is a Japanese rock band, formed in Yokohama in March 2004. The classic lineup featured vocalist and rhythm guitarist Takuro Sugawara, guitarist and backing vocalist Yoshimitsu Taki, bassist Kazuhiko Nakamura, and drummer Chihiro Kamijo, who came up with the band's name. Piano pieces included in some songs are performed by Taki, while the characteristic shouts are provided by Nakamura. After 21 years, Kamijo left the band at the end of 2025.
History
2005–2009: Early releases and major label debut The band signed to under_bar, a sub-label of Reverb Records, and released two early mini-albums, Gjallarhorn in 2005 and Phantomime in 2006, and played live shows in Yokohama and Tokyo.
2007 saw the band signed to EMI Music Japan and the releases of The World e.p. which featured newly recorded version of songs from Gjallarhorn and two new tracks, and the Discommunication e.p., which features the song "Discommunication" and a 35-minute live recording. At the end of 2007 they released their first full album, Termination, after which they began their first solo tour.
In the summer of 2008 the band released the double A-side single "Supernova/Wanderland", which also included piano instrumentals of both songs and a third song called "Wildpitch". 9mm Parabellum Bullet were invited to play at Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Nano-Mugen Festival that year at the Yokohama Arena, a festival notable for featuring up-and-coming acts alongside more well known and foreign acts. They covered "Motorbreath" for the October 2008 Metallica tribute album Metal-ikka.
In October the band released their second full album Vampire and proceeded onto the Vampire Empire Tour 08/09. In April 2009, the band released their first live DVD, Act I, which contains 4 concerts from different points in their career.
2009–2011: Revolutionary and Movement In late spring of 2009, the band released the mini-album Black Market Blues e.p., which also included a recording of their free live performance at Yoyogi Park as a B-side. 2009 also saw 9mm Parabellum Bullet's first nomination at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan for "Best Rock Video", where they were nominated for the video of their song "Living Dying Message". They also performed this song live at the show.
9mm Parabellum Bullet appeared at numerous rock festivals across Japan notably including Rock in Japan Festival, Rising Sun Rock Festival and Space Shower's Sweet Love Shower. On September 9, 2009, 9mm Parabellum Bullet had their first show at the Nippon Budokan titled 999. This performance would appear on the Cold Edge e.p., released on September 30.
9mm Parabellum Bullet were invited to play at Countdown Japan 09/10. In early-January they released the single "Inochi no Zenmai", which was used as the theme for the live-action adaptation of the Higanjima manga. The single includes a cover of Linda Yamamoto's 1972 song "Dou ni mo Tomaranai". It was announced that April 21, 2010, would be the date of 9mm Parabellum Bullet's third full album release, titled Revolutionary. It was followed by a tour across Japan. In late March, a music video was shot for the last track of the new album, called "The Revolutionary".
On May 18, 2011, the single "Atarashii Hikari" was released. The band's fourth album Movement was released on June 15. They also performed at Yokohama Arena on June 26.
2012–present: Dawning and Waltz on Life Line 9mm Parabellum Bullet covered "Territorial Pissings" for the album Nevermind Tribute, which was released on April 4, 2012 and is composed of various Japanese bands covering the entirety of Nirvana's highly acclaimed album Nevermind. Their first acoustic performance for MTV Unplugged was held at Billboard Live Tokyo with a limited capacity of 150 fans and released on home video on May 27. Their fourth single "Heart ni Hi wo Tsukete" followed on October 24, 2012.
On April 1, 2013, EMI Music Japan was completely merged into Universal Music Japan as a sublabel by the name EMI Records Japan as a result of Universal Music's purchase of EMI in September 2012. All the artists from EMI Music Japan will continue releasing material at Universal Music Japan while still maintaining the catalogue code (TOCT). Their fifth single "Answer and Answer" was released on May 29. 9mm Parabellum Bullet released their fifth album Dawning on June 26, 2013.
They performed a cover of "Instant Music" for the February 2014 The Pillows tribute album, Rock and Sympathy.
