, sometimes abbreviated as , is a Japanese rock band from Kita, Tokyo, formed in 1981. It has consisted of vocalist and guitarist Hiroji Miyamoto, guitarist Toshiyuki Ishimori, bassist Seiji Takamidori and drummer Yoshiyuki Tominaga since 1986.
In 2007, Rolling Stone Japan ranked their album The Elephant Kashimashi II number 50 on a list of the greatest Japanese rock albums of all time.
History Elephant Kashimashi was formed in 1981 by Akabanedai Junior High School classmates Toshiyuki Ishimori and Yoshiyuki Tominaga on guitar and drums respectively. Vocalist and guitarist Hiroji Miyamoto joined in their third year of junior high, and they covered songs by bands such as Deep Purple, Rainbow and RC Succession. They participated in the amateur music competition EastWest put on by Nippon Gakki (Yamaha Corporation) playing original songs. In 1986, Tominaga's high school classmate Seiji Takamidori joined on bass completing the final line up that continues to this day. In December of that year they won the CBS Sony SD audition.
Elephant Kashimashi made their debut on March 21, 1988, with the simultaneous Epic/Sony Records release of the single "Dede" and their self-titled album. Miyamoto, the band's principal songwriter, stated that his biggest influences at the time were Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and T. Rex. Their second album, The Elephant Kashimashi II, followed in November of that same year. The band held a concert at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall in 1990 and it has become a tradition, with them having performed there every year since (except 2021). Following several albums with disappointing sales, their contract with Epic/Sony ended after their seventh album Tokyo no Sora in May 1994.
In 1996, Elephant Kashimashi signed with Pony Canyon and released the single "Kanashimi no Hate" in April and the album Kokoro ni Hana wo in August. The album sold well and gave them their first top 10 release on Oricon. Their 1997 album Asu ni Mukatte Hashire -Tsukiyo no Uta- was a big success with half a million copies sold, thanks to the single "Koyoi no Tsuki no Yoni" being used as the theme song of the TV drama Tsuki no Kagayaku Yoru Dakara.
After one more album with Pony Canyon, the band moved to Toshiba EMI in 1999. Reportedly, Elephant Kashimashi's sound at this time was influenced by American hard rock and industrial rock like Nine Inch Nails and Rage Against the Machine. In 2003, the tribute album Elephant Kashimashi Cover Album Hana Otoko was released featuring acts such as Straightener and Takkyu Ishino covering their songs.
In March 2006, Tominaga underwent surgery for a chronic subdural hematoma.
Elephant Kashimashi switched record labels to Universal Music in 2007, and released the single "Oretachi no Ashita" on November 21. The album Starting Over followed on January 30, 2008. "Kizuna", released as a single on March 18, 2009, became the band's first song to be used as the theme of a film when it was selected for Kanshiki Yonezawa Mamoru no Jikenbo. The album Noboreru Taiyō was released on April 29, and its tour ran from May 14 to June 3.
On September 1, 2012, Miyamoto had acute hearing loss in his left ear and underwent surgery. As a result live activities were suspended for a year until September 14, 2013, when they held a special concert. A second tribute album, Elephant Kashimashi Cover Album 2 ~A Tribute to The Elephant Kashimashi~, featuring bands such as Dragon Ash, The Back Horn, Brahman and 10-Feet was released in 2013.
At the 2018 Space Shower Music Awards, Elephant Kashimashi were given the Best Respect Artist award for their influence and achievements in music. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut, Elephant Kashimashi held their first nationwide tour that covered every prefecture in Japan. It finished with a special concert at Saitama Super Arena where they were supported by Mr. Children and Spitz. Their album Wake Up was released on June 6, 2018, and went on to become a winner at the 11th CD Shop Awards. On November 16, 2018, Akabane Station began playing Elephant Kashimashi songs as departure melodies in hopes to revitalize the area. Three of the band's four members are from Akabane.
