The Checkers (Japanese band)
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan |
| Founder | Tohru Takeuchi |
| Defunct | 1992-12-31 |
| Headquarters | Kurume City , Japan |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, albums |
Number of employees | 7 (members) |
| Parent | Canyon Records (label) |
The Checkers (Japanese: チェッカーズ) emerged as one of Japan's most influential bands during the 1980s, celebrated for shaping youth culture through their distinctive pop sound and trends in fashion and hairstyles.
Originating in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, the group was established by guitarist and leader Tohru Takeuchi, who brought Fumiya Fujii into the lineup in 1980. The band quickly rose to prominence after securing a win at the Yamaha Light Music Contest in the junior division. Since several members were still attending high school, they postponed signing a recording contract until after graduation. Their official debut occurred on 21 September 1983, and they remained active until their disbandment on 31 December 1992. Each single they released reached the top ten on Japanese music charts, with numerous tracks attaining the number one spot. Following the band's breakup, lead vocalist and chief lyricist Fumiya Fujii pursued a prosperous solo career.
Although much of their repertoire was created in collaboration with Hiroaki Serizawa, The Checkers were frequently categorized as male aidoru by Japanese rock enthusiasts, largely due to the marketing approach adopted during their early years.
Former members
- Fumiya Fujii – lead vocals, backing vocals (born 1962)
- Naoyuki Fujii – saxophone, flute, backing vocals (born 1964)
- Masaharu Tsuruku – vocals, backing vocals (born 1964)
- Yoshihiko Takamoku – vocals, backing vocals (born 1962)
- Tohru Takeuchi – guitar, backing vocals (born 1962)
- Yuji Ohdoi – bass guitar, double bass, backing vocals (born 1962)
- Yoshiya Tokunaga – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1962–2004; deceased)
Singles
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Studio albums
| Year | Single | Peak Chart Position | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||||
| 1983 | 8 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | Canyon Record | |
| 1984 | 2 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||
| 1 | CD, 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 | "Oh!!Popstar" |
2 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | |
| "Song for U.S.A." |
1 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||
| "Nana" | ||||
| CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||||
| 1987 | "I Love You, Sayonara" |
2 | CD, LP, Cassette,digital download ,streaming | |
| "Wanderer" |
'1' | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||
| "Blue Rain" |
2 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||
| 1988 | "One Night Gigolo" |
3 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | |
| " " |
4 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||
| " " |
2 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||
| 1989 | "Room" |
3 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | |
| "Cherie" |
5 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||
| "Friends and Dream" |
2 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||
| 1990 | style=text-align:left;> | |||
| CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||||
| style=text-align:left;> | ||||
| CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||||
| style=text-align:left;> |
7 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||
| 1991 | "Love '91" |
3 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | |
| "Mrs. Mermaid" |
4 | CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||
| style=text-align:left;> | ||||
| CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||||
| 1992 | style=text-align:left;> |
5 | ||
| CD ,LP ,Cassette,digital download ,streaming | ||||
| "Blue Moon Stone" |
7 |
| Album Title | Details | Highest Chart Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Oricon | ||
| "Zettai Checkers" (絶対チェッカーズ) |
|
1 |
| "Motto Checkers" (もっと!チェッカーズ) |
| |
| "Mainichi Checkers" (毎日チェッカーズ) |
| |
| "Flower" |
| |
| "Go" |
| |
| "Screw" |
|
4 |
| "Seven Heaven" |
|
1 |
| "Oops!" |
| |
| "I Have a Dream" |
|
2 |
| "Blue Moon Stone" |
|
Compilation albums
