Do As Infinity

Do As Infinity

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1999
Founder	Tomiko Van, Ryo Owatari, Dai Nagao
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Music albums, singles
Owner	Avex Trax

Do As Infinity is a Japanese band blending pop and rock genres, established in 1999 by vocalist Tomiko Van, guitarist Ryo Owatari, and guitarist/composer Dai Nagao. The group's name derives from Nagao, and they are affiliated with the Avex Trax label. Their initial single, "Tangerine Dream", debuted on September 29, 1999, followed by three additional singles that preceded their first album, Break of Dawn (2000). By December 2000, Nagao ceased live performances to concentrate exclusively on composition. Between 2001 and 2005, the band released five more studio albums, spanning from New World through to Need Your Love.

After issuing the compilation of A-side singles titled Do the A-side in 2005, Do As Infinity disbanded on September 29 of that year. The members then pursued separate ventures: Van embarked on a solo singing career, Owatari created the band Missile Innovation, and Nagao continued composing for artists under Avex Trax. The group reunited on September 29, 2008, without Nagao's participation. Their comeback single "∞1" was released in June 2009, followed by their seventh studio album Eternal Flame later that year. Their most recent studio album, Brand New Days, came out in February 2015.

1999

Initially a composer for an amateur ensemble, Dai Nagao transitioned to professional work at Avex Trax, crafting songs for performers such as Ayumi Hamasaki and Hitomi. After conducting auditions, he chose Tomiko Van as the lead vocalist and Ryo Owatari as guitarist. Owatari impressed with an extensive audition repertoire, while Van quickly joined following her application submission.

On September 29, 1999, the trio launched their debut single "Tangerine Dream" and performed live at Shibuya AX. They sustained an active schedule with frequent shows throughout Tokyo venues including Shibuya's 109 and Yokohama Station, expanding tours to cities like Fukuoka. Prior to their debut release, the band distributed complimentary recordings to raise public awareness. Their hundredth concert was held as a free event at Shibuya AX, underscoring early fan dedication.

During late 1999, Do As Infinity conducted street performances and in-store gigs nationwide while participating in local festivals such as one held in Van's hometown of Kumamoto Prefecture. This series of street performances culminated with a free concert at Shibuya Kokaido. Video footage from these appearances was incorporated into the promotional video for "Field of Dreams," featured in the PV Collection 8 as well as during live concerts.

Their second single, "Heart", was released in December alongside appearances culminating at the Avex Millennium Countdown 1999-2000 event at Roppongi's Velfarre club. Although composed prior to "Tangerine Dream," "Heart" was recorded simultaneously due to intricate drum sampling requirements. The third single "Oasis", issued in January, became their first Top 30 charting track and was selected as the official commercial theme for Kanebo Cosmetics' Testimo product line—marking their breakthrough into advertising-driven market exposure.

2000

The track "Yesterday & Today" was chosen as the theme for the prime-time drama Nisennen no Koi, featuring Miho Nakayama and Kaneshiro Takeshi. Its accompanying B-side, "Raven", was used as the closing song for the horror movie Uzumaki, helping to broaden the band's appeal in mainstream media.

Their first album, Break of Dawn, debuted at number three on the Oricon charts in March. The group sustained high visibility through a series of live shows across Japan. In August, they released the single "Rumble Fish", which served as the theme for the popular film Kamen Gakuen; while filming its cover in Taiwan, they found inspiration for "Shinjitsu no Uta". That same month saw the release of "Summer Days", which became a concert favorite and was featured as the theme for Fuji TV’s drama OL Police. Notably, it stands as their most well-known fully English-language song after "Break of Dawn". November brought out the festive single "We Are.", a preferred track of lead singer Tomiko Van. The year concluded with a countdown live performance at Tokyo’s Velfarre club.

On New Year's Eve 2000, composer Dai Nagao stepped down from his role as frontman to concentrate exclusively on songwriting and production. Following this decision, he appeared publicly only twice: at the band’s third anniversary event in September 2002 and their final live concert in November 2005. Nagao withdrew due to difficulties managing both music production and live stage appearances alongside promotional duties, limiting his involvement to composing without participating in recordings.

2001

Throughout 2001, Do As Infinity reinforced their position in the market by releasing an album and six singles; however, they had not yet performed on national television until their release of "Desire". This song was performed solo by Van on "Music Station", significantly expanding their reach. This momentum helped their album New World debut at number one on Oricon charts.

They issued their inaugural promotional video collection DVD titled 9 and embarked on an extensive tour in May. Tomiko Van secured an endorsement deal with Japanese haircare brand Lavenus, starring in six commercials that featured songs such as "Signal" (from "Tōku Made"), "Tsubasa no Keikaku", "Bōkenshatachi", and "Nice & Easy". One advertisement notably showcased Van riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which also appeared in the music video for "Tao".

