Masafumi Gotoh (後藤 正文, Gotō Masafumi) or Gotch (December 2, 1976) is the lead vocalist, main songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the Japanese 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.[1] 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.[2] Masafumi has a degree in economics and his favourite artists include Weezer, Number Girl, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and Beck.[3] He produces records for other artists such as Chatmonchy, Dr. Downer and The Chef Cooks Me.[4] He was also one of the founding members of the band Skeletons (スケルトンズ).[5]
Masafumi Gotoh 後藤正文 | |
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![]() Masafumi Gotoh in 2017 | |
Background information | |
Also known as | Gotch |
Born | Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan | December 2, 1976
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1996–present |
Labels | |
Website | Sony OID |
In 2010, Gotoh launched his own music label, only in dreams.[6] In 2012, he started a solo project under the name Gotch, and released the single "'Lost".[7] In 2014, he released his debut solo album, Can't Be Forever Young and released live album called, Live in Tokyo.[8] In 2016, he released his second solo album, Good New Times, with most songs using English lyrics.[9] In 2024, he established a non profit organization "Apple Vinegar Music Support" and build a studio in Fujieda to support young and independent musicians.[10]
Discography
editAsian Kung-Fu Generation
editSolo
editStudio albums
editTitle | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPN Oricon [11] |
JPN Billboard | ||||||||||
Can't Be Forever Young | 14 | — | |||||||||
Good New Times | 25 | 47 | |||||||||
Lives By The Sea | 115 | — |
Live albums
editTitle | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPN Oricon [11] |
JPN Billboard | ||||||||||
Live in Tokyo | 85 | — |
Extended plays
editTitle | Details |
---|---|
Goto to Togo (with Kiyomaru Togo) |
Singles
editTitle | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
JPN Oricon [11] | |||
"Lost" | 2012 | — | Can't Be Forever Young |
"The Long Goodbye" | 2013 | — | |
"Wonderland" | 2014 | 48 | |
"Route 6" | — | — | |
"Taxi Driver" | 2017 | — | Lives By The Sea |
"Nothing But Love" | 2020 | — | |
"Stay Inside" (featuring mabanua) |
— | ||
"The Age" (featuring BASI, Dhira Bongs and Keishi Tanaka) |
— | ||
"Heaven" (with GuruConnect) |
2023 | — | Non-album singles |
"Stateless" (featuring YonYon) |
2024 | — |
Other
edit- 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"
References
edit- ^ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION: Biography". ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Official Website. Ki/oon Records Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ Kao, Larry (2005-11-03). "Talkin Bout My (Asian Kung-Fu) Generation". Asian Pacific Arts. UCLA Asia Institute. Archived from the original on 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
- ^ Asian Kung-Fu Generation Fansite Flash Back! - Profile Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Vo.ゴッチの日記". Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
- ^ "Archived copy". skeletonsman.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Gotch | only in dreams".
- ^ "Gotch Profile". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ^ "Gotch of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION to Embark on Solo Tour This May". jpopasia. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "6月8日に新しいアルバム「Good New Times」が発売になりました。" (in Japanese). Gotch. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "アジカン後藤正文が音楽支援を行うNPO法人創立「何度でもチャレンジできる場所を目指す」" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b c "後藤正文 オリコン". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ "「Can't Be Forever Young」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "「Good New Times」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "「Lives By The Sea」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ "「Live in Tokyo」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "後藤と東郷". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2021.