| Compilation Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Oricon | ||
| "Non-Stop CHECKERS" |
|
- |
| "BEST The CHECKERS" |
|
1 |
| "Checkers The BEST" |
|
11 |
| "The Checkers" |
|
1 |
| "The OTHER SIDE" |
|
11 |
| "Early Singles" |
|
3 |
| "Ballade Selection" |
|
- |
| "Ballade Selection II" |
|
- |
| "ALL Songs REQUEST" |
|
- |
| "COMPLETE The CHECKERS all singles collection" |
|
- |
| "COMPLETE The CHECKERS all singles collection reverse" |
|
- |
| "All Ballads Request" |
|
- |
| "THE CHECKERS SUPER BEST COLLECTION 32" |
|
- |
| "THE CHECKERS 30TH ANNIVERSARY BEST～7X30 SINGLES～2" |
|
- |
| "Platinum Best Checkers All Time Collection" (プラチナムベスト チェッカーズ オールタイム・コレクション) |
|
- |
| "Checkers All Singles Special Collection" (チェッカーズ・オールシングルズ・スペシャルコレクション) |
|
- |
Live Albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Rankings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | |||
| "The Checkers Final Last Budokan Live 1992.12.28" (THE CHECKERS FINAL ラスト武道館ライブ 1992.12.28) |
| ||
| "—" indicates albums that did not enter the charts. | |||
Soundtrack Albums
| Album Title | Release Details | Highest Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | |||
| "Checkers in Tan Tan Tanuki Original Soundtrack" (CHECKERS in TAN TAN たぬき) |
|
1 | |
| "SONG FOR U.S.A. Original Song Album" (SONG FOR U.S.A. オリジナル・ソング・アルバム) |
|
- | |
| "—" signifies releases that failed to chart. | |||
Box Set Collections
| Collection Title | Details of Release | Peak Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | |||
| "Checkers 7 Inch Box" (チェッカーズ 7インチBOX) |
|
- | |
| "Checkers 40th Anniversary Original Album Special CD-Box" (チェッカーズ 40th Anniversary オリジナルアルバム・スペシャルCD-BOX) |
|
- | |
| "—" marks collections that did not chart. | |||
Singles
| Year | Single Title | Highest Chart Ranking | Media Format | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||||
| 1987 | "Nanatsu no Umi no Chikyūgi" (7つの海の地球儀) | 4 | CD, LP, Cassette | Canyon Record |
Studio Albums
| Album Name | Release Information | Top Chart Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | |||
| "Shine Naru George Springhill Band Sama " (親愛なるジョージ・スプリングヒル・バンド様) |
|
1 | |
| "—" represents albums without chart presence. | |||
Live recordings
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Ranking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Oricon | |||
"Not Checkers: Endagasa Ekikangen Live " (NOT CHECKERS-円高差益還元ライブ)
|
|
2 | |
| "—" indicates albums that did not enter the charts. | |||
Video releases
| Title | Release Details | Peak Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Oricon | |||
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1988 SCREW TOUR |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1987 GO TOUR |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1986 FLASH！！ TOUR |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1985 II PIRATES TOUR |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1985 I Typhoon' TOUR |
|
- | |
| CHECKERS ALL SONGS REQUEST: DVD EDITION |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 I Blue Moon Stone TOUR I |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1991 II I have a Dream TOUR "WHITE PARTY II" |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1991 I I have a Dream TOUR "WHITE PARTY I" |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1990 OOPS！ TOUR |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1989 SEVEN HEAVEN TOUR |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 VI Rec． |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 V FINAL TOUR "ACOUSTIC COLLECTION" |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 IV FINAL TOUR "ACCESS ALL AREA" |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 III FINAL TOUR |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 II Blue Moon Stone TOUR II |
|
- | |
| THE CHECKERS BEST HITS LIVE 1985-1992 |
|
- | |
| 1992 Blue Moon Stone TOUR I&II |
|
- | |
| Checkers 40th Anniversary FINAL TOUR (Remaster Edition) |
|
TBA | |
| "—" indicates titles that did not appear in the charts. | |||
References
See also
Categories:
- Articles with short description
- Articles containing Japanese-language text
- Japanese rock bands
- Musical ensembles formed in 1981
- Musical ensembles disbanded in 1992
- Musical acts originating from Fukuoka Prefecture
- 1981 establishments in Japan
- 1992 disestablishments in Japan
- Musical groups disestablished in 1992