Chage and Aska

Chage (Shuji Shibata) and Ryo Aska (Shigeaki Miyazaki) are a popular singer/songwriter duo from Fukuoka. They were one of the most successful groups in Japan and have sold over 31 million copies albums and singles.

The duo first captured the public’s attention in 1979, when they won the Yamaha Popular Song Festival, with the song Hitori Saki (One Bloom). After a hit with Banri no Kawa in 1980 they produced several hits.

Throughout the 1980s, they developed into one of the biggest acts on the J-pop scene, moving away from their folk-influenced beginnings toward pop. Chage and Aska specialized in melodramatic ballads such as Say Yes, a huge hit in 1991. They won numerous awards and some of their songs have been rearranged and sung by other such as Maxi Priest, Boy George and Richard Marx. They wrote and performed Something There, the ending song of the movie Street Fighter and Aska also wrote the ending song, Time for Sylvester Stallone's movie Judge Dredd.

Their popularity began to fade in the early 90s as Tetsuya Komuro’s dance/pop acts began their rise and Aska began paying more attention to his solo career.

In 1996, Chage and Aska tried to raise their international profile through an album of cover versions of their songs. They also became the first Asian act to do an MTV Unplugged special, which they taped in London. They separated to go solo in 1996.

Discography

Singles

• Hitorizaki (1979)
• Rurenjouka/Fuyu ni Okizari (1980)
• Banri no Kawa/Genya (1980)
• TABIBITO/Manatsu no Kokkyou (1981)
• Otoko to Onna (1981)
• Atsui Omoi (1982)
• Kitakaze Monogatari/MESSAGE (1982)
• Marionette/Nazo Nazo Yuugi (1983)
• Hanayaka ni Kizutsuite/Shounen (1983)
• MOON LIGHT BLUES / Darlin' (1984)
• Target/Maria (Back To The City (1984)
• Yuuwaku no Bell ga Naru/Manoyaka no Futari (1985)
• Only Lonely/SHAKIN' NIGHT (1985)
• Morning Moon/Gently (1986)
• Tasogare wo Matazuni/DIAMOND SAND (1986)
• Count Down/Koibito tono Wakarekata (Onna no Baai, Otoko no Baai) (1986)
• Yubiwa ga Naita/Yasashisa no Mukougawa (1986)
• SAILOR MAN/Wakiyaku de Hohoende (1987)
• Romancing Yard /Mr. ASIA (1987)
• Koibito ha Wine Iro/Akirame no Blue Day (1988)
• Rhapdsody/ripple ring (1988)
• Trip/Soprano (1988)
• WALK/Daita Memory -as time goes by- (1989)
• LOVE SONG/Break an egg (1989)
• DO YA DO/YELLOW MEN (1990)
• Taiyou to Hokori no Naka de /Otoko to Onna (LIVE Version)/ SOME DAY (LIVE Version) (1991)
• SAY YES/Kokuhaku (1991)
• Boku ha Kono Me de Uso wo Tsuku/TREE Digest (1991)
• LOVE SONG/Romancing Yard (1992)
• if/CRIMSON (1992)
• no no darlin' / Kyou ha... Konnani Genki desu (1992)
• YAH YAH YAH/Yume no Bannin/Kimi ha Nanimo Shiranai mama (1993)
• Sons and Daughters - Soreyori Boku ga Tsutaetai noha /Mr. J no Higeki ha Iwa yori Omoi (1993)
• You are free/When You Wish upon a Star /Sekai ni Merry X'mas (1993)
• Nazeni Kimi ha Kaeranai /Knock /WHITE CHRISTMAS (1993)
• HEART/NATURAL/ On Your Mark (1994)
• Meguriai/Nureta Yume (1994)
• Something There/Ajisai to Himawari (1995)
• river/N to L no Baseball Cap (1996)
• Kono Ai no Tameni/VISION (1999)
• Mure/swear (1999)
• Rocket no Ki no Shita de/Futari Nara (2001)
• Parachite no Heya de /Asian Restaurant nite (2001)
• C-46/Born the trap/C-46 remix (2001)
• Yume no Tsubute/HOTEL (STAMP Version)/ Sunadokei no Kubireta Basho (STAMP Version) (2001)
• Deera Shiera Mu/Studio Noise - Recording Fuukei (2003)
• SEAMLESS SINGLES (2004)
• 36 Do Sen - 1995 Natsu - /Hikari no Compass (2004)
• Boku ha Music/crossroad - Iwa wo Ikiru Boku wo -/Neppuu (new mix) (2004)
• Here & There/Man and Woman - orchestra version (2007)
• Man and Woman/Here & There - improvisation mix (2007)

Albums

• Kazemai (1980)
• Live in Denen Coliseum: The Natsumatsuri '81 (1981)
• Neppo (1981)
• Tasogare no Kishi (1982)
• Atsui Omoi (1982)
• Chage and Asuka -21 Seiki (1983)
• Chage and Aska Live in Yoyogi Stadium (1983)
• Inside (1984)
• Z=One (1985)
• Standing Ovation (1985)
• Turning Point (1986)
• Mix Blood (1986)
• Snow Mail (1986)
• Mr.Asia (1987)
• Super Best (1987)
• Rhapsody (1988)
• Energy (1988)
• Pride (1989)
• See Ya (1990)
• The Story of Ballad (1990)
• Tree (1991)
• Super Best II (1992)
• Guys (1992)
• Red Hill (1993)
• Super Best Box; Single History 1979-1994 and Snow Mail (box-set compilation, 1994)
• Yin and Yang (1994)
• Code Name.1:Brother Sun (1995)
• MTV Unplugged (1995)
• Code Name.2:Sister Moon (1996)
• No Doubt (1999)
• Chage & Aska Very Best Roll Over 20th (1999)
• Not at All (2001)
• Chage and Aska 25th Anniversary Box 1 (2004)
• Chage and Aska 25th Anniversary Box 2 (2004)
• Chage and Aska 25th Anniversary Box 3 (2004)
• The Story of Ballad II (2004)
• Stamp (2002)
• Double (2007)

External Links

• Official Chage & Aska Homepage (Japanese)
• Toshiba EMI Chage & Aska Homepage (Japanese)
• Ryo Aska Homepage (Japanese)