Haruomi Hosono is a Japanese bassist, songwriter and producer whose work with Happy End, Tin Pan Alley and Yellow Magic Orchestra laid much of the groundwork on which city pop was built.[1]
Happy End and Tin Pan Alley
Born in Minato, Tokyo, in 1947, Hosono played bass in Apryl Fool before forming Happy End with Eiichi Ohtaki and Shigeru Suzuki.[1] In 1973 he and Suzuki formed Caramel Mama with Tatsuo Hayashi and Masataka Matsutoya; renamed Tin Pan Alley a year later, it became the house band of the new urban pop.[1]
Solo work and YMO
His “tropical trilogy” — Tropical Dandy (1975), Bon Voyage co. (1976) and Paraiso (1978) — explored exotica and island rhythms. In 1978 he founded and led Yellow Magic Orchestra, whose self-titled debut appeared that year.[1]
Producer
Hosono produced records for Miharu Koshi, Sandii & the Sunsetz, Sheena & the Rokkets and Seiko Matsuda, and in the 1990s founded the Daisyworld label.[1]
Discography
Main articles: Hosono House, Tropical Dandy, Paraiso
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Hosono House | Velvet |
| 1975 | Tropical Dandy | Crown |
| 1976 | Bon Voyage co. | Crown |
| 1978 | Paraiso | Alfa |
| 1978 | Cochin Moon | King |
| 1982 | Philharmony | Alfa |
| 1984 | S-F-X | Non Standard |
| 1989 | Omni Sight Seeing | Epic |
| 1993 | Medicine Compilation | Epic |
| 1995 | Naga | — |
| 2007 | Flying Saucer 1947 | Speedstar |
| 2011 | HoSoNoVa | Speedstar |
| 2013 | Heavenly Music | Speedstar |
| 2017 | Vu Ja De | Speedstar |
| 2019 | Hochono House | Speedstar |
References
- “Haruomi Hosono”. Wikipedia. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
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