Dragon Ash
Dragon Ash in 2005
Background information
Origin	Tokyo Japan
Genre(s)	Alternative, reggae, J-Rock, Hip Hop, Drum and Bass
Years active	1997–present
Label(s)	Victor Entertainment
Website	http://dragonash.co.jp/
Former members
Kenji Furuya (Vocals, guitar) Ikuzo Baba (bass) Makoto Sakurai (drums) BOTS (DJ) Hiroki (guitar) ATSUSHI & DRI-V (dancer)

Dragon Ash (Katakana: ドラゴンアッシュ) is a Japanese rock group led by rap mogul Kenji Furuya. They are an icon in Japan and were one of the first groups to popularize hip hop in Japan. They brought a western flavor to Japanese music and helped to turn rap music mainstream, with a mixture of reggae, rap, rap-rock, punk, Spanish, and R&B influences. Some of their best known songs include Grateful Days, Life Goes On and I Love Hip Hop. The group uses various samples, most notably from the famous American alternative group, The Smashing Pumpkins: these songs include Cherub Rock in which they sample the bass line from The Smashing Pumpkins song by the same name, and Grateful Days in which they sample the opening of Today by The Smashing Pumpkins; they also named one of their songs "Siva", after the Pumpkins song. Image File history File links Dragon_Ash. ... Tokyo , literally Eastern capital)   is the capital and one of the forty-seven prefectures of Japan. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music[1] or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Japanese rock is the Japanese form of rock and roll music, often abbreviated to J-Rock or jrock, as J-Pop and jpop are used as an abbreviation of Japanese Pop. ... Hip hop music, also referred to as rap or rap music, is a style of popular music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Drum and bass (commonly abbreviated to DnB, drum n bass and drum & bass) is a type of electronic dance music also known as jungle. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Victor Company of Japan, or Japan Victor Company, JVC, is a large international corporation with its headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, which produces audio, video, and consumer electronics products. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles, however saxophones have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since the 90s. ... Hip hop music, also referred to as rap or rap music, is a style of popular music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Αω ... Rap rock is a hybrid of rap and rock music. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Rhythm and blues (aka R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ... Grateful Days is the fourth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1999. ... Life Goes On is the ninth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2002. ... I Love Hip Hop is the fifth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1999. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music[1] or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... The Smashing Pumpkins[1] are a popular American alternative rock band which formed in Chicago in 1988. ... Cherub Rock is a song by The Smashing Pumpkins (at the time known as simply Smashing Pumpkins). ... Grateful Days is the fourth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1999. ... Today is a popular song by The Smashing Pumpkins (then known as simply Smashing Pumpkins). ... Siva (pronounced Shee-vah) is a song by The Smashing Pumpkins (at the time, known as simply Smashing Pumpkins) that was the third single from their debut album Gish. ...

The fleur-de-lis, Dragon Ash's official logo

Dragon Ash has gained some popularity outside Japan when the song Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan Wo was used as the ending theme for the popular Japanese movie, Battle Royale. Image File history File links Dragon_ash_logo. ... Image File history File links Dragon_ash_logo. ... Fleurs-de-lys on the flag of Quebec The fleur-de-lis (also spelled fleur-de-lys; plural fleurs-de-lis or -lys) is used in heraldry, where it is particularly associated with the France monarchy (see King of France). ... Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan Wo (official title: 静かな日々の階段を) is the sixth LP recording by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Battle Royale (Katakana: バトル・ロワイアル or Batoru rowaiaru) is a controversial Japanese film directed by longtime Japanese director Kinji Fukasaku and adapted from the novel by Koushun Takami. ...

Kenji Furuya has also worked on several side projects in recent years, including being the frontman of Steady & Co., a Japanese hip hop and music production group consisting of himself, BOTS, ILMARI of Rip Slyme, and SHIGEO of SBK (Skebo King). In addition to Steady & Co., Furuya has also collaborated with other Japanese hip hop artists on the Mob Squad album and subsequent label. In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the performers, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes . ... Rip Slyme is a Japanese hip hop group. ... Mob Squad is a split album between Japanese groups Dragon Ash, Source, and Mach25; released in 2003. ...

Kenji has stated in several interviews that the reason Dragon Ash started out as a pseudo-punk band was because, at the time, punk was popular in Japan, and his handlers felt that the hip hop image wouldn't sell. He has also noted that hip hop has always been first in his book, but he did what was necessary to become successful in the industry.