The band took part in the first day of Luna Sea's Lunatic Fest at Makuhari Messe on June 27, 2015. Luna Sea bassist J joined them onstage for "Cold Edge". 9mm Parabellum Bullet released a quadruple A-side single, "Hangyaku no March/Dark Horse/Daremo Shiranai/Mad Pierrot", on September 9. They also contributed a cover to a November 2015 tribute album for The Telephones, We are Disco!!! ~Tribute to The Telephones~.
In January 2016, 9mm Parabellum Bullet announced they had switched to the independent record label Sazanga Records. The album Waltz on Life Line was released on April 27, 2016. The band provided the opening theme songs "Inferno" and "Sacrifice" for the Berserk anime adaptation.
On December 31, 2025, 9mm Parabellum Bullet announced that drummer Chihiro Kamijo was no longer a member of the band after 21 years. They had held numerous discussions together, before coming to the decision.
Band members Current – vocals, rhythm guitar (2004–present) – lead guitar, piano, drums, backing vocals (2004–present) – bass, screams (2004–present)
Former – drums (2004–2025)
Equipment
Sugawara Guitars - ESP ESP Snapper-S/AL (Black, Vintage White) Gibson Les Paul Special Edwards Jr. Custom Navigator N-LP-480CTM Navigator N-LP-480LTD ESP TYG (Takuro Sugawara Signature Model) ESP Bricoleur (Takuro Sugawara Signature Model) ESP Truckster (James Hetfield Signature Model) Amps - Marshall, Fender Fender Twin Reverb Marshall JCM2000 Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Amp Head Marshall 1960AV Marshall JCM800 2203 Marshall 1960X
Taki Guitars - ESP ESP Snapper-S/AS (Honey Blond, Burner) ESP Snapper-S/AS Matte Black (SUFFER Protomodel) ESP Potbelly-STD (Amber Cherry Sunburst) ESP Suffer (Yoshimitsu Taki Signature Model) ESP Suffer Proto Type ESP Max Cavalera AX (Max Cavalera Signature Model) Edwards Karmaster Amps - Mesa/Boogie Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier Mesa/Boogie F-100 Yamaha F50-112
Nakamura Guitars - ESP ESP AP 220 (Black) ESP AP Custom Mat Black (Untitled Protomodel) ESP Untitled (Kazuhiko Nakamura Signature Model) ESP PB Type Custom ESP Amaze-CTM (See Thru Black) ESP X-JB (Acrylic Body) Sepia Crue EAB-430 Acoustic Bass Landscape SWB-Artist Electric Upright Bass Amps - SWR SWR 750x
Kamijo Kamijo is a full endorser of Yamaha drums, Remo drumheads, and Zildjian cymbals and drumsticks. Kamijo was a former user of Ludwig drums (notably the Vistalite series) prior to his switch to Yamaha, and has his signature model of drumsticks on Zildjian's website.
Drums - Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute, Blue Ice Sparkle 8"x10" Tom 8"x12" Tom 13"x14" Floor Tom 15"x16" Floor Tom 22"x18" Bass Drum (x2) 6"x14" Snare Drum (as side snare) 6.5"x14" Copper Snare Cymbals - Zildjian 14" A Custom Hi-Hats 6" Zil-Bel Small 8" A Custom Splash 10" A Custom Splash 12" Z3 Splash 12" A Zildjian Special Recording Hi-hat Bottom 18" A Custom Projection Crash 19" Z3 Rock Crash 19" Z3 Thrash Ride 20" A Custom China 20" FX Oriental China "Trash" Drumheads - Remo Bass Drums - Powerstroke 3 Clear (batter) | Ebony Powerstroke 3 (reso) Toms - Emperor Clear (batter) | Ambassador Clear (reso) Snare - Controlled Sound Reverse Dot (main, batter) / Black Suede Emperor (side, batter) | Ambassador Snare Side (reso) Hardware – Yamaha, DW Yamaha FP9500 Direct Drive Single Pedal (x2) DW 9000 Pedal (x2) Drumsticks – Zildjian Zildjian 3A Wood Tip Zildjian Chihiro Kamijo Artist Series Drumsticks Guitar – Gibson Gibson Les Paul Standard (Blue)