2021 marked the first year in 31 years that Elephant Kashimashi did not perform at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall. The band is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2023. They released the single "Yes. I. Do" on March 8 and performed a nine-date arena tour in the spring. On June 9, they released Elephant Kashimashi Live Archive 2007–2017, a six CD and two Blu-ray set collecting live material previously only included on limited editions of their singles and albums.
Members – lead vocals, guitar, primary songwriter – guitar – bass guitar – drums
Discography
Studio albums Year Album details Oricon 1988 The Elephant Kashimashi Released: March 21, 1988 Label: Epic/Sony Records — The Elephant Kashimashi II Released: November 21, 1988 Label: Epic/Sony Records 71 1989 Released: August 21, 1989 Label: Epic/Sony Records 56 1990 Released: September 1, 1990 Label: Epic/Sony Records 43 1992 Released: April 8, 1992 Label: Epic/Sony Records 61 1993 Released: May 21, 1993 Label: Epic/Sony Records 68 1994 Released: May 21, 1994 Label: Epic/Sony Records 62 1996 Released: August 21, 1996 Label: Pony Canyon 10 1997 Released: September 10, 1997 Label: Pony Canyon 2 1998 Released: December 9, 1998 Label: Pony Canyon 11 2000 Good Morning Released: April 26, 2000 Label: Toshiba EMI 13 2002 Released: May 2, 2002 Label: Face Records 28 2003 Released: July 16, 2003 Label: Face Records 34 2004 Released: March 31, 2004 Label: Face Records 34 Released: September 29, 2004 Label: Face Records 45 2006 Released: March 29, 2006 Label: EMI Music Japan 43 2008 Starting Over Released: January 30, 2008 Label: Universal Music 7 2009 Released: April 29, 2009 Label: Universal Music Sigma 3 2010 Akuma no Sasayaki ~Soshite, Kokoro ni Hi o Tomosu Tabi~() Released: November 17, 2010 Label: Universal Music Sigma 8 2012 Masterpiece Released: May 30, 2012 Label: Universal Music Sigma 9 2015 Rainbow Released: November 18, 2015 Label: Universal Music Sigma 12 2018 Wake Up Released: June 6, 2018 Label: Universal Music 4
Mini-albums Year Album details Oricon 2002 Dead or Alive Released: December 26, 2002 Label: Barrier Free 86
Singles Year Title Oricon 1988 Released: March 21, 1988 — Released: July 21, 1988 — Released: November 2, 1988 — 1989 Released: August 2, 1989 — 1990 Released: July 21, 1990 93 1992 Released: March 25, 1992 — 1993 Released: April 21, 1993 — Released: October 1, 1993 — 1994 Released: April 21, 1994 — 1996 Released: April 19, 1996 60 Released: July 19, 1996 49 Released: November 1, 1996 30 1997 Released: February 19, 1997 34 Released: March 14, 1997 35 Released: July 30, 1997 8 Released: November 7, 1997 50 1998 Released: May 13, 1998 29 Released: September 18, 1998 20 Released: November 18, 1998 34 1999 Released: January 27, 1999 96 Released: April 28, 1999 49 Released: December 8, 1999 29 2000 "So Many People" Released: January 26, 2000 38 Released: April 26, 2000 55 2001 Released: March 16, 2001 44 Released: July 25, 2001 35 2002 Released: February 27, 2002 35 "Anata no Yasashisa wo Ore ha Nani ni Tatoeyou"() Released: April 17, 2002 39 2003 Released: June 27, 2003 74 Released: June 27, 2003 77 Released: June 27, 2003 76 2004 Released: March 10, 2004 71 Released: September 1, 2004 38 2007 Released: November 21, 2007 17 2008 Released: January 1, 2008 47 Released: March 5, 2008 12 Released: October 1, 2008 13 2009 Released: March 18, 2009 16 2010 Released: May 12, 2010 16 Released: September 22, 2010 17 Released: October 20, 2010 18 2011 Released: November 16, 2011 14 2012 Released: April 25, 2012 11 Released: October 31, 2012 18 2013 Released: November 20, 201313 2014 "Destiny" Released: June 11, 2014 13 2015 Released: September 23, 2015 9 2016 Released: August 3, 2016 16 2017 Released: July 26, 2017 12 Released: November 8, 2017 11 2023 "Yes. I. Do" Released: March 8, 2023 3
