Masafumi Gotoh

or Gotch (December 2, 1976) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after. As the main songwriter of the band, Gotoh is credited with writing a majority of their lyrics, but has a strong tendency to share songwriting duties equally among his bandmates. His vocal style most often alternates between soft, melodic singing, and harder, harsher, yelling. Masafumi has a degree in economics and his favourite artists include Weezer, Number Girl, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and Beck. He produces records for other artists such as Chatmonchy, Dr. Downer and The Chef Cooks Me. He was also one of the founding members of the band .

In 2010, Gotoh launched his own music label, only in dreams. In 2012, he started a solo project under the name Gotch, and released the single "'Lost". In 2014, he released his debut solo album, Can't Be Forever Young and released live album called, Live in Tokyo. In 2016, he released his second solo album, Good New Times, with most songs using English lyrics. In 2024, he established a non profit organization "Apple Vinegar Music Support" and is building a studio called "Music inn Fujieda" in Fujieda to support young and independent musicians. In March 2024, Gotoh released drone/ambient music album Recent Report I under his original name.

Discography Asian Kung-Fu Generation

Solo Studio albums (as Gotch) + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Details Peak chart positions JPNOricon JPNBillboard Can't Be Forever Young Released: 30 April 2014 Label: only in dreams Formats: CD, LP, download 14 — Good New Times Released: 13 July 2016 Label: only in dreams Formats: download, CD, LP 25 47 Lives By The Sea Released: 3 March 2021 Label: only in dreams Formats: download, CD, LP 115 —

Studio albums (as Masafumi Gotoh) + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Details Recent Report I Released: 27 March 2024 Label: only in dreams Formats: Cassette, download, streaming

Live albums + List of live albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions JPNOricon Label: only in dreams Formats: CD, LP, download 85 —

Extended plays + List of extended plays Title Details Goto to Togo Released: 10 May 2021 Label: only in dreams Formats: Cassette, download

Singles

Other New Order – Waiting for the Sirens' Call (2005) lyrics on "Krafty (Japanese Version)" Dr. Downer – Rising (2011) music director Special Others – Special Others (2011) collaboration on "Dance in Tsurumi" Feeder – Generation Freakshow Japanese edition (2012) vocals on "Idaho" Chatmonchy – "Kirakira Hikare" (2012) producer; vocals on "Karisomethod" Chatmonchy – Henshin (2012) producer on "Yes or No or Love" and "Kirakira Hikare" Dr. Downer – Gensō no Maboroshi (2013) producer The Chef Cooks Me – Kaitentai (2013) producer, vocals on "Kanjōsen wa Bokura o Nosete" ART-SCHOOL – YOU (2014) producer Ovall - "Nadaraka Yoru" (2018) vocals The Mattson 2 – Vaults of Eternity: Japan (2018) vocals on "My Memories Fade" Co.Ruri Mito - MeMe (2019) music producer Nahavand – Vandalism (2019) producer, vocals on "Hold On" The Chef Cooks Me – "Kakato de Ai o Uchinarase" (2019) vocals SOFTTOUCH – "Jiyū Ishi" (2019) producer Aiha Higurashi – "Je t'aime" (2019) producer Aiha Higurashi – "Shining all over" (2019) vocals Manami Konishi – Cure (2020) producer and backing vocals on "Endless Summer", producer on "Ain't Nobody Know" FIRE EX. – "The Light" (2020) vocals Moment Joon – "Doukutsu" (2020) vocals The Rentals – "Goodbye, Steve" (2020) vocals SOCCER*SCHOOL - "last summer bleeze" (2021) mixing Moment Joon – "Distance" (2021) vocals Hironoi Momoi – "Fog" (2021) vocal, lyrics Lil Boom – "The End of the World" (2021) vocals Nahavand – "World Trigger"' (2022) recording Yuragi – For you, Adroit it but soft : Remixes & Rarities (2022) mastering The Tiva – On This Planet (2022) mastering Mofution Vibration – "Oboroge" (2022) mixing, mastering Dhira Bongs – A Tiny Bit of Gold in The Dark Ocean (2022) vocals on "Make Me Fallin In Love Again" Link – Tsuki no Hana EP (2023) producer, recording, mixing Jared Mattson – Peanut (2023) vocals on "Koko ni Kite" Kanjani Eight – "Ikiteru Bokura" (2023) songwriter Takehisa Chiba – "Spacewalker" (2023) vocals, vocals engineer, mixing Link – Taiyou to Tsuki no Beatniks (2023) producer, recording, mixing A Flood of Circle – Candle Songs (2024) producer on "Candle Songs" Furusato Osamu to Furoshiki – "Ryusui" (2024) co-producer, recording, mixing, mastering; guitar and chorus on "Ryusui"; lyrics, vocal, guitar, and programming on "Ryusui Remix" Furusato Osamu to Furoshiki – "Takibi" (2024) co-producer, recording, mastering Generations from Exile Tribe – "MY GENERATION" (2025) producer, guitar, lyrics, music SATOH – "MILE" (2025) featured vocals