, also known as OBKR, is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and producer. Along with Yaffle, he is a co-founding member Tokyo Recordings. He is responsible for producing songs for acts like Wednesday Campanella, Kou Shibasaki, and other famous acts. His music combines musical elements of the R&B, PBR&B, Electronic and experimental tones genres. In 2018, it was revealed that he would make his solo debut as a singer and songwriter under Sony Music's Epic Records label. The album is co-produced by famed Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada.
Life and career
Obukuro's musical career started in 2013, when he formed the duo N.O.R.K. with Ray Kunimoto while they were university students. In the next year, they released the EP ASDR, which consists of PBR&B and experimental electronica sounds. After the duo parted ways, Obukuro decided to launch his own indie label, Tokyo Recordings.
In September 2016, Obukuro gained fame when J-pop singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada released her sixth Japanese album, Fantôme. His vocals are featured in track 6, Tomodachi, an R&B song. He performed with Utada in NHK the song, making it his television debut.
In January 2018, Obukuro announced his major debut under Epic Records, with his debut single featuring Utada. The song, called "Lonely One", was released in streaming services on January 17th, 2018. His debut album, "Bunriha no Natsu", was released in April 2018. A music video for the song "Selfish" was released.
In 2019, Obukuro was featured alongside KEIJU, on the song "Summertime" by RIRI. In the same year, Obukuro was also featured on the song "Cold" by The fin.
On December 13th, 2019, Obukuro released a music video for a shorter version of the song "Gaie". On December 18th, Obukuro released his second studio album "Piercing" featuring artists Kenn Igbi, Tohji & 5lack.
Obukuro released his third studio album Strides on October 13th, 2021. On the same day, a music video for the song "Work" was released. Obukuro went on a tour in the following year supporting the album. A remix version of the album was released in November, 2022. On January 20th, 2023, Obukuro released a music video for the song "Butter"
In December 2024, Obukuro announced his fourth studio album Zatto and their first independent release, to be released on January 15th, 2025. This album features Rosetta Carr, who plays bass in Sampha’s support band, Ayo Sarawu, Kokoroko’s drummer, and the band, who visited Japan for the first time this November. Many musicians active in the London music scene are participating, including Lyle Barton, who is also a support pianist for Nala Sinephro. The mixing engineer was Russell Elevado, known as the Grammy-winning engineer who worked on D’Angelo’s Voodoo and Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun. It is said to be an ambitious work that combines multinational music such as jazz, reggae, dub, and Latin with the beauty of the Japanese language. Pre-orders were made available for the limited edition CD case, which will be released on February 26th.
In support of the new album Zatto, Obukuro announced a live tour for the first time in almost 3 years. Starting at Misono Universe in Osaka, the tour will tour five cities: Nagoya, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, and Tokyo.
Discography Albums Studio albums
+ List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions SalesJPNOriconJPNBillboard Released: April 25, 2018 Label: Epic Records Formats: CD, digital download, Streaming 38 22JPN: 3,300 Piercing Released: December 18, 2019 Label: Epic Records Formats: Streaming, digital download, Vinyl - - Strides Released: October 13, 2021 Label: Epic Records Formats: Streaming, digital download, Vinyl - - Zatto Released: January 15, 2025 Label: Independent Formats: CD, Streaming, digital download, Vinyl - -
Singles As lead artist + List of singles Title Year Album "Lonely One"(featuring Hikaru Utada) 2018Bunriha no Natsu
Promotional singles + List of promotional singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumJPNHot100 "Selfish"2018 69Bunriha no Natsu "Summer Reminds Me" —
Music videos + List of music videos, showing year released and directors Title Year Director(s) "Selfish" 2018 Yusuke Ishida
Other appearances Title Year Other artist(s) Album "ADD" 2014 XANAX, JyodanEP1 "Confessions" 2015 Flammable, VITOCosmic Coma "Doubt" 2016 80KIDZ5 "Vodka, Lime & Cranberry" YOSAORION "" Tamaki Roy, Taquwami "" Hikaru UtadaFantôme "24"2017 Mother TerecoORACLE ""2018 Giorgio Givvn Go Outdoor Living: The Moment in the Outdoor Living ""(Cover of Ringo Sheena) Hikaru Utada Summertime2019 RIRI, KEIJU Summertime
Writing and producing credits Year Artist Title Album 2013 N.O.R.K. "The Fall" ADSR"Yell Out" "Offense" "Umbrella" "White Space" 2014 Megumi Wata "Wakannai" Sainan Dawa "Sainan Dawa" "Tokyo no Sora wa Kumori" "Tokai" "Gohan" "Mother" "Wakatta" "Tanomuzo Kakumeika, Watashi wa Oyogu" "Monkey George" "Yamanotesen" 2015 Wednesday Campanella "Napoleon" Triathlon Capeson "Leave You Alone" Portrait 1Hiraeth "Latent" "Walk Away" "Back in the Day" Megumi Wata "Koi ga Aimai" Sainan Dawa (Repackaged) 2016 Keishi Tanaka "Hello, New Kicks" What's A Trunk? Megumi Wata "Blind Man wa Shitteiru" Blind Man "Kono Machi no Yoru wa Akarui Hoshi Dake ga Kirari" "Blind Man" "Kesshin" "Run! Run! Run!" "Tsuioku" "Invisible Man" "Fluff" Sainann Dawa (Repackaged) Kuuchuu Metro "Δ" Δ/Boku no Uta "Boku no Uta" Capeson "Believe My Eyes" Hiraeth Ko Shibasaki "Soshite Boku wa Toho ni Kureru" Zoku Ko Utau "Tasogare no Begin" Okamoto's "Rocky" Capeson "The Video, It's Not That Old" Hiraeth "A Tear into the River" "Bow And Arrow" "Sunshine "Track 4, Noisy But" "Steerman" "Cry Like a Bird" "The Ending" Awesome City Club "Cold & Dry" Awesome City Tracks 4BŌMI "Hello the World" A_B "A_B" "Kioku" "Super Girl" "Good Night!!" "Lonely Lonely" "Hatsukoi" "They Don't Know" "Hutatsu no Machi" "Sora wo Tadoreba" 2017 Seiko Omori "Pocky wo Tabenagara" rowspan="4" adieu "Narratage" "Hana wa Yureru" Thylacine "Yume" SIRUP "Synapse" SIRUP EP Yaffle "Backlight" (featuring Linnéa Lundgren) Go Outdoor Living: The Moment in the Outdoor Living Keiichi Sokabe "Kaze to Itawari" 2018 iri "Corner" Juice "Slowly Drive" Loza Reena "Tarareba Ryūseigun" Hikaru Utada "Phakchi no Uta" Hatsukoi "Too Proud" (featuring XZT, Suboi, EK (L1 Remix)) 2020 "Time" Bad Mode "Darenimo Iwanai" 2021 "Beautiful World - Da Capo Version" One Last Kiss "Find Love" Bad Mode
Tours Nariaki Obukuro Oneman Live Fall (2018)
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work ResultRef.2018Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2018Spotlight Award "Selfish"2019CD Shop Awards 2019Grand Prix Bunriha no Natsurowspan="2" Best Alternative ArtistSpace Shower Music Awards 2019Himself
References