Tatsuro Yamashita, born March 2, 1953 is a Japanese singer, record producer, composer, songwriter, arranger and actor. He debuted as a musician in 1973 with the band Apryl Fool, and after three years joined the band Sugar Babe where he recorded his first solo album as a composer and singer.
Since then, Tatsuro has released dozens of albums as a solo artist and as part of other musical collaborations. His musical style blends elements of city pop, rock, jazz, soft rock and popular music of the 1970s and later.
Throughout his career, he has cooperated with countless renowned songwriters and created many timeless hits including "Tin Pan Alley," "Love Talk," and "Lemon Tree." He has sold more than 20 million records and has been awarded dozens of accolades.
In addition to his work as a musician, Tatsuro has also appeared in various TV shows, movies, and stage plays such as "Kabuki-za," which earned him two awards. He also starred in the film “Sanpei," released in 1984.
Apart from his work in the entertainment industry, Tatsuro has been involved in various charitable causes, such as: serving as the representative for the UN World Food Programme in Japan, arranging a program entitled "Database Aid" which helps impoverished people in African countries, and launching the project “Jukebox Charity†with which his fans can make donations to collect musical equipment for less fortunate children.
Tatsuro has been awarded with multiple accolades from both his fans and his peers in the entertainment industry for his lifetime achievements. In 1994, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government "for his distinguished achievements in the field of popular music" and in 2004, he celebrated 30 years of his musical career with the release of his 40th album. This album, sold over three million units and achieved platinum certification. Recently, Tatsuro released his 13th studio album.
Despite his busy music career, Tatsuro finds time to exercise and has recently entered ultramarathon races. He has also expressed interest in the traditional Japanese instrument Koto which he also performs during concerts.
Tatsuro is widely respected throughout Japan for his innovative musical style, his iconic performances, and generous contributionsto charity. His career clearly imposes a remarkable recognition among the music industry in Japan and beyond. Tatsuro Yamashita is certainly one of Japan's most important and influential musicians, highlighting the importance of international music in the 21st century.