One Ok Rock
One Ok Rock (stylized as ONE OK ROCK) is a Japanese rock band formed in 2005, composed of four members: Taka, Toru, Ryota, and Tomoya. They originally consisted of fifth member, Alex, but he has left the group since.
The band had various singles that entered the Oricon charts, catapulting them as one of the most promising artists in the Japanese rock scene. They have released four albums as of 2010, and with the success of their latest album Niche Syndrome they solidified their J-rock status in Japan and across the globe.
The foundation for One Ok Rock began when Toru Yamashita, then
a high school student, wanted to start a band. Toru told his friend
Ryota Kohama, who had been a fellow member of hip hop
dance group, Heads, to learn the Bass and asked Alex to join. After
seeing Taka, a vocalist, perform in a cover band, Toru saw him as the
best possible candidate for a vocalist in their band, and insisted that
he join. Tomoya, the last member to join, joined One Ok Rock as a
drummer in 2007.[2] Tomoya had played with the band on all their albums but only became an official member when they debuted.
The band's name, One Ok Rock, came from "one o'clock," the time that
the band used to practice on weekends. However, noticing that the Japanese language
made no distinction between r's and l's, they changed "o'clock" to
"o'crock" (or "o'krock") which then was separated to become "ok rock".[2]
After Alex left the band in May 2009, the band released the single "Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer" on February 3, 2010. It was featured 9th in the Weekly Oricon Charts. They released their fourth studio album titled Niche Syndrome on June 9, 2010. Their next single "Answer Is Near" was released on February 16, 2011.
The band released their first double A-side single "Re:make/No Scared" on July 20, 2011, the latter song being the main theme for the Black Rock Shooter videogame.[3][4]
The band's fifth album, Zankyo Reference is scheduled to be released on October 5, 2011.
Members
- Taka (森田 貴寬 Moriuchi Takahiro, born April 17, 1988 in Tokyo) is the main vocalist of the group. He is the son of Shinichi Mori. Prior to debuting with One Ok Rock, he was a member of NEWS, a Japanese Music Group under Johnny's Entertainment.
- Toru (山下 亨 Yamashita Tōru, born December 7, 1988 in Osaka) is the guitarist of the group. He also contributes some vocals. He was a member of the hip-hop dance group Heads.
- Ryota (小浜 良太 Kohama Ryōta, born September 4, 1989 in Osaka) is the bassist of the group. He was also a member of Heads.
- Tomoya (神吉 智也 Kanki Tomoya, born June 27, 1987 in Hyogo) is the drummer of the group.
Former members
- Alexander Onizawa[5] (born March 19, 1988 in San Francisco) was the guitarist of the group alongside with Toru, until he left in May 2009[5] after being arrested on charges of groping.[6]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Information | Oricon charts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly [7] |
Sales | ||
| 2007 | Zeitakubyō
|
15 | 26,000 |
| 2008 | Beam of Light
|
17 | 13,000 |
Kanjō Effect
|
13 | 22,000 | |
| 2010 | Niche Syndrome
|
4 | 26,000 |
| 2011 | Zankyo Reference
|
2 | 66,011 |
EPs
| Year | Title | Oricon charts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly [7] |
Sales | ||
| 2006 | One Ok Rock
|
— | — |
Keep It Real
|
102 | 4,700 | |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Oricon sales |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Singles Charts [7] |
Billboard Japan Hot 100* [8] |
RIAJ digital tracks* [9] |
||||
| 2007 | "Naihi Shinso" (内秘心書 Keep It Inside) | 48 | — | — | 15,000 | Zeitakubyō |
| "Yume Yume" (努努-ゆめゆめ- Absolutely) | 43 | — | — | 9,200 | ||
| "Et Cetera" (エトセトラ Eto Setora) | 29 | — | — | 6,700 | ||
| 2008 | "Hitsuzen Maker" (必然メーカー Necessary Maker) † | — | — | — | — | Beam of Light |
| "Koi no Aibō Kokoro no Cupid" (恋ノアイボウ心ノクピド Love Companion, Cupid of the Heart) † | — | — | — | — | Kanjō Effect | |
| 2010 | "Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer" (完全感覚Dreamer Perfect Sensation Dreamer) | 9 | 45 | 53 | 17,000 | Niche Syndrome |
| "Jibun Rock" (じぶんROCK Rock of Yourself) ‡ | — | — | 98 | — | ||
| 2011 | "Answer Is Near" (アンサイズニア) | 6 | 13 | 27 | 37,000 | Zankyo Reference |
| 2011 | "Re:make/NO SCARED" | 6 | 10 | 21 | 46,000 | |
