Motohiro Hata (秦基博, Hata Motohiro, born 11 October 1980) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He debuted under the major label BMG Japan in 2006 with the single "Synchro" (シンクロ, Shinkuro).[2]

Motohiro Hata
Background information
Birth nameMotohiro Hata (秦基博)
Born (1980-10-11) 11 October 1980 (age 44)
Nichinan, Miyazaki, Japan
OriginYokohama, Japan
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
InstrumentAcoustic guitar
Years active2004–present
LabelsAdd Nine Records (2004)
Augusta Records (2006–present)
BMG Japan (2006–2009)
Ariola Japan (2009–2016)
Universal Music Japan (2017–present)
WebsiteMotohiro Hata Official Web Site

Early life and career

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Hata is the youngest of three brothers. He moved to Yokohama when he was 2. He began playing the guitar at age 3, after his eldest brother received a cheap guitar from a friend. In junior high school, he began writing songs, and after entering high school started working fully as a musician.[3]

In 1999, he performed at his first big concert at the F.A.D Yokohama live house, after a referral by one of his friends.

In 2004, he released an independent EP, "Orange no Haikei no Akai Seibutsu" (オレンジの背景の赤い静物, Red Object with an Orange Background). In 2006 he was signed to Augusta Records after catching the attention of one of the staff members. He was the opening act of Augusta Camp 2006 in July. He debuted with the single "Synchro" (シンクロ, Shinkuro).

His 2008 single "Kimi, Meguru, Boku" (キミ、メグル、ボク, You, Turn, Me), was his first top 20 hit, reaching No. 15 on Oricon charts. "Kimi, Meguru, Boku" was used as the opening theme for the anime series Itazura na Kiss. Since then, he has had six top 20 singles and two top 10 albums.

In 2010, his song "Tōmei Datta Sekai" premiered as the opening for the seventh season of Naruto: Shippuden.

In 2012 he sang the song "Altair" under the name "Motohiro Hata meets Sakamichi no Apollon" for the ending of the anime Kids on the Slope, which premiered on 12 April 2012.

The song "Goodbye Isaac" was the fourth ending track to the anime Space Brothers.

In 2013, his cover of "Rain" by Senri Oe was featured as the ED for The Garden of Words by Makoto Shinkai.

In 2014, "Himawari no Yakusoku" (ひまわりの約束 Promise of Sunflower) was used as the theme song for the 3D-animated movie Stand by Me Doraemon (STAND BY ME ドラえもん).

Influences

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Hata cited Western artists such as Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, and Taylor Swift among his musical influences.[4]

Discography

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  • Contrast (2007)
  • Alright (2008)
  • Documentary (2010)
  • Signed Pop (2013)
  • Ao no Kokei (2015)
  • Copernicus (2019)
  • Paint Like a Child (2023)

Awards and nominations

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Billboard Japan Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 Motohiro Hata Artist of the Year[5] Nominated
CD Shop Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 Documentary Sub Grand Prix Won
Japan Record Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 Evergreen Planning Award[6] Won
MTV Video Music Awards Japan
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Motohiro Hata Best New Artist Won
2009 "Forever Song" Best Male Video Nominated
2016 "Sumire" Best Male Video Nominated
Space Shower Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018 Best Male Artist Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Greenberg, Adam. "Hata Motohiro – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Profile". Motohiro Hata Official Site (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Motohiro Hata : Biography". Barks. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  4. ^ "【インタビュー】秦 基博、NHK朝ドラ『おちょやん』主題歌に込めた人生観". Barks (in Japanese). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021. 秦:刺激を受けた……えーと、そうですね。最近の人というわけではないんですけど、この前シーアを聴いて「やっぱりカッコいいな、この人」と思いました。歌声の強さとか、さすがだなと。テイラー・スウィフトもサム・スミスもそうですけど、向こうのヒットチャートをにぎわしている人の音楽のクオリティの高さはすごいなと思います。最近の洋楽のいわゆるポップスという世界はやっぱりカッコいいんですよね。テイラー・スウィフトもボン・イヴェールをフィーチャリングしたりしていて、それもすごくいいなと思いましたし……デュア・リパもそうですけど、やっぱり音楽がしっかりしているというか。
  5. ^ Okada, Mariko (16 January 2015). "Billboard Japan Music Awards: See Winners of the Combined Twitter & Karaoke Votes". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  6. ^ "「第56回日本レコード大賞」、大賞&最優秀新人賞が明らかに". Rockin'On Japan. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
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