Promotional shot for Few Lights Till Night

Image File history File links Dragon_ash_2006. ... Image File history File links Dragon_ash_2006. ... Few Lights Till Night is the sixteenth maxi single and most recent release by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2006. ...

Mob Squad

Dragon Ash is a member of Mob Squad, which is an affiliation with the bands Source and Endive.

Members

• Kenji Furuya (Kj) (vocals, guitar)
• Ikuzo Baba (IKÜZÖNE) (bass)
• Makoto Sakurai (drums)
• BOTS (DJ, samples, joined in 1999)
• Hiroki (electric guitar, joined in 2003)
• ATSUSHI (dance, joined in 2003)
• DRI-V (dance, joined in 2003)

Discography

Albums

• 1997: Mustang!
• 1998: Buzz Songs
• 1999: Viva La Revolution
• 2001: Lily Of Da Valley
• 2003: Harvest
• 2004: Harvest Remixes
• 2005: Río de Emoción
• 2006: Few Light Till Night

Mustang! is the first full-length album by the Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1997. ... Buzz Songs is the second full-length album by the Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1998. ... Viva La Revolution is the third full-length album by the Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1999. ... Lily Of Da Valley is the fourth full-length album by the Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2001. ... Harvest is the fifth full-length album by the Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2003. ... Harvest Remixes is a remix album by the Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2004. ... Río de Emoción is the sixth and most recent full-length album by the Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2005. ...

Mini Albums

• 1997: The Day Dragged On
• 1997: Public Garden

The Day Dragged On is the first commercial release and first mini-album by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1997. ... Public Garden is the second mini-album by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1997. ...

Singles/Maxi Singles

• 1997: Rainy Day And Day
• 1998: Hi Wa Mata Noborikuri Kaesu
• 1998: Under Age's Song
• 1999: Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go
• 1999: Grateful Days
• 1999: I Love Hip Hop
• 2000: Deep Impact
• 2000: Summer Tribe
• 2000: Lily's E.P.
• 2002: Life Goes On
• 2002: Fantasista
• 2003: Morrow
• 2004: Shade
• 2005: Crush The Window
• 2005: Yuunagi Union
• 2006: Ivory
• 2006: Few Lights Till Night
• 2006: Yume De Houetara

Rainy Day And Day is the first and only true single released by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1997. ... Hi Wa Mata Noborikuri Kaesu (official title: 陽はまたのぼりくりかえす) is the first maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1998. ... Under Ages Song is the second maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1998. ... Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go is the third maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1999. ... Grateful Days is the fourth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1999. ... I Love Hip Hop is the fifth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1999. ... Deep Impact is the sixth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Summer Tribe is the seventh maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Lilys E.P. is the eighth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Life Goes On is the ninth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2002. ... Fantasista is the tenth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2002. ... Morrow is the eleventh maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2003. ... Shade is the twelfth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2004. ... Crush The Window is the thirteenth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2005. ... Yuunagi Union (official title: 夕凪Union) is the fourteenth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2005. ... Ivory is the fifteenth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2006. ... Few Lights Till Night is the sixteenth maxi single and most recent release by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2006. ...

LPs

• 1998: Free Your Mind #33
• 2000: Deep Impact
• 2000: Summer Tribe
• 2000: Episode 2
• 2000: Amploud
• 2000: Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan Wo
• 2004: Harvest Remixes

Free Your Mind #33 is the first LP recording by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 1998. ... Deep Impact is the sixth maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Summer Tribe is the seventh maxi single by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Episode 2 is the fourth LP recording by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Amploud is the fifth LP recording by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan Wo (official title: 静かな日々の階段を) is the sixth LP recording by Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2000. ... Harvest Remixes is a remix album by the Japanese group Dragon Ash; released in 2004. ...

Split Albums

• 2003: Mob Squad

Mob Squad is a split album between Japanese groups Dragon Ash, Source, and Mach25; released in 2003. ...

VHS

• 1998: Buzz Clips
• 2001: Lily Da Video
• 2003: Posse In Video

DVD

• 2001: Buzz Clips
• 2001: Lily Da Video
• 2003: Posse In Video
• 2005: Video de Emoción

External links

• Dragon Ash Official Website
• Mob Squad
• AOG Market