Yanagiman

Yukiyasu Yanagi (born 9 November 1960), better known by his stage name YANAGIMAN is a Japanese musician, composer, songwriter, arranger and record producer from Kagoshima. He composed, wrote, arranged and produced music for various famous artists including Ketsumeishi, Funky Monkey Babys, Miriya Katou, Elephant Kashimashi and Usher, who is an American popular singer-songwriter. He leads the music band "1933 Ukulele All Stars" and is the bandmaster. He is a visiting professor at the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and an adviser to the Matsumi High School since 2022. His blood type is B and lives in Tokyo since 1995.

Early life and career Yanagiman was born in Amami Ōshima island, Kagoshima Prefecture. He finished mandatory schools and high school in Kagoshima Prefecture and enrolled at Kumamoto University School of Pharmacy.

From early childhood he was involved with music. He was most influenced with Simon & Garfunkel and during his university days he was fascinated by Earth, Wind and Fire. As a result, he started his work as a jazz musician in Tokyo, 1982 and worked to improve his skills through many jazz sessions. He was playing as a contrabass player at the jazz club "Shinjuku Pit Inn".

He produced music for various artists, for instance, Ketsumeishi, Funky Monkey Babys, Chemistry, Crystal Kay, Kumi Koda, Mika Nakashima, Miliyah Kato, Elephant Kashimashi, BoA, Def Tech and Ayaka Hirahara, in Japan. He also remixed for Usher, who is active in the Billboard scene and produced music to overseas artists such as Hong Kong singers (王友良), HotCha, and Ella Koon(官恩娜).

In 2000, , a music producer from the same in Kyushu, asked him if made a song for the ASAYAN audition. After that, he got acquainted with Chemistry and produced their first album track "Aishisugite (Love too hard)".

In 2005, Ketsumeishi's "Ketsunopolis 4" was sold 2 million copies and won the Japan Record Award for the Best Album of the year.

By 2013, the cumulative number of shipped copies of his related works has reached more than 20 million.

With his musician friends In 2018, Yanagiman's Ukulele friend, Kazuyuki Sekiguchi from the Southern All Stars, formed "1933 Ukulele All Stars", so he served as its bandmaster. It comprised even Japanese musicians including Sekiguchi, Boo Takagi, Yoshio Nomura, Kimiko Wakiyama, You Hatakeyama and Yoko Oginome.

After that, eager to donate to an orphanage in Cambodia, Yanagiman wrote a new song for Hitomi Shimatani, who agreed with his purpose. On May 3, 2019, she sang and performed the song "Cycle" at Pacifico Yokohama with over 20,000 people.

Taking the situation of COVID-19 pandemics in May 2020, Yanagiman appeared on television, the NHK BS1 special program "On the night of refraining from going outside - A relay concert with ukulele". He played the ukulele and contrabass on broadcast from his home, because the introducing baton was passed to him by Kazuyuki Sekiguchi of the Southern All Stars. And after Yanagiman, the baton was passed to Boo Takagi of the Drifters and to the following Yoko Oginome.

In July 2021, he wrote a music tune in "Japanese reggae" and gave to the special unit group that Hitomi Shimatani and Minmi collaborated for the first time.

In April 2022, he was appointed as a visiting professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.

Achievements With Ketsumeishi "Ketsunopolis 4" (2005) won the Japan Record Award for the Best Album. With Funkey Monkey Babys "Soredemo Shinjiteru(I still believe)" (2011) won the Japan Record Award for the Excellent Work Award.

Appointed as Sansan Numazu Taishi - the 23rd and 24th (Spokesperson of Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture) Nagahama Brand Ambassador (Spokesperson of Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture) Amami Tourism Ambassador (Spokesperson of Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture) and a JOIN ambassador (Spokesperson for Japan Organization for Internal Migration(JOIN)). Visiting professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music (1 April, 2022 -) Adviser to Matsumi High School (2022 -)

His father was a police officer and also served as the chief of Yakushima Police Station in Kagoshima Prefecture. He had a strict personality and was also a 2nd dan in judo and 2nd dan in kendo. If Yanagiman did anything wrong, he was scolded with an iron fist. His rebellion against his father and his desire to be loved by his father affected his musicality.

As 16-beat music increased and 4-on-the-floor dance music came out more and more, Yanagiman was able to get on the R&B trend, the black music that he liked. He can play the bass, guitar, piano, and ukulele willingly. , , , , , Ayaka Hirahara,

B. , , Beni (singer), bless4, BoA

C. Can'ceHamahime, , Chemistry, Chie,

E. EDEN, Elephant Kashimashi, Ella Koon, Emi Tawata, eT, Every Little Thing,

F. Freenote, Funky Kato, Funky Monkey Babys,

G. , Gospellers

H Hanako Oku, HASHTAG, , , Hitomi (singer), Hitomi Shimatani, Home Made Kazoku,

I. Issei Yoshimi, ITboys, ,

J. , , ,

K. K, Kanjani∞, Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, , , Keizo Nakanishi, Kenshiro, Ketsumeishi, Kingrass Hoppers, Koda Kumi, ,

L. Last First, Lead, Lecca, Leyona, Lisa, , , ,

M. , Mai Hoshimura, Mao Abe, Masanori Sera, Mayo Okamoto, ME*, Megumi, Michinoku Sendai ORI☆Hime Tai, , (Def Tech), Mihimaru GT, Mika Nakashima, Mink, Minmi, Missing Link and Takemasa Tsukaji, , , Moomin,

N. , Nanase Hoshii, Nēnēs, NEWS, Norimasa Fujisawa

O.

P. Q. R. , RSP, , Ryuji, ,

S. , , Seamonator & DJ Taki-Shit, Shota Shimizu, , SMAP, Spontania , SoulJa, Soul Lovers, Sowelu,

T. Takuya Ishida, , Tetsu and Tomo, Thelma Aoyama, , , Toshinobu Kubota,

U. , Unison Square Garden, Usher,

V. V6, ,

W.

X. Y. Yasuko Agawa, , , ,

Z. ,

As bandmaster Kazuyuki Sekiguchi & 1933 Ukulele All Stars Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, who is a bassist and a member of Southern All Stars, called YANAGIMAN as a bandmaster in 2018 because he wanted to create a band like an orchestra with ukuleles. The album "FREE-UKES" will be released in August 2022 with musicians who love ukulele, Boo Takagi, Yoko Oginome, Yoshio Nomura, You Hatakeyama, and Kimiko Wakiyama. The title is combined by the plural form of "FREE" and "UKES" (the American designation).

Mack Jack All the members of MACK JACK have been training with Yanagiman.