Limited singles Year Title 2006 Released: March 20, 2006 2018 "Easy Go" Released: May 25, 2018
Compilation albums Year Album details Oricon 1997 Released: December 1, 1997 Label: Epic/Sony Records 27 2000 Released: October 12, 2000 Label: Face Records/Toshiba EMI 6 2002 Released: March 27, 2002 Label: Face Records/Toshiba EMI 47 2009 Released: September 16, 2009 Label: Sony Music Direct 61 Released: September 16, 2009 Label: Pony Canyon 59 Released: September 16, 2009 Label: EMI Music Japan 63 2012 Released: December 19, 2012 Label: A&M Records 10 2017 All Time Best Album The Fighting Man Released: March 21, 2017 Label: Universal Sigma 3
Live albums Year Album details Oricon 2005 Released: July 20, 2005 Label: Face Music Entertainment — Released: July 20, 2005 Label: Face Music Entertainment — 2013 The Fighting Men's Chronicle -The Elephant Kashimashi Official Live Bootleg Box- Released: April 23, 2013 Label: Face Music Entertainment — Released: June 23, 2013 Label: Universal Music —
Tribute albums Year Album details Oricon 2003 Released: March 19, 2003 Label: Face Records 79 2013 Elephant Kashimashi Cover Album 2 ~A Tribute to The Elephant Kashimashi~() Released: December 18, 2013 Label: Universal Music 58 2018 Elephant Kashimashi Cover Album 3 ~A Tribute to The Elephant Kashimashi~() Released: March 21, 2018 Label: Universal Music 29
Video albums Year Title Oricon DVDs Oricon Blu-rays 1998 Released: April 1, 1998 72 (2009 re-release) — Released: April 1, 1998 — — 2001 Released: March 16, 2001 — — 2002 Life Tour 2002 Released: December 26, 2002 — — 2004 Released: March 10, 2004 96 — Released: September 29, 2004 — — 2009 Released: September 16, 2009 6 — 2010 Released: March 17, 2010 (DVD), March 21, 2018 (Blu-ray) 14 209 2011 Released: January 1, 2011 43 — Rock'n Roll Band Fes & Event Live History 1988–2011 Released: November 16, 2011 11 — 2013 Released: November 20, 2013 10 — Released: December 18, 2013 17 — 2014 Elephant Kashimashi Debut 25th Anniversary Special Live Saitama Super Arena() Released: March 19, 2014 (DVD), March 21, 2018 (Blu-ray) 10 186 2015 Released: September 23, 2015 15 15 2017 Released: July 26, 2017 44 29 Debut 30th Anniversary Concert "Sarani Dōn to Iku ze!" Ōsaka-jō Hall() Released: November 8, 2017 10 10 2018 Elephant Kashimashi 30th Anniversary Live Blu-ray Box Released: March 21, 2018 — — 30th Anniversary Tour "The Fighting Man" Final Saitama Super Arena Released: November 21, 2018 7 6 2019 Released: June 12, 2019 7 2 Released: June 12, 2019 7 6 2021 Released: March 17, 2021 3 5 2023 Released: June 12, 2023 — — 35th Anniversary Tour 2023 Yes. I. Do Released: September 20, 2023 4 5
Awards YearAwardCategoryRecipient or nomineeResult2018Space Shower Music AwardsBest Respect ArtistElephant Kashimashi 2019Best Group ArtistElephant KashimashiCD Shop AwardsWinning WorkWake Up
References
External links Official website Elephant Kashimashi at Universal Music Elephant Kashimashi at EMI Music Elephant Kashimashi at Sony Music