Latest news with #Hosono
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
Hosono Haruomi: An Innovator Transcending Musical Forms
In 2024, Japanese musical luminary Hosono Haruomi celebrated his fifty-fifth year in the music industry. His wide-ranging career includes involvement in influential bands like Happy End and Yellow Magic Orchestra, his sessions with Tin Pan Alley, and a stack of solo albums, through which he has explored a staggering range of genres from rock to country to ambient to electronica and beyond. Reflecting on his broad musical meanderings, Hosono has wryly described himself as a musical vagabond. But far from drifting aimlessly among varying styles, he has always followed the North Star of his own curiosity and creative instincts, adapting his music to the times and broader trends. Below I examine Hosono's free-spirited musical journey to shed light on his deep passion and insatiable creative urge that have been the unwavering drivers of his success. A Pioneering Force Hosono impressed those around him with musical talents early on, leading to his debut in 1969 while at university as the bassist of the psychedelic rock band Apryl Fool. The collaboration was short lived, but it led Hosono to experiment with the West Coast sounds of groups like Buffalo Springfield, a band whose country and folk style tinged with elements of African American and Latin music he felt an almost primal attraction to. Eager to scratch this musical itch, Hosono approached Apryl Fool drummer Matsumoto Takashi and other bandmates about forming a new group modeled in the style of Buffalo Springfield. The result was Happy End, consisting of Hosono, Matsumoto, Ohtaki Eiichi, and Suzuki Shigeru. The band toured and produced three studio albums from 1969 through the early 1970s. Rather than mimicking Buffalo Springfield's sound, though, the group followed their lead in exploring the surrounding musical and cultural landscape to unearth their own lyrical roots. The consensus among most domestic rock bands at the time was that songs had to be in English to be considered authentic rock. Happy End helped put this notion to rest by firmly embracing Japanese lyrics, placing them among the pioneers of Japanese-language rock. The cover of Happy End's 1971 album Kazemachi Roman . (© URC Records/ Sony Music labels Inc.) By the time Happy End released its second album, the 1971 masterpiece of Japanese-language rock Kazemachi Roman , Hosono's musical interests were already gravitating toward the sound of American singer-songwriters like James Taylor, whose warm baritone and distinctive acoustic arrangements served as a model for Hosono in developing his own vocal style. Hosono released his first solo album, Hosono House , in 1973, shortly after Happy End disbanded. The work was one of the first examples in Japan of home recording, with Hosono cutting the album on recording equipment he lugged into his abode, a former US army house in an area known as the 'American village' in Sayama in south-central Saitama that was popular with artists. The cover of the 1973 solo album, Hosono House . (Photographed by ) Tropical Trilogy Hosono's next project was the band Tin Pan Alley. With the group, Hosono shifted his focus to studio recording in emulation of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the famed group of Alabama-based session musicians—nicknamed 'the Swampers'—who played on hits by stars like Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones. Tin Pan Alley performed on albums by some of Japan's top artists of the day, including Matsutōya (then Arai) Yumi's 1973 debut Hikōkigumo (Vapor Trails) and former Happy End bandmate Ohtaki's 1975 Niagara Moon . The band's sound, which came to known as the Tin Pan style, helped lay the groundwork for what later became Japanese city pop—a genre that would capture the attention of music lovers far beyond Japan's shores. A collection of Hosono's works from Happy End to his 'Tropical Trilogy.' (Photographed by ) Meanwhile, Hosono continued to explore the musical landscape with his solo works. After Hosono House , he turned his attention to the evocative instruments and rhythms of exotica, blending sounds from such disparate places as New Orleans, Latin America, China, and Okinawa in an experimental approach that he labeled as 'chunky music.' The result was his 'Tropical Trilogy' consisting of Tropical Dandy (1975), Bon Voyage Co. (1976), and Paraiso (1978). While the innovative sound of the trilogy initially failed to resonate with listeners and even musicians, the works were far ahead of their time. Hosono continued to push his chunky music into uncharted territory in search of new, captivating sounds, merging it with then burgeoning disco and synthesizer-driven electronic music. His vision resonated with fellow established musicians Sakamoto Ryūichi and Takahashi Yukihiro, who came together to form Yellow Magic Orchestra, or YMO (1978–83), a band that revolutionized electronic music in Japan and overseas. From left, Hosono, Sakamoto, and Takahashi of YMO. (© Redferns/Getty Images/Kyōdō) Stepping on the Global Stage YMO was heavily influenced by the German band Kraftwerk, who are widely considered pioneers of electronic pop music. Kraftwerk expressed its Germanness through its electronic sound, inspiring YMO to likewise explore its Asian identity. The fruits of this search manifest in the song 'Technopolis,' the opening track on YMO's second album Solid State Survivor . Starting the song with the vocoded chant 'Tokio,' YMO proudly declared itself a band representing the technopop sound of Tokyo. The cover of YMO's 1979 Solid State Survivor . (© Alfa Music, Inc./Sony Music Labels Inc.) YMO became a global pop culture phenomenon. It dominated the music charts in Japan and grabbed the attention of music listeners overseas, particularly in the United States and Europe, with the band embarking on two world tours. Hosono and his bandmates shaped the direction of Japanese pop music, both as performers and with their songwriting skills. Hosono penned hits for some of Japan's biggest pop stars, such as idol Matsuda Seiko's hugely popular 1983 'Tengoku no Kiss.' Fame came at a cost, though, with the constant attention and demands of the industry taking a heavy physical and mental toll on Hosono. After YMO, Hosono stepped away from synthpop and threw himself into the mellow, contemplative sounds of ambient music. Also known as environmental music, the genre pioneered by Brian Eno had a psychological, healing effect on Hosono, buffering him against the clamor of the pop