Pizzicato Five
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 in Tokyo, Japan |
| Founder | Yasuharu Konishi, Keitarō Takanami |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Pizzicato Five (originally known as Pizzicato V and sometimes abbreviated as P5) was a Japanese pop ensemble established in Tokyo in 1984 by multi-talented musicians Yasuharu Konishi and Keitarō Takanami. Starting as a five-member group, they rose to international prominence in the late 1980s as a duo consisting of Konishi and lead singer Maki Nomiya. Their sound blended elements of 1960s pop, jazz, and synth-pop, making them pivotal contributors to the 1990s Shibuya-kei genre.
The band was known for their consistent creative output, typically releasing at least one full-length album each year, supplemented by EPs and remix compilations. Their music has been incorporated into various media such as films, television programs, and video games; notably, the English rendition of their 1991 track "Baby Love Child" was featured in the Futurama episode titled "Leela's Homeworld".
1980s
The origins of Pizzicato V trace back to 1984 when university students Yasuharu Konishi and Keitarō Takanami connected at a music club gathering. Soon after, Ryō Kamomiya, Mamiko Sasaki, and Shigeo Miyata joined; Miyata departed shortly thereafter, but the remaining four continued under the name Pizzicato V. Their debut single, "The Audrey Hepburn Complex," produced by Haruomi Hosono, was released in 1985 through his Non-Standard label (Teichiku Records), followed by the track "Action".
In 1986, the group signed with CBS/Sony (currently Sony Music Entertainment Japan). Their first album featuring original material, Couples (1987), did not achieve commercial success, prompting the label to urge a change in lead vocalist. Consequently, Kamomiya and Sasaki exited; Takao Tajima from Original Love was brought on as the new singer. With Tajima’s involvement, they released Bellissima! in 1988. The albums that followed—On Her Majesty's Request (1989) and Soft Landing on the Moon (1990)—also failed to attain significant sales.
1990s
In 1990, Maki Nomiya, who had previously released a solo album, joined as the main vocalist; Tajima left to concentrate on Original Love. The group then signed with Nippon Columbia/Seven Gods (later known as Triad Records) in 1991.
After issuing three EPs that showcased Nomiya’s voice, they unveiled This Year's Girl, an album influenced by sampling methods popularized by artists such as De La Soul. This release played an important role in defining the emerging Shibuya-kei movement and included popular tracks like "Twiggy Twiggy" and "Baby Love Child".
The 1992 album Sweet Pizzicato Five, which embraced a club-oriented style, marked a shift in their musical direction. Although still catering to a niche audience, their fanbase steadily expanded.
Their visibility increased through theme songs for television dramas—a common promotional approach in Japan—culminating in widespread acclaim with "Sweet Soul Revue" (1993), which was utilized in a major campaign for Kao Corporation and featured in the movie Jury Duty. Later that year, "The Night Is Still Young" became another hit as the opening theme for the children’s program UgoUgo Rūga Ni-gō.
Their introduction to American audiences came with the 1994 EP Five by Five released via Matador Records, followed by the compilation album Made in USA, which sold approximately 200,000 copies worldwide.
Shortly before releasing Overdose in 1994, Takanami departed from the band, leaving Konishi and Nomiya as the principal members. They undertook a successful tour across Europe and America consisting of fourteen stops in early 1995. Later that year, they issued another compilation titled The Sound of Music by Pizzicato Five, featuring selections from the Maki Nomiya era.
After releasing the 1996 album Romantique 96 along with singles such as "Baby Portable Rock," the band founded their own label Readymade Records in 1997. That year’s album Happy End of the World achieved notable commercial success and was uniquely distributed worldwide without alterations.
In 1998, they launched The International Playboy & Playgirl Record domestically; it was released internationally in 1999 under the title Playboy & Playgirl, featuring a revised tracklist.
During 1999, Pizzicato Five issued the JBL Maxisonic EP series alongside the album Pizzicato Five, which included reimagined versions of tracks from these EPs such as "Darlin' of Discothèque" (a shortened instrumental), "A Perfect World" (a lounge-style piece featuring guest vocalist Mieko Hirota), and a new song titled "20th Century Girl," derived from the B-side "Room Service" penned by Masumi Arichika of TV Jesus.
Final phase
In 2000, Matador Records issued Pizzicato Five under the title The Fifth Release from Matador. This CD version excluded the opening track "Love Again" but incorporated three additional songs from the JBL Maxisonic EPs, while the vinyl edition presented a tracklist that further diverged from the original. This marked Pizzicato Five's last album released in the United States.
The following year, in 2001, Japan saw the release of the album Çà et là du Japon, which coincided with the official announcement of the band's dissolution. Subsequent to this, live performances featuring former members took place, alongside two compilation albums reflecting on their career: Pizzicato Five R.I.P. (1998–2001) and Singles (1993–2001). After disbanding, their works have been reissued in collections such as "Pizzicato Five On Demand."
Band members
Lineup at time of breakup
- Yasuharu Konishi (1984–2001) – responsible for songwriting, bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals; the only founding member to remain throughout. He has since pursued a career as a music producer.
- Maki Nomiya (1990–2001) – lead vocalist and third singer for the group. Currently active as a solo artist, narrator, fashion model, and clothing designer.
Past members
- Keitarō Takanami (1984–1994) – contributed guitar, keyboards, and vocals; founding member who is now recognized as 高浪敬太郎 ("K-taro") and works as a guitarist and producer.
- Mamiko Sasaki (1984–1987) – original lead singer.
- Ryō Kamomiya (1984–1987) – keyboardist at inception; currently engaged as a composer and arranger.
- Takao Tajima (1987–1990) – provided lead vocals, guitar, and harmonica; served as second vocalist and frontman of Original Love. Presently active as a solo performer and producer.
Timeline
Discography
Albums
- Couples (1987)
- Bellissima! (1988)
- On Her Majesty's Request (1989)
- Soft Landing on the Moon (1990)
- This Year's Girl (1991)
- Sweet Pizzicato Five (1992)
- Bossa Nova 2001 (1993)
- Overdose (1994)
- Romantique 96 (1995)
- Happy End of the World (1997)
- The International Playboy & Playgirl Record (1998)
- Pizzicato Five (1999)
- Çà et là du Japon (2001)
External links
- Japanese dance music groups
- Japanese electronic musicians
- Japanese electropop groups
- Japanese dance musicians
- Japanese musical duos
- Japanese rock music groups
- Japanese pop music groups
- Male–female musical duos
- Musical groups disestablished in 2001
- Musical groups established in 1985
- Nippon Columbia artists
- Matador Records artists
- Shibuya-kei musicians
- Japanese indie pop groups
- Musical groups from Shibuya
- 1985 establishments in Japan
- Female-fronted musical groups