The Checkers (Japanese band) explained

The Checkers
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Kurume, Japan
Genre:Rock and roll, rockabilly,, doo-wop
Years Active:1981  - 1992
Label:Pony Canyon
Past Members:Fumiya Fujii (vocals, chorus)
Masaharu Tsuruku (vocals, chorus)
Yoshihiko Takamoku (vocals, chorus)
Tohru Takeuchi (guitars, chorus)
Yuji Ohdoi (bass, contrabass, chorus)
Yoshiya Tokunaga (drums, percussion, chorus)
Naoyuki Fujii (sax, flute, back-vocals, chorus)
The Checkers
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Channel Display Name:チェッカーズ公式YouTubeチャンネル
Years Active:2021 -
Subscribers:82.3k
Views:31,951,574 million times

The Checkers (Japanese: チェッカーズ) was a very popular Japanese band in the 1980s. They were a pop icon of their time as kids copied hair styles and fashion of the band members. [1]

The band was formed in Kurume-city, Fukuoka Pref. by Toru Takeuchi, the leader and the guitarist, who asked Fumiya Fujii to start a band with him in 1980. They won the Yamaha Light Music Contest in Junior category soon after forming the band. Due to some of the members being high school students at the time they were approached with a record deal they waited until those members finished high school. They made a debut on 21 September 1983 and split up on 31 December 1992.[2] [3] All of their single releases entered top 10 in Japanese charts, many of them making it to No 1. Fumiya Fujii, who was the lead singer and the main lyricist, went on to pursue a successful solo career.[4]

Although it was a band that, along with Hiroaki Serizawa[5], produced their own songs, they were frequently regarded as just male aidoru by Japanese rock fans because of their early marketing promotion.[6]

Members

Past members

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
YearSinglePeak chart positionsFormatLabel
JPN
Oricon
[8]
1983
8CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streamingCanyon Record
1984
2CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

1CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming,

CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1985
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

CD, LP, Cassette, digital download

CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1986"OhPopstar"
2CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Song for U.S.A."
1CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Nana"
-CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1987"I Love You, Sayonara"
2CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Wanderer"
1CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Blue Rain"
2CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1988"One Night Gigolo"
3CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
""
4CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
""
2CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1989"Room"
3CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Cherie"
5CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Friends and Dream"
2CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1990
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

7CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1991"Love '91"
3CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Mrs. Mermaid"
4CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1992
5CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Blue Moon Stone"
7CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Present For You"
4CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

Albums

Original albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
  • Released: 21 July 1984
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
1
  • Released: 5 December 1984
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
  • Released: 21 August 1985
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
"Flower"
  • Released: 20 March 1986
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
"Go"
  • Released: 2 May 1987
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
"Screw"
  • Released: 21 July 1988
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
4
"Seven Heaven"
  • Released: 19 July 1989
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
1
"Oops"
  • Released: 8 August 1990
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
"I Have a Dream"
  • Released: 21 June 1991
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
2
"Blue Moon Stone"
  • Released: 19 June 1992
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
"Non-Stop CHECKERS"
  • Released: 5 September 1986
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape
-
"BEST The CHECKERS"
  • Released: 21 July 1987
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
1
"Checkers The BEST"
  • Released: 15 December 1991
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
11
"The Checkers"
  • Released: 6 December 1992
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
1
"The OTHER SIDE"
  • Released: 16 December 1992
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
11
"Early Singles"
  • Released: 19 August 1994
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
3
"Ballade Selection"
  • Released: 1 February 1999
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
"Ballade Selection II"
  • Released: 17 March 1999
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
"ALL Songs REQUEST"
  • Released: 5 March 2003
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
"COMPLETE The CHECKERS all singles collection"
  • Released: 17 March 2004
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
"COMPLETE The CHECKERS all singles collection reverse"
  • Released: 14 July 2004
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
"All Ballads Request"
  • Released: 16 March 2005
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
"THE CHECKERS SUPER BEST COLLECTION 32"
  • Released: 16 September 2009
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
"THE CHECKERS 30TH ANNIVERSARY BEST～7X30 SINGLES～2"
  • Released: 19 July 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 2CDs
-
  • Released: 17 June 2015
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 2CDs
-
  • Released: 21 February 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: UHQCD4s
-
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
-
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Soundtracks

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
  • Released: 27 April 1985
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape
1
  • Released: 21 July 1986
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape
-
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Box sets

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
  • Released: 3 December 2022
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 7LP
-
  • Released: 21 September 2023
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 11CDs
-
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Albums

Original albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
1
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
  • Released as Cute Beat Club Band
 2
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Videography

Video albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1988 SCREW TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1987 GO TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1986 FLASH！！ TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1985 II PIRATES TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1985 I Typhoon' TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
CHECKERS ALL SONGS REQUEST: DVD EDITION
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 I Blue Moon Stone TOUR I
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1991 II I have a Dream TOUR "WHITE PARTY II"
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1991 I I have a Dream TOUR "WHITE PARTY I"
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1990 OOPS！ TOUR
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1989 SEVEN HEAVEN TOUR
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 VI Rec．
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, BD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 V FINAL TOUR "ACOUSTIC COLLECTION"
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, BD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 IV FINAL TOUR "ACCESS ALL AREA"
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, BD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 III FINAL TOUR
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, BD
-
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 II Blue Moon Stone TOUR II
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
THE CHECKERS BEST HITS LIVE 1985-1992
  • Released: 19 September 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
-
1992 Blue Moon Stone TOUR I&II -
Checkers 40th Anniversary FINAL TOUR (Remaster Edition)
  • Released: 20 December 2023
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 2BD
TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

  1. Mark Schilling The Encyclopedia of Japanese pop culture 1997 0834803801 p.230 "In the latter half of the 1980s rock bands like Rebecca, The Checkers, Hound Dog, Tube, Anzen Chitai, Bakufu Slump, and Kome Kome Club began to take center stage on the pop scene. Unlike earlier bands, who played Western-style rock for hard-core fans, these groups had a more Japanized sound that ordinary kids could relate to. Also, taking a hint from New Music queen YUMING, who mounted spectacular stage shows."
  2. Web site: チェッカーズ デビュー40周年、"混沌の80年代カルチャー"から生まれた伝説のロックバンドの軌跡. thetv. 28 July 2018.
  3. Web site: チェッカーズ、衝撃の解散から30年...伝説のラストライブを全国劇場で上映へ. Oricon. 28 July 2018.
  4. Web site: 藤井フミヤのデビュー作『エンジェル』にソロシンガーとしてのビギニングを見出す. okmusic. 28 July 2018.
  5. News: 2018-05-24 . Japanese heavyweight songwriter to make US debut as singer at age 70 . 2024-11-16 . Mainichi Daily News . en.
  6. Web site: http://news.ameba.jp/domestic/2008/01/9887.html. ja:藤井フミヤ 100回目の武道館公演を達成も扱い小さく. Ameba News. 2008-01-04. 2008-12-27. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080430200536/http://news.ameba.jp/domestic/2008/01/9887.html. 2008-04-30.
  7. Web site: 元チェッカーズのドラマー、〈クロベエ〉こと徳永善也、永眠. tower.jp. 28 July 2018.
  8. Web site: チェッカーズのCD・DVDリリース一覧. Oricon. 28 July 2018.
  9. Web site: CUTE BEAT CLUB BANDのCD・DVDリリース一覧. Oricon. 28 July 2018.

See also

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