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Janne Da Arc
Also known as	Janne, JDA
Origin	Osaka, Japan
Genres	Rock
Years active	1989-2007 (on hiatus)
Labels	Cutting Edge, motorod
Website	www.janne.co.jp
Members
yasu (vocal) you (guitar) ka-yu (bass) kiyo (keyboard) shuji (drum)

Janne Da Arc (ジャンヌダルク, Jannu Daruku^?) is a Japanese rock band hailing from Hirakata, Osaka. The band's name is often seen shortened to either "Janne" (ジャンヌ) or "JDA".

Contents 1 Career 2 Members 3 Discography 3.1 demo tapes 3.2 Indies 3.3 Singles 3.4 Albums 3.5 Video 3.6 DVD 3.7 Blu-ray 3.8 Box Sets 4 Other Notes 5 Solo Projects 6 External links 6.1 Fan Sites

[edit] Career

The band is currently signed on the motorod record label, a subsidiary of avex trax. They have released three indies albums, nine major-label albums (including single collections), 26 singles, and 14 DVDs.

On May 9, 2006, they celebrated their tenth anniversary of their formation, the date marking when the final member, shuji, became an official fixture of the band's lineup. The band was not named after historical figure Joan of Arc, despite their song "Kyuuseishu --Messiah--" being about her; rather, yasu named the band after a character in the manga "Devilman" by Go Nagai. A picture series of the character can be seen on the art for the band's limited edition Janne Da Arc 10th ANNIVERSARY INDIES COMPLETE BOX, released March 15, 2006.

Their sound is self-described as "pop-rock", and vocalist yasu takes many musical cues from his musical idol, MORRIE of the 1980s rock band DEAD END. However, Janne Da Arc has proven themselves to be very versatile as well as proficient at their chosen instruments, and draws influence from the favorite bands and musical styles of all of their members.

As of January 26 2007, the members of Janne Da Arc are pursuing solo projects, concurrent with their work in the band. See official announcement in Japanese or an unofficial fan translation into English, and below for an itemization of solo activities by member.

On May 19, 2009, they released their major debut 10th anniversary COMPLETE BOX which topped the oricon chart.

[edit] Members

• yasu (Yasunori Hayashi), vocalist, born January 27, 1975 in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan, blood type A. Favorite artists include DEAD END and BOOWY. yasu describes himself as someone who generally likes to remain at home, with a penchant for going out and playing pachinko and reading manga late into the night. His favorite manga is Parasyte, and he has recommended the movie "SE7EN" as well as the television show "24" to listeners of Janne Da Arc no Moto, the band's weekly radio program through fmosaka. yasu is also quite proficient at guitar and keyboard, the latter of which he uses to compose most of his music.

• you (Yutaka Tsuda), guitarist, born July 24, 1974 in Kobe, Japan, blood type O. Favorite artists include Unicorn and Nuno Bettencourt. you is generally considered to be the quietest member of Janne Da Arc, but he often tells long, humor-filled stories during Janne Da Arc's live shows. yasu describes him as a very cool, collected individual. shuji, however, describes him as the member of the band that rainy weather seems to follow around, thanks to several of Janne Da Arc's live shows being done on days with severe rainfall.

• ka-yu (Kazuyuki Matsumoto), bassist, born January 21, 1975 in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan, blood type A. Favorite artists include CRAZY COOL JOE (ex DEAD END bassist) and BOOWY. ka-yu is like a brother to yasu, and is characterized by his more Visual Kei look in comparison to the rest of the band members, as well as his love for animals.

• kiyo (not open to the public), keyboardist, born June 27, 1974 in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan, blood type A. Favorite artists include Earth, Wind, and Fire and Keith Emerson. kiyo is the oldest member of Janne Da Arc, and acts as an older brother to the band. He has a very distinctive sense of humor, as seen on his personal blog, but is also known to have a quick temper. He is the resident gourmet of the band, and enjoys food very much.

• shuji (Shuji Suematsu), drummer, born November 21, 1974 in Kobe, Japan, blood type O. Favorite artists include X JAPAN and LOUDNESS. shuji is often referred to by the other members as "Gramps" because of his older appearance and down-to-earth nature. He is fairly computer-savvy, and keeps a personal blog on his official site. In contrast to guitarist you, shuji considers himself to be a fair-weather man.

All the members, with the exception of Ka-yu, graduated from Hirakata West High School in the same class. For the release of their single Furimukeba..., Janne Da Arc returned to their high school to give a special performance, which became the feature film HIRAKATA.

