401616749.
7. Porno Graffitti: Pati Pati Complete Book -15 Years File - book 1 (in Japanese). Japan: m-on entertainment. 2014. p. 19. ASIN B0CFK9ZXDL.
8. "ABOUT SDグループについて". Sony Music (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
9. ポルノグラフィティ ワイラノクロニクル―B.PASS SPECIAL EDITION (in Japanese). Japan: B-PASS. 2001. ISBN 978-4401616749.
10. "ポルノグラフィティ". Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
11. "第５１回ＮＨＫ紅白歌合戦". NHK (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
12. "第51回NHK紅白歌合戦". The Television (in Japanese). 31 December 2000. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
13. "ポルノグラフィティ・岡野昭仁、今月結婚". Oricon (in Japanese). 3 January 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
14. "岡野昭仁DJのラジオ番組 FM802「LIVE IT UP」が"BBQ in つま恋"スペシャルとして7/4(土）一夜限りの復活！". PR Times (in Japanese). 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
15. "ポルノグラフィティ 岡野昭仁、配信番組『DISPATCHERS』で届ける"歌力"　カリスマ性放つ理由は努力の積み重ねに". Real Sound (in Japanese). 28 April 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
16. "ポルノグラフィティ岡野昭仁がソロでは初となる配信ライブを開催！タイトルは自身が2020年4月よりスタートさせたスペースシャワーTVとYouTubeで連動した音楽番組と同じく「DISPATCHERS」". PR Times (in Japanese). 20 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
17. "岡野昭仁「Walkin' with a song」". Natalie (in Japanese). 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
18. "永遠のともだち feat.小野修". Sony Music (in Japanese). 7 March 2007. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
19. "Have a nice life". Sony Music (in Japanese). 1 December 2004. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
20. "パンと羊とラブレター". Sony Music (in Japanese). 7 March 2007. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
21. "旅せよ若人 feat. 岡野昭仁 from ポルノグラフィティ【完全生産限定盤】". Sony Music (in Japanese). 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
22. "みちくさ日和". Sony Music (in Japanese). 3 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
23. "桜井和寿×GAKU-MC制作FM802ソングに豪華すぎる面々集結". Natalie (in Japanese). 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
24. "Mayday History of tomorrow". Mayday's Official Website (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
25. "Sawano Hiroyuki nZk 3 album REMEMBER now on sale". Sony Music. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
26. "スガシカオが医療従事者にエール送る新曲制作、ボーカルで桜井和寿＆岡野昭仁も参加". Natalie (in Japanese). 29 April 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.