Not What You Meant? There are 55 definitions for Gaia. Also try: Maria.

Janne Da Arc

About 7 pages (2,006 words)

Questions on this topic? Just ask!

Janne Da Arc
Also known as	Janne
Origin	Osaka, Japan
Genre(s)	J-Rock
Years active	1996–present
Label(s)	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, Jan'nu Daruku^?) is a Japanese rock band, hailing from Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. The band's name is often seen shortened to either "Janne" (ジャンヌ) or "JDA", with fans referring to themselves largely as "Janners" (ジャンナー, Jan'nā^?).

1 Career
2 Members
3 Discography
4 Other Notes
5 Solo Projects
6 External links
7 Fan Sites

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 13 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 1980's Japanese 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.

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 "SEVEN" 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.

Discography

Indies

Dearly (April 17, 1998)
Resist (December 5, 1998)
CHAOS MODE (March 17, 1999])

Singles

RED ZONE (c/w seal) (May 19, 1999)
Lunatic Gate (c/w FAKE) (September 22, 1999)
EDEN ~Kimi ga Inai~ (c/w Vanish) (January 13, 2000)
Heaven's Place/Vanity (April 12, 2000)
will ~Chizu ni Nai Basho~ (c/w IMAGE or....) (July 26, 2000)
Mysterious (c/w differ) (November 8, 2000)
Dry? (c/w Blue Tear ~Ningyo no Namida~) (January 31, 2001)
NEO VENUS (c/w the live tracks from Fate or Fortune of EDEN ~Kimi ga Inai~ and indies song -S-) (April 25, 2001)
RED ZONE (re-release; c/w seal and seal -Gang Bang in SOVIET Mix-, remixed by MOTSU of Japanese pop band move) (June 20, 2001)
seed (c/w Knife) (July 25, 2001)
Sylvia (c/w GUNS) (October 24, 2001)
feel the wind (c/w Dear my....) (December 12, 2001)
Shining ray (c/w MOTHER BRAIN) (August 7, 2002)
Maria no Tsumeato (c/w QUEEN) (November 20, 2002)
Kasumi Yuku Sora Se ni Shite (c/w answer) (January 16, 2003)
Rainy ~Ai no Shirabe~ (c/w music box version and alternate vocal versions of the title track, as well as live versions of Dry? and feel the wind from their 100th Memorial LIVE INFINITY 2002) (May 8, 2003)
Ueta Taiyou (c/w MEDICAL BODY) (August 20, 2003)
FREEDOM (c/w survive?) (March 24, 2004)
Kiss Me (c/w Hysteric Moon) (April 7, 2004)
DOLLS (limited low-priced edition c/w a live track of Maria no Tsumeato) (May 19, 2004)
ROMANC∃ (limited low-priced edition c/w a live track of OASIS) (May 26, 2004)
BLACK JACK (limited low-priced edition c/w a live track of Ueta Taiyou) (June 2, 2004)
Love is Here (c/w Shounen no Hitomi) (November 17, 2004)
Gekkouka (c/w WING) (January 19, 2005)
Diamond Virgin (c/w Mizuumi) (May 18, 2005)
Furimukeba... / Destination (February 8, 2006)
HEAVEN / Möbius (May 10, 2006)

Albums

D·N·A (March 8, 2000)
Z-HARD (February 28, 2001)
GAIA (January 23, 2002)
ANOTHER STORY (February 13, 2003)
SINGLES (September 18, 2003)
ANOTHER SINGLES (September 18, 2003)
ARCADIA (July 7, 2004)
JOKER (June 15, 2005)
SINGLES 2 (February 21, 2007)

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)

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)

Box Sets

Janne Da Arc 10th Anniversary INDIES COMPLETE BOX (3CD,1DVD) (March 15, 2006)

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.
Kasumiyuku Sora Se ni Shite was released as the 2nd Ending Theme for the anime Asobotto Senki Goku.
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.

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'Chryma Christi), YUKI (formerly of Aucifer), Chisato (PENICILLIN), 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 in September, 26. A third single was release November 28, Aishitenai. All the singles feature cover versions of famous japanese songs. In SPELL MAGIC was Shinin' On Kimi ga Kanashii, a Look cover (1985). In Black Cherry was Hatsukoi, a Kozo Murashita cover (1983). In Aishitenai was Ihoujin, a Saki Kubota cover (1979).

He also appeared as a guest vocalist on the album release of the song D.D.D. by jealkb in May 2007.

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 release early November.
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 be released a solo album (under his full name, Kazuyuki Matsumoto) on August 15, 2007. The album, named after his label, Solid Beat, is a mini album, featuring 6 songs (and a "secret track", after the last song is over), all of them sung in english. He has also released an instructional bass DVD, Real Rock Bass.
kiyo currently has plans to release an unnamed piece of solo work later in 2007, but continues to update his blog regularly and has been a support keyboardist for fellow avex artist kaede, providing support for two of her mini-albums (Landmark and Organic).
shuji is currently acting as a support drummer on Janne Da Arc guitarist you's solo tour. He has also released an instructional drumming DVD, Pleasure of Drumming.