[edit] Discography

[edit] demo tapes

[--.11.1992] Demo #1

1. Deja-vu
2. Strange Voice
3. JESUS CHRIST

[--.06.1993] Demo #2

1. Legend of~ Dreamers
2. Labyrinth
3. Psycho Dance

[--.08.1994] Demo #3

1. ICE
2. 闇の月をあなたに... (Yami no Tsuki wo Anata ni...)
3. Orleans
4. Hunting

[21.07.1997] Resist

1. MISTAKE

[edit] Indies

[17.04.1998] Dearly

1. Fantasia
2. Judgement 死神のkiss (Judgement Shinigami no Kiss)
3. More Deep
4. So Blew
5. Confusion
6. Speed
7. 闇の月をあなたに... (Yami no Tsuki wo Anata ni...)

[05.12.1998] Resist

1. ICE
2. Resistance
3. Misty Land
4. Hunting
5. Lady
6. Stare

[17.03.1999] CHAOS MODE

1. Desperate
2. -R-TYPE ｢瞳の色｣ (-R-TYPE "Hitomi no Iro")
3. Psycho Dance
4. ....song
5. Labyrinth
6. Strange Voice

[edit] Singles

[19.05.1999] RED ZONE

1. RED ZONE
2. seal

[22.09.1999] Lunatic Gate

1. Lunatic Gate
2. FAKE

[13.01.2000] EDEN～君がいない～ (EDEN ~kimi ga inai~) #15

1. EDEN～君がいない～ (EDEN ~kimi ga inai~)
2. Vanish

[12.04.2000] Heaven's Place/Vanity

1. Heaven's Place
2. Vanity

[26.06.2000] will～地図にない場所～ (will ~chizu ni nai basho~)

1. will ~chizu ni nai basho~ Radio Edit
2. will ~chizu ni nai basho~
3. IMAGE or ....

[08.11.2000] Mysterious

1. Mysterious
2. Differ

[31.01.2001] Dry?

1. Dry?
2. Blue Tear ～人魚の涙～ (Blue Tear ~ningyo no namida~)

[25.04.2001] NEO VENUS

1. NEO VENUS
2. EDEN～君がいない～ (at BUDOKAN-LIVE Version) (EDEN ~kimi ga inai~ (at BUDOKAN-LIVE Version))
3. -S- (at BUDOKAN-LIVE Version)

[20.06.2001] RED ZONE

1. RED ZONE
2. seal
3. seal -Gang Bang in SOVIET mix-

[25.07.2001] seed

1. seed
2. ナイフ (KNIFE)

[24.10.2001] シルビア (SYLVIA)

1. シルビア (SYLVIA)
2. GUNS

[12.12.2001] feel the wind

1. feel the wind
2. Dear My...

[07.08.2002] Shining ray

1. Shining ray
2. MOTHER BRAIN

[20.11.2002] マリアの爪痕 (MARIA no tsumeato)

1. マリアの爪痕 (MARIA no tsumeato)
2. QUEEN

[16.01.2003] 霞ゆく空背にして (kasami yuki sora se ni shite)

1. 霞ゆく空背にして (kasami yuki sora se ni shite)
2. answer

[08.05.2003] Rainy～愛の調べ～ (Rainy ~ai no shirabe~)

1. Rainy～愛の調べ～ Single Version (Rainy ~ai no shirabe~ Single Version)
2. Rainy～愛の調べ～ New Vocal Edition (Rainy ~ai no shirabe~ New Vocal Edition)
3. Rainy～愛の調べ～ Orgel Version (Rainy ~ai no shirabe~ Orgel Version)
4. Dry?
5. feel the wind

[20.08.2003] 餓えた太陽 (ueta taiyou)

1. 餓えた太陽 (ueta taiyou)
2. MEDICAL BODY

[24.03.2004] FREEDOM

1. FREEDOM
2. survive?

[07.04.2004] Kiss Me

1. Kiss Me
2. Hysteric Moon

[19.05.2004] DOLLS

1. DOLLS
2. マリアの爪痕 (MARIA no tsumeato)

[26.05.2004] ROMANCﾖ

1. ROMANCﾖ
2. OASIS

[02.06.2004] BLACK JACK

1. BLACK JACK
2. 餓えた太陽 (ueta taiyou)

[17.11.2004] Love is Here

1. Love is Here
2. 少年の瞳 (shounen no hitomi)

[19.01.2005] 月光花 (Gekkouka) #2

1. 月光花 (gekkouka)
2. WING

[18.05.2005] ダイヤモンドヴァージン (DIAMOND VIRGIN)

1. ダイヤモンドヴァージン (DIAMOND VIRGIN)
2. 湖 (mizuumi)