The ninth single, "Week!", was released in late May, followed by "Fukai Mori" ("Deep Forest") in June. This track became the second ending theme for the popular anime Inuyasha and emerged as their signature hit. The band spent the rest of 2001 preparing for a November tour aligned with the release of their eleventh single, "Bōkenshatachi", alongside their third album, Deep Forest, which also debuted atop Oricon rankings.

2002

In January 2002, Van contributed to Avex's charity compilation album Various Artists Featuring Songnation. February saw the release of Do As Infinity's twelfth single, "Hi no Ataru Sakamichi". The group expanded their international presence following March’s release of their best-of album Do the Best, touring Taiwan and Hong Kong in April as part of a special promotional campaign. Their overseas fanbase rivaled that in Japan, attracting around 500 attendees to an autograph session at Hong Kong’s HMV store. They were honored with Japan’s seventeenth annual Gold Disc Award for best Rock & Pop album. After a short hiatus, they released their thirteenth single, a double A-sided track titled "Under the Sun / Under the Moon", in July and performed at eight venues during Avex's A-nation tour in August.

Their fourteenth single, "Shinjitsu no Uta", released in October, marked a new creative chapter and was selected as the fifth ending theme for Inuyasha. By July 2002, this song gained traction in China and was translated into Mandarin. Kawamura disclosed that although written two years prior, it remained a demo until refined. To deepen fan engagement, Do As Infinity invited submissions of short stories inspired by their music and centered around the concept of shinjitsu (truth), which were later compiled into a publication titled Your Truth. The year closed with their live tour Do As Infinity greatest year 02: All Standing and the launch of their fourth studio album, True Song.

2003-2004

After completing the True Song tour and producing new tracks, Do As Infinity issued their fifteenth single, "Mahou no Kotoba: Would You Marry Me?", marking their first release of 2003. This song quickly became one of Japan’s most cherished wedding anthems and a significant hit for the group. The follow-up single, "Honjitsu wa Seiten Nari", was introduced during their summer participation in a-nation. Around this time, vocalist Tomiko styled her hair into a short cut and dyed it a vivid blonde, before reverting to dark brown following the single’s launch. The music video for this track incorporated footage from various a-nation 2003 venues throughout Japan, highlighting the band’s widespread acclaim. In November, "Hiiragi" was released alongside the announcement of their fifth studio album. Additionally, Tomiko had the opportunity to meet American singer Michelle Branch during her visit to Japan for a magazine feature.

Following the release of Gates of Heaven, Do As Infinity took a brief hiatus before performing concerts in New York City, New York, and Dallas, Texas during summer 2004 as preparation for their upcoming album; these performances are included on the DVD Live Year 2004. They also appeared in Korea as part of Korea & Japan Friendship Week in JEJU, sharing the stage with jtL. In December 2004, their track "Rakuen" was chosen as the ending theme for Inuyasha the Movie: Fire on the Mystic Island.

2005

At the start of 2005, Do As Infinity embarked on a tour promoting their sixth studio album, Need Your Love, alongside releasing video compilations and live concert DVDs. While Dai Nagao scaled back his public presence, he continued to serve as the band's chief composer.

Their twentieth single, "Tao", released on July 27, 2005, was their final release prior to disbandment later that year. The song’s lyrics, centered on farewell themes, sparked speculation among fans. "Tao" also served as the main theme for Namco's 2005 RPG Tales of Legendia. On September 14, the band announced they would disband on September 29—exactly six years after debuting with "Tangerine Dream". Their farewell concert took place at Nippon Budokan on November 25, 2005. Just three days before this event, Dai Nagao released "Trust", featuring vocals by Mizushima Kana from his side project I-lulu, available via online streaming.

Following the breakup, lead vocalist Tomiko Van pursued a solo career with her first album Farewell launching in March 2006. Guitarist Ryo Owatari concentrated on his band Missile Innovation, which released its debut single in February 2006, while also collaborating with Avex artists such as Ayumi Hamasaki, Ai Otsuka, and AAA. Dai Nagao remained active as a composer under True Song Music, contributing to works by various artists including Amasia Landscape.

2008-present

Do As Infinity made an unexpected return at the conclusion of the 2008 A-nation after rehearsing privately for a month. They were revealed as “secret guests” on August 30, 2008, confirming their official reunion set for September 29, followed by a complimentary concert at Yoyogi Park on September 30. Subsequently, they embarked on a nationwide reunion tour.

Their twenty-first single "∞1" was released on June 17, 2009, containing four new songs. This was succeeded by their seventh studio album, Eternal Flame, which came out on September 30, 2009. That year also saw them provide the opening theme "Kimi ga Inai Mirai" for Inuyasha: The Final Act, with the single hitting shelves in January 2010.

