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Luna Sea
From left to right: J, Shinya, Ryuichi, Inoran, Sugizo.
Background information
Origin	Kanagawa, Japan
Genre(s)	Rock, Hard Rock, Metal
Years active	1989–2000, 2007
Label(s)	Extasy, Sweet Child, Universal
Website	www.lunasea.co.jp
Former members
Ryuichi Sugizo Inoran J Shinya

Luna Sea is a Japanese rock band. It was formed in 1989 by Ryuichi Kawamura, Yasuhiro "Sugizo" Sugihara, Shinobu "Inoran" Inoue, Jun "J" Onose and Shinya Yamada, a lineup that remained consistent until the band's breakup in 2000. They released seven studio albums and several singles and VHS/DVD releases throughout the 90s. Luna Sea recently announced that they will reunite for a concert in December 2007.^[1]

Discovered by the late Hideto Matsumoto (then lead guitarist of X Japan), Luna Sea were signed by X Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi to his independent label Extasy Records, on which they released their self-titled debut album in 1991.^[2] Originally a visual kei band, they held the "Luna Sea First Year Anniversary One Man - Kurofuku Restricted" concert, which earned them the label "Kurofuku Kei" which was later applied to other bands.^[3][4] Kurofuku (黒服) means black suit or mourning clothing.^[5]

By 1995 the group's popularity had reached the point at which it would headline the Tokyo Dome, Japan's largest indoor live venue. Five years later, the stadium would also host the band's farewell concerts. Having already been on a year-long hiatus between releases of the albums Shine and Lunacy, Luna Sea decided to disband after two more performances on December 26 and 27, 2000.

Since then, the members have either pursued solo careers (like Ryuichi and J), new bands (like Inoran with Fake?) or collaborations with other musicians (such as the short-lived The Flare by Sugizo and Lazy Knack vocalist Yuna). Shinya mostly retired from the music industry after marrying Aya Ishiguro of the pop girl group Morning Musume. More recently, Inoran has left Fake? and reunited with Ryuichi to form Tourbillon in 2005, while Sugizo has joined the supergroup Skin in 2007, which also features pop/rock artists Gackt and Miyavi, as well as Yoshiki.^[6]

On August 27, 2007 Luna Sea announced on its official website that the group will reunite for concert at the Tokyo Dome on December 24, 2007, titled "God Bless You ~One Night Dejavu~".^[1]

As with numerous other Japanese bands, the members of Luna Sea were usually credited with their given or stage name.

• Ryuichi Kawamura (河村隆一, Kawamura Ryuichi^?) – Vocals
• Yasuhiro "Sugizo" Sugihara (杉原悠 Sugihara Yuu) – Lead guitar and violin
• Shinobu "Inoran" Inoue (井上清信 Inoue Shinobu) – Rhythm guitar
• Jun "J" Onose (小野瀬潤 Onose Jun) – Bass
• Shinya Yamada (山田真矢 Yamada Shinya) – Drums

Albums

• Luna Sea (April 21, 1991)
• Image (May 21, 1992)
• Eden (April 21, 1993)
• Mother (October 26, 1994)
• Style (April 22, 1996)
• Shine (July 23, 1998)
• Lunacy (July 12, 2000)

Singles

• "Believe" (February 24, 1993)
• "In My Dream (With Shiver)" (July 21, 1993)
• "Rosier" (July 21, 1994)
• "True Blue" (September 21, 1994)
• "Mother" (February 22, 1995)
• "Desire" (November 13, 1995)
• "End of Sorrow" (March 25, 1996)
• "In Silence" (July 15, 1996)
• "Storm" (April 15, 1998)
• "Shine" (June 3, 1998)
• "I For You" (July 1, 1998)
• "Gravity" (March 29, 2000)
• "Tonight" (May 17, 2000)
• "Love Song" (November 8, 2000)

Compilations

• Singles (December 17, 1997)
• Never Sold Out (May 29, 1999)
• Period ~The Best Selection~ (December 23, 2000)
• Guitar Solo Instruments 1 & 2 (December 19, 2001)
• Piano Solo Instruments 1 - 4 (December 19, 2001)
• Another Side of "Singles II" (March 6, 2002)
• Slow (March 23, 2005)

• Official website (Japanese)

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