[08.02.2006] 振り向けば… / Destination (furimukeba.../Destination) #2

1. 振り向けば… (furimukeba...)
2. Destination

[10.05.2006] Heaven/メビウス (Heaven/MÖBIUS) #2 Ranked Platinum (selling more than 250,000 copies) by RIAJ in 2008

1. HEAVEN
2. メビウス (MÖBIUS)

[edit] Albums

#	Information	1st week sales
1st / Debut Album	D・N・A Released: March 8, 2000 Format: CD5", CD5"+DVD Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #11	41,020 copies sold
2nd	Z-HARD Released: February 28, 2001 Format: CD5", CD5"+DVD Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #16	25,680 copies sold
3rd	GAIA Release Date: January 23, 2002 Format: CD5", CD5"+DVD Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #6	47,060 copies sold
4th	ANOTHER STORY Release Date: February 13, 2003 Format: CD5", CD5"+DVD Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #4	43,122 copies sold
5th	ARCADIA Release Date: July 7, 2004 Format: CD5", CD5"+DVD Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #2 (#1 on daily chart)	62,502 copies sold
6th	JOKER Release Date: June 15, 2005 Format: CD5", CD5"+DVD Oricon Top 200 Weekly Peak: #4	100,907 copies sold

[edit] Video

• 1999 TOUR "CHAOS MODE" (June 30, 1999)
• 5 STORIES <CLIPS & MORE> (September 27, 2000)
• FATE or FORTUNE -Live at BUDOKAN- (March 28, 2001)
• SIX CLIPS (March 13, 2002)
• 100th Memorial Live LIVE INFINITY 2002 at Budokan (December 26, 2002)

[edit] DVD

• 1999 TOUR "CHAOS MODE" (September 27, 2000)
• 5 STORIES <CLIPS & MORE> (September 27, 2000)
• FATE or FORTUNE -Live at BUDOKAN- (March 28, 2001)
• SIX CLIPS (March 13, 2002)
• 100th Memorial Live ~LIVE INFINITY 2002 at Budokan~ (December 26, 2002)
• ANOTHER STORY CLIPS (March 19, 2003)
• SINGLES CLIPS (November 12, 2003)
• Danjiri Night (December 25, 2003)
• ARCADIA CLIPS (September 29, 2004)
• HIRAKATA (February 16, 2005)
• Live 2005 "Dearly" at Osaka-jō Hall 03.27 (March 27, 2005)
• 10th Anniversary Special Live -OSAKA NANBA ROCKETS 2006.5.9- (September 20, 2006)
• Live 2006 DEAD or ALIVE -SAITAMA SUPER ARENA 05.20- (September 20, 2006)
• tour JOKER 2005 at Budokan (March 25, 2009)

[edit] Blu-ray

• tour JOKER 2005 at Budokan (March 25, 2009)

[edit] Box Sets

• Janne Da Arc 10th Anniversary INDIES COMPLETE BOX (3CD,1DVD) (March 15, 2006)
• Janne Da Arc COMPLETE BOX (6CD,3DVD) (May 19, 2009) #1

[edit] Other Notes

• Destination was the theme song for the video game Over G Fighters
• NEO VENUS was released as the commercial Theme song for the video game Rockman EXE.
• feel the wind was released as the commercial Theme song for the video game Rockman EXE 2.
• Mysterious was released as the Opening Theme for the anime Sci-Fi Harry.
• Shining ray was released as the 8th Ending theme for the anime One Piece, and was a cover track for the music arcade video game Drummania 8th Mix.
• WILD FANG was released as the Opening Theme for the video game Rockman X8.
• Gekkouka was released as Opening Theme for the anime Black Jack.
• Kasumi Yuku Sora Se ni Shite was released as the 2nd Ending Theme for the anime Monkey Typhoon.
• Möbius was released as Opening Theme for the anime Bakegyamon.
• yasu also wrote a novel for the ANOTHER STORY album (reprinted in 2007 by Ameba Books), as well as a manga containing a side story about the formation of Janne Da Arc.
• kiyo has written a book based on his online blog.