On December 24, 2009, Do As Infinity unveiled "Everything Will Be All Right" as the official promotional song for professional Kyōtei boat racing in 2010. This track and three others were included in their twenty-third single "∞2", released June 16, 2010. Their twenty-fourth single "Jidaishin" commemorated their eleventh anniversary on September 29, 2010; physical editions sold exclusively through Mu-mo rapidly sold out. The band marked this milestone with an anniversary live show at Shibuya AX that was streamed online free of charge.

The eighth studio album Eight arrived on January 19, 2011. During that year, singles were released in July, September, and November respectively.

In 2012, Do As Infinity issued two studio albums: Time Machine on February 29 and Do As Infinity X on October 10. They followed up with a compilation album titled The Best of Do As Infinity on January 1, 2014. Their twenty-eighth single "Mysterious Magic", which served as an opening theme for the anime Fairy Tail, was released on December 10, 2014. The band’s eleventh studio album Brand New Days was launched on February 25, 2015.

Songwriting Credits

At the outset, the band adopted the principle "Whoever the songwriter is, it is D.A.I," attributing all songwriting credits simply to "D.A.I" without distinguishing individual input. It was only after the release of Do the B-side, which included "Be Free," that detailed songwriting acknowledgments were provided. Following their reformation, the band also clarified composition credits. Lyrics are mainly penned by Tomiko Van and Ryo Owatari, with additional contributions from Saiko Kawamura—a collective pseudonym for Jun Harada and Kayoko Shinchi—and Naoto Suzuki. Dai Nagao composed nearly all of the band's music, with the exception of "Azayaka na Hana" from Gates of Heaven, which was composed by Ryo Owatari. The group managed production on their initial two singles independently; starting with their third single, Seiji Kameda joined as co-producer and took on the role of recording bassist.

Do! Creative!!

Do! Creative!! was a biannual competition organized by Do As Infinity in collaboration with Avex Trax, inviting fans to submit original compositions for potential performance by the band. The first edition (March–April 2009) attracted approximately 1,000 submissions, from which three songs were chosen for inclusion on Eternal Flame: "Nighter" by Yu, "Kitakaze" by Yosuke Kawashima, and "Honō" by Shinpei. The second contest (September–October 2009) also selected three winners; two of these tracks—"Everything Will Be Alright" by Shohei Ohi and "Haruka" by Fumiyasu Sueoka—were featured on the album "∞2." The third winner's composition has yet to be released. Notably, around 400 participants in this second round were international entrants.

Band Members

Current lineup

• "Van": Tomiko Van (vocals, lyricist)
• "Ryo": Ryo Owatari (guitarist, backing vocals, lyricist)

Former lineup

• "Dai": Dai Nagao (guitarist, composer)

Production team

• "Dai": Dai Nagao (1999–2005)
• Seiji Kameda (2000–present), serving as recording bassist

Supporting Musicians

Great Tour Band

Key musicians who have supported D.A.I include:

• Naoki Hayashibe (guitar)
• Jun Matsumoto (drums)
• Kazco Hamano (chorus)
• Michitaro Shimamoto (bass guitar), a former member who later collaborated with Ai Otsuka among others
• Jun Takase (keyboard)
• Yoshiyasu Hayashi (bass guitar)

Tour Band (2009)

• Takumi Ishida (guitar)
• Yukiko Shibuya (bass guitar)
• Jun Takase (keyboard)
• Noriyasu "Kaasuke" Kawamura (drums), who originally recorded drums on Break of Dawn and joined the touring ensemble in 2008

Discography

Studio Albums

• Break of Dawn (2000)
• New World (2001)
• Deep Forest (2001)
• True Song (2002)
• Gates of Heaven (2003)
• Need Your Love (2005)
• Eternal Flame (2009)
• Eight (2011)
• Time Machine (2012)
• Do As Infinity X (2012)
• Brand New Days (2015)
• Alive (2018)
• Do As Infinity (2019)

Compilation Albums

• Do the Best (2002)
• Do the Best+DVD (2004)
• Do the B-side (2004)
• Do the A-side (2005)
• Do the Best "Great Supporters Selection" (2006)
• Minus V (2006)
• The Best of Do As Infinity (2014)
• 2 of Us [Red] -14 Re:Singles- (2016)
• 2 of Us [Blue] -14 Re:Singles- (2016)
• Lounge (2019)
• Do the B-side 2 (2019)

Live Albums

• Do the Live (2003)
• Live in Japan (2004)
• Do As Infinity: Final (2006)
• Do As Infinity 14th Anniversary: Dive At It Limited Live 2013 (2014)
• Do As Infinity 16th Anniversary: October's Garden (2016)

Box Set

• Do the Box (2006)

External links

• Official website of Do As Infinity