is a Japanese singer-songwriter. He debuted on a major label in 2010, with his singles "Subarashiki Nichijō" and "Honto no Kimochi".
Biography Takahashi grew up in Yokote, Akita, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. He started to learn the electric guitar in his final year of middle school, and in high school became the vocalist of a hardcore copy band for two years, performing such songs as Hide with Spread Beaver's "Pink Spider". During high school, he bought a cheap acoustic guitar, and began writing songs. His band broke up as the members went their separate ways, and Takahashi moved to Sapporo to attend a university. He performed in a band in Sapporo as well, however, due to the band dissolution (one member's love life took priority) Takahashi decided to become a solo musician.
In February 2002, Takahashi released his debut album, the self-produced Sepia, of which only 200 copies were produced. Over the next five years, Takahashi performed concerts and released albums based in Sapporo, such as in January 2004, when he performed street lives five times per week. In May 2007, he released his second album, Mugon no Bōryoku, limited to 500 copies. The album was relatively popular in Sapporo, charting at number 1 for three weeks at the Sapporo Stellar Place HMV's in-store independent releases charts. This lead him to hold his first solo concert, to 200 people at the Sapporo Colony. In September 2007, Takahashi began performing monthly live concerts titled , in which he would rent a CD shop and only allow 30 people to come inside for the concert.
Takahashi moved to Tokyo in January 2008, to further his music career there. He performed many different concerts, and released a third self-released album, Agura, which was sold only at concert venues. He was scouted by Amuse, an artist management firm especially known for their management of musicians, and came to the notice of Michihiko Yanai, creator of Tower Records' No Music, No Life and Kaze to Rock campaigns. This led to Takahashi releasing his first independent single, the Tower Records exclusive "Kodomo no Uta" in May 2009, followed by his first wide-release album in July, the extended play Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll, which was produced by Yanai. The extended play reached number 262 on Oricon's national album charts.
A year later, Takahashi made his major label debut under Warner, with the single "Subarashiki Nichijō". The song received heavy radio play, causing it to reach number 5 on Billboard'''s Japan Hot 100 chart, despite only reaching number 57 on Oricon's physical single sales chart. His second single, "Honto no Kimochi", was used as the theme song for the Takeru Satoh and Atsuko Maeda (AKB48) starring drama Q10, giving Takahashi his first top 30 single and his first performance on music show Music Station''.
Since the summer of 2016, he has hosted AKITA CARAVAN MUSIC FES every year in his hometown Akita Prefecture.
He announced to leave Amuse Inc. on June 30, 2020. Then he set up a personal office with his manager.
Discography
Studio albums
+ List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN)JPN Sepia200 copies produced Released: February 2002 Label: Self-released Formats: CD — — 500 copies produced Released: May 16, 2007 Label: Takotako Label Formats: CD — — Sold only at concerts Released: 2008 Label: Amuse Formats: CD — — Released: April 20, 2011 Label: Warner Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download 8 34,000 Released: March 14, 2012 Label: Warner Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download 9 22,000 Break My Silence Released: July 10, 2013 Label: Warner Formats: CD, 2CD, digital download 9 20,000 Released: August 6, 2014 Label: Warner Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download 6 21,000
Compilation albums
+ List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN)JPN Released: July 22, 2015 Label: Warner Formats: CD, digital download 3 55,000 Released: December 10, 2025 Label: Warner Formats: 3×CD, digital download 4 12,203
Extended plays
+ List of extended plays, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN)JPN Released: July 8, 2009 Label: Amuse Formats: CD, digital download 242 1,700 Released: December 26, 2012 Label: Warner Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download 13 13,000
Singles As a lead artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications AlbumOricon Singles ChartsBillboard Japan Hot 100 2009 — — — Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll 2010 57 5 5,000Real Time Singer Songwriter 24 10 9,000RIAJ (download): Gold 2011 15 4 14,000RIAJ (download): Gold — 20 9 8,000Kono Koe 14 17 8,000 2012 9 3 12,000 18 9 12,000Break My Silence "(Where's) The Silent Majority?" 2013 12 8 8,000 15 6 9,000 2014 12 13 8,000Ima, Soko ni Aru Meimetsu to Gunjō 86 12 5 16,000RIAJ (download): Gold 2015 12 15 11,000 RIAJ: Gold
As a featured artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumJPN Hot 100 "Feel"(among Unborde All Stars) 2016 53 Feel + Unborde Greatest Hits
Promotional singles Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumBillboard Japan Hot 100 2011 59Real Time Singer Songwriter 2012 70Kono Koe 2013 39Bokura no Heisei Rock 'n' Roll 2 46 "Candy" —Break My Silence 2014 53Ima, Soko ni Aru Meimetsu to Gunjō —
Video albums + List of media, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPN Released: December 6, 2012 Label: Warner Formats: DVD 21 Released: September 25, 2013 Label: Warner Formats: DVD 28 Released: May 28, 2014 Label: Warner Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 7
Notes
References
External links Official site Warner label site
Rin to...inc.