[edit] Solo Projects

• yasu has begun a side band known as Acid Black Cherry with several of his contacts in the musical world. Artists working on the project include SHUSE (formerly of La'cryma Christi, currently of Samurai Dead City), YUKI (formerly of Aucifer, currently of DUSTAR-3), Chisato (PENICILLIN, Crack6), Sugizo (formerly of LUNA SEA), and several others. Throughout the month of May 2007, yasu and Acid Black Cherry went on a secret nationwide tour of Japan, culminating in a show in Shinjuku which was webcast live to the world. Their first single, SPELL MAGIC, released on July 18, 2007, debuting at #4 on the Oricon Singles Charts in Japan. ABC's second single, entitled Black Cherry, was released on September 26, 2007, followed by a third single (November 28, 2007), Aishitenai. Their fourth single, entitled Fuyu no Maboroshi, was released on January 16, 2008, to the number one spot on the Japanese Oricon Singles chart. All the singles feature cover versions of famous Japanese songs as B-sides; SPELL MAGIC contained Shinin' On Kimi ga Kanashii, a Look cover (1985); Black Cherry contained Hatsukoi, a Kozo Murashita cover (1983); Aishitenai was coupled with Ihoujin, a Saki Kubota cover (1979), and Fuyu no Maboroshi's cover track was Koi Hitoya, a Shizuka Kudō cover (1988). These singles were then released as a full album titled Recreation; along with more covers by other artists such as Nakamori Akina (Slow Motion), Amin (Matsu wa) and Godiego (Beautiful Name) among others.

Acid Black Cherry's first album, BLACK LIST, was released on February 20, 2008. Additional guest artists appeared on this album, notably Daita and Jun-ji (ex members of Siam Shade fame) on guitar and drums respectively. Jun-ji is also a consistent member of Acid Black Cherry for touring and events.

In November 2008, Acid Black Cherry released their sixth single, Jigsaw, based in small part on the American movie SAW, of which yasu is a fan.

yasu also appeared as a guest vocalist on the album release of the song D.D.D. by jealkb in May 2007, as a guest at HYDE's "Nightmare of Halloween" show, and in an interview featured in DAIGO's blog-based book, Daigo POP!, among other projects. He also currently has an ongoing monthly article in the music magazine CD Data.

• you is currently working on a solo career. His first album, LIFE ~the first movement~ released on June 20, 2007 amidst a fanclub-only tour. He plans to release two more albums based on the theme of "life" and the experiences therein. His second album, LIFE ~the second movement~, was released in November 2007. you released LIFE ~the third movement~ on October 29, 2008 featuring the single 'Truth of Life' with guest vocals by Hachiya Koto. A tour based on this album completed nationwide at the beginning of December 2008, though you and fellow Janne Da Arc members kiyo and shuji will be having one final show in February 2009 at NHK Hall in Tokyo to celebrate the completed release of you's three-album LIFE series.

• ka-yu is currently working as a clothing and jewelry designer with his own label (Solid Beat) in a collaboration with Japanese jewelry maker GIGOR. He also released two solo albums (under his full name, Kazuyuki Matsumoto). The albums, named Solid Beat and Solid Beat II respectively, are both mini albums, the lyrics entirely in English. He has also released an instructional bass DVD, Real Rock Bass, and released a photobook, entitled Solid Beat ~Zero~ in March 2008.

• kiyo has released two DVDs (under the name Dr. Doyle Yodonogawa) both called 誤作動, in which he puts himself in humorous situations. The second DVD in the series also featured fellow Janne member you as a guest. kiyo also continues to update his blog regularly. He has also been a support keyboardist for fellow avex artist kaede, providing support for one of her mini-albums (Organic). He also appears monthly on a video webcast for Ameba Studio called kiyo露天風呂. Kiyo's solo album 'Artisan of Pleasure' was released on July 21, 2008 featuring guest vocals from yasu (on the track tears) as well as Okika on the closing track 'Eternal Heart ~夢幻花~'. kiyo is also currently producing the indie visual kei band Sincrea.

• shuji acted as a support drummer on Janne Da Arc guitarist you's first and second solo tour. He has also released an instructional drumming DVD, Pleasure of Drumming, and updates his official blog regularly, much like kiyo before him. shuji has also been cited as a backing drummer for the new lineup of Lazy with Loudness guitarist Akira Takasaki.

[edit] External links

• Janne Da Arc Official Website (Japanese)
• AvexTrax's Official Janne Da Arc Website (Japanese)
• kiyo's blog / kiyo-BURO (Japanese)
• ACID BLACK CHERRY Official Website (Japanese)
• ACID BLACK CHERRY Official Website (Avex) (Japanese)
• Acid Black Cherry in the musicJAPANplus artist database+
• you Official Website (Japanese)
• ka-yu Official Website (Japanese)
• shuji Official Website (Japanese)
• Janne Da Arc radio show podcast (Japanese)
• Live Report : “SWAPPING ROCK PARTY!"
• shuji's official blog (Japanese)
• Janne Da Arc at CDjapan.com(English)

[edit] Fan Sites

• Dearly (German)
• JANNE DA ARC fansite (portuguese)
• Janne Da Arc Unofficial Livejournal Community (English)
• Kiku's Janne Da Arc Translations (English/Japanese)
• Ka-yu fanlisting
• Legend of Janne da arc (Korean)
• Acid Black Cherry Unofficial Myspace Page (English/Japanese)