music industry. Within the serene harmonies he also found a means to bring an ecological perspective to his creations, forever changing his relationship to music. In time, Hosono came to consider himself as a conduit rather than the source of musical creation. He declared that even his most imaginative works could only be considered within the broader context of musical history and traditions, an idea that formed the core of his musical approach going forward. A Return to American Pop Since the mid-2000s, Hosono has returned to his roots, playing American pop, country, boogie-woogie, and other mid-twentieth-century styles of music he fell in love with as a young man. On stage and in the studio, he has brought together up-and-coming artists—some young enough to be his own children—to play live events and for albums like his 2011 solo release HoSoNoVa and the 2013 Heavenly Music , relishing the opportunity to pass on the music that had inspired him in his own youth. Hosono also continued to work with his YMO bandmates. He played with Takahashi as the electronica duo Sketch Show, and Sakamoto later joined the pair to re-form YMO, working on various recording projects and performing in Japan and overseas. In general, though, Hosono has shifted away from electronic music, leaning more toward the subdued sound provided by acoustic instruments. Even after YMO got back together, the group played a quieter, more refined version of their trademark electronic style. Ongoing Musical Journey Hosono at the Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2019. (© Jiji) Hosono has remained a pioneer throughout his career, trailblazing new genres of music as he explored the strange, surprising, and unfamiliar sounds that captivated his creative impulses. Passing from one musical journey to the next, he has come to see himself as one more dot along the spectrum of musical history. He has added his own unique touch to this continuum while devoting himself to carrying on musical traditions. In the few years since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hosono has returned to the stage with a band made up of young performers including his grandson Hosono Yūta on bass. He is currently working on a new album of original works, his first since releasing Hochono House in 2019. Recording and mentoring the next generation of musicians marks a new chapter in his ongoing musical legacy, which in its fifty-sixth year has brought him a new kind of joy. (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: From left, YMO members Sakamoto, Hosono, and Takahashi at a performance in Spain in June 2008. © Reuters.)
Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
TCL CSOT Strengthens Innovation Team with Appointment of IGZO Pioneer Professor Hideo Hosono
SHENZHEN, China, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL CSOT, a global leader in advanced display technologies, has signed an agreement with Professor Hideo Hosono, a world-renowned materials scientist from the Institute of Science Tokyo and Founding Director of the MDX Research Center for Element Strategy (MDXES), appointing him as its Distinguished Technical Consultant. This appointment marks a major step forward in TCL CSOT's efforts to accelerate innovation in high-mobility oxide technologies for next-generation display applications including LCD and OLED. At the ceremony, Zhao Jun, SVP of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT, welcomed Professor Hosono's involvement, stating, "In the face of intensifying global competition in the display industry, technological innovation is the cornerstone of sustainable growth. This partnership will inject fresh momentum into our R&D efforts. By leveraging Professor Hosono's pioneering research in oxide semiconductors - an area highly aligned with TCL CSOT's strategic focus - we aim to accelerate progress in material optimization and device architecture. These efforts will further support the evolution of our display technologies and reinforce our leadership in the industry. We look forward to working closely with Professor Hosono to enhance our capabilities and drive sustained innovation at TCL CSOT." Dr. Yan Xiaolin, CTO of TCL Technology and TCL CSOT, highlighted the technical value of the partnership, "Professor Hosono's deep expertise in oxide semiconductors is exactly what we need to address key challenges in display technology. While we have been committed to advance oxide technology and have conducted R&D across a range of oxide materials, significant barriers remain in achieving both high-mobility and high-stability. This partnership will enable us to deepen foundational research and explore new material systems, paving the way for breakthroughs in high-mobility oxide technology." Professor Hosono shared insights into high-mobility oxide materials, including crystal structures, electron transport mechanisms, and strategies for performance optimization for various applications. He stated, "While high-mobility oxide materials have shown great promise in the lab, key challenges remain in transitioning to mass production, particularly in material and device fabrication. I look forward to working with TCL CSOT's skilled R&D team to push the boundaries of next-generation display materials and help to bridge the gap between research and real-world application." This partnership marks a key milestone in TCL CSOT's efforts to strengthen its innovation ecosystem. By collaborating with world-class experts, the company is further integrating global resources, accelerating progress in high-mobility oxide technology, and driving breakthroughs in key areas such as display materials and device processes. TCL CSOT will continue to introduce more high-end display products, consolidating its leadership in the global semiconductor display industry and contributing to the industry's high-quality development. About TCL CSOT Established in 2009, TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. (TCL CSOT) is a leading global innovator in display technologies. Its LCD, OLED, and MLED solutions power applications across TVs, smartphones, tablets, laptops, monitors, automotive systems, VR/XR, and commercial displays. With a clear strategic direction set by its advanced display technology brand APEX, TCL CSOT invests continuously and strategically in R&D, driven by a mission to amaze, protect and inspire all people through endlessly innovative display technology. As part of TCL's Worldwide Olympic Partnership, TCL CSOT is proud to deliver display solutions that elevate experiences on the global stage.
