Shōnan no Kaze

Influenced by reggae, J-pop, dancehall, and hip-hop, Shōnan no Kaze formed in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, in 2001. Band members Red Rice, Wakadanna, Shock Eye, Han-Kun, and Goki released their debut album Shōnan no Kaze: Real Riders in 2003. The record was a modest success, peaking at Number 60 in Japan and producing the radio single "Real Riders." Shōnan no Kaze: Ragga Parade followed in 2004 and significantly increased the band's audience, with the album producing two Top 20 singles — "Ōenka/Kaze" and "Hare Densetsu" — while climbing to Number 5 on the Oricon Albums Chart. By the time Shōnan no Kaze: Riders High appeared in 2006, Shōnan no Kaze had begun one of the nation's top acts. "Karasu," the record's lead single, became the band's first Top 10 hit, while "Junrenka" climbed all the way to Number 2 and became one of the year's best-selling singles. The album itself topped the Japanese charts, as did the band's subsequent release, Shōnan no Kaze: Joker. Although released in 2009, Joker featured several years' worth of radio singles, including "Suirenka" (a Number 2 hit in 2007), "Ōgon Soul" (a Number 6 hit in 2008), and "Tomo yo" (a Number 10 hit in 2009). The group continued scoring radio hits during the 2010s, cracking the Top 10 with 2010's "Gachizakura," 2011's "Bomberman," 2012's "Entenka, 2013's "Just Live More" (which doubled as theme song for Kamen Rider Gaim), and 2014's "Puzzle." Following a short hiatus, the group returned in 2019 with "Ichibanka," which appeared in the video game Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

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