Discography Studio albums Year Title Peak chart positions Ratings JPN2007 Termination Released: November 14, 200710 AllMusic 2008 Vampire Released: October 15, 20082 AllMusic 2010 Revolutionary Released: April 21, 20104 AllMusic 2011 Movement Released: June 15, 201162013 Dawning Released: June 26, 201310 AllMusic 2016 Waltz on Life Line Released: April 27, 2016122017Babel Released: May 10, 2017102019Deep Blue Released: September 9, 2019182022Tightrope Released: August 24, 2022192024You Need Freedom to Be You Released: October 23, 202430
Mini albums Year Title Oricon charts 2005 Gjallarhorn Released: December 8, 2005— 2006 Phantomime Released: September 9, 2006—2007 The World e.p. Released: May 16, 200722 Discommunication e.p. Released: October 10, 200792009 Black Market Blues e.p. Released: June 3, 20095 Cold Edge e.p. Released: September 30, 20095 2011 Released: September 7, 201111
Singles Year Title OriconSingles Chart BillboardJapan Hot 100Billboard. 9mm Parabellum Bullet - Chart History 2008 "Supernova/Wanderland" Released: May 21, 200812– 2010 Released: January 6, 201087 2011 Released: May 18, 2011949 2012 Released: October 24, 20129– 2013 "Answer and Answer" Released: May 29, 201310– 2014 Released: December 10, 20141753 2015 Released: September 9, 201519272016 Released: July 20, 201623552017 Released: June 6, 201725682019 Released: April 10, 2019202020 Released: September 9, 202019
Compilation albums Year Title Oricon charts 2014 Greatest Hits Released: July 9, 201412
Covers YearTitleOriginal artistReleased onNotes 2008 "Motorbreath" Metallica Metal-ikka A tribute album to Metallica in celebration of their new album Death Magnetic (released on October 22, 2008). 2009 "TV no Singer" The Yellow Monkey This is For You ~ The Yellow Monkey Tribute Album A tribute album to The Yellow Monkey (released on December 9, 2009). 2010 "Dou ni mo Tomaranai" Linda Yamamoto "Inochi no Zenmai" A cover included on a 9mm Parabellum Bullet single (released on January 6, 2010). 2012 "Territorial Pissings" Nirvana Nevermind Tribute A tribute album by Japanese artists to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's album Nevermind (released on April 4, 2012). 2014 "Instant Music" The Pillows Rock and Sympathy -Tribute to the Pillows- A second tribute album in honor of the 25th anniversary of The Pillows (released on February 26, 2014).2015 "Monkey Discooooooo" The Telephones We are Disco!!! ~Tribute to The Telephones~ A tribute album to The Telephones who went on indefinite hiatus. (released on November 4, 2015) "Robinson" Spitz Just Like Honey ~Spitz 20th Anniversary Tribute~ A tribute album to Spitz (released on December 23, 2015) 2017 "Melodic Storm" Straightener Pause ~Straightener Tribute Album~ A tribute album to Straightener (released on October 18, 2017) 2019 "Tettōtetsubi Yonayona Drive" Unison Square Garden Thank You, Rock Bands! ~Unison Square Garden 15th Anniversary Tribute Album~ A tribute album to Unison Square Garden (released on July 24, 2019)
Demos Year Title 2004 Talking Machine
Home videos Year Title Oricon DVD chart Oricon Blu-ray chart 2009 Act I Released: April 1, 200912–2010 Act II Released: September 9, 2010–– Act III Released: September 9, 2010–– Act II+III Released: September 9, 20102–2012 Act IV Released: April 18, 20121014 MTV Unplugged Released: August 29, 20123–2014 Act O Released: May 7, 2014–– Act E Released: May 7, 2014–– Act O+E Released: May 7, 20141382019 Act VII Released: June 26, 20194638
Awards and nominations MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2008 "Discommunication" Best Rock Video 2009 "Living Dying Message" Best Rock Video 2010 "Inochi no Zenmai" Best Rock Video
See also Japanese rock
References
External links Official website Official blog