Global pop charts and star news

Back at the top of the Japanese pop charts are veterans of Japan’s music scene B’z with their latest release “Ocean”. Tak Matsumo and Koshi Inaba may have prolific solo careers behind them, but it was as B’z that they made their name and as B’z that they continue to dominate Japanese pop music. With combined sales in excess of 80 million albums since they formed in 1988, the duo, it seems, are still as popular as ever.

Tak Matsumo first noticed Koshi Inaba’s raw and intense vocals at a talent show while still guitarist for the group TMN, produced by Komuro more commonly associated with Globe. Inaba, on the other hand, had no musical background to speak of. He was working as a maths teacher at that time. But Matsumo saw in him the perfect accomplice for a career that would meet with immediate success.

They first reached number one in 1989 with “Tayo No Komachi Angel”, at the same time helping revive the Japanese music industry, which was then experiencing a long-term slump. B’z are now the best selling Japanese act of all time and hold the impressive record of having released thirty five consecutive number one singles – all of them arriving at the coveted top spot on their first day of release.

Tak Matsumo has since been celebrated for his solo work while Inaba too has lent his voice in other collaborations as well as towards his own solo projects. Neither it seems have struggled for recognition, be it as B’z, or as Tak Matsumo and Koshi Inaba independently. Look out for the new B’z single, “Shoudou”, just released.

Buy now:Bz: The Official Score