Masafumi Gotoh (後藤 正文, Gotō Masafumi) or Gotch (December 2, 1976) is the lead vocalist, main songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after.[1] As the main songwriter of the band, Gotoh is credited with writing a majority of their lyrics, but has a strong tendency to share songwriting duties equally among his bandmates. His vocal style most often alternates between soft, melodic singing, and harder, harsher, yelling.[2] Masafumi has a degree in economics and his favourite artists include Weezer, Number Girl, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and Beck.[3] He produces records for other artists such as Chatmonchy, Dr. Downer and The Chef Cooks Me.[4] He was also one of the founding members of the band Skeletons (スケルトンズ).[5]

Masafumi Gotoh
後藤正文
Masafumi Gotoh in 2017
Masafumi Gotoh in 2017
Background information
Also known asGotch
Born (1976-12-02) December 2, 1976 (age 48)
Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1996–present
Labels
WebsiteSony OID

In 2010, Gotoh launched his own music label, only in dreams.[6] In 2012, he started a solo project under the name Gotch, and released the single "'Lost".[7] In 2014, he released his debut solo album, Can't Be Forever Young and released live album called, Live in Tokyo.[8] In 2016, he released his second solo album, Good New Times, with most songs using English lyrics.[9] In 2024, he established a non profit organization "Apple Vinegar Music Support" and build a studio called "Music inn Fujieda" in Fujieda to support young and independent musicians.[10] In March 2024, Gotoh released drone/ambient music album Recent Report I under his original name.[11]

Discography

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Asian Kung-Fu Generation

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Solo

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Studio albums (as Gotch)

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon

[12]
JPN
Billboard
Can't Be Forever Young 14
Good New Times 25 47
Lives By The Sea 115

Studio albums (as Masafumi Gotoh)

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Details
Recent Report I
  • Released: 27 March 2024 [16]
  • Label: only in dreams
  • Formats: Cassette, download, streaming

Live albums

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List of live albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon

[12]
JPN
Billboard
Live in Tokyo 85

Extended plays

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List of extended plays
Title Details
Goto to Togo
(with Kiyomaru Togo)

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN
Oricon

[12]
"Lost" 2012 Can't Be Forever Young
"The Long Goodbye" 2013
"Wonderland" 2014 48
"Route 6"
"Taxi Driver" 2017 Lives By The Sea
"Nothing But Love" 2020
"Stay Inside"
(featuring Mabanua)
"The Age"
(featuring BASI, Dhira Bongs and Keishi Tanaka)
"Heaven"
(with GuruConnect)
2023 Non-album singles
"Stateless"
(featuring YonYon)
2024

Other

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  • New OrderWaiting for the Sirens' Call (2005) lyrics on "Krafty (Japanese Version)"
  • Dr. Downer – Rising (2011) music director
  • Special OthersSpecial Others (2011) collaboration on "Dance in Tsurumi"
  • FeederGeneration Freakshow Japanese edition (2012) vocals on "Idaho"
  • Chatmonchy – "Kirakira Hikare" (2012) producer; vocals on "Karisomethod"
  • Chatmonchy – Henshin (2012) producer on "Yes or No or Love" and "Kirakira Hikare"
  • Dr. Downer – Gensō no Maboroshi (2013) producer
  • The Chef Cooks Me – Kaitentai (2013) producer, vocals on "Kanjōsen wa Bokura o Nosete"
  • ART-SCHOOL – YOU (2014) producer
  • Ovall - "Nadaraka Yoru" (2018) vocals
  • The Mattson 2 – Vaults of Eternity: Japan (2018) vocals on "My Memories Fade"
  • Co.Ruri Mito - MeMe (2019) music producer
  • Nahavand – Vandalism (2019) producer, vocals on "Hold On"
  • The Chef Cooks Me – "Kakato de Ai o Uchinarase" (2019) vocals
  • SOFTTOUCH – "Jiyū Ishi" (2019) producer
  • Aiha Higurashi – "Je t'aime" (2019) producer
  • Aiha Higurashi – "Shining all over" (2019) vocals
  • Manami KonishiCure (2020) producer and backing vocals on "Endless Summer", producer on "Ain't Nobody Know"
  • FIRE EX. – "The Light" (2020) vocals
  • Moment Joon – "Doukutsu" (2020) vocals
  • The Rentals – "Goodbye, Steve" (2020) vocals
  • SOCCER*SCHOOL - "last summer bleeze" (2021) mixing
  • Moment Joon – "Distance" (2021) vocals
  • Hironoi Momoi – "Fog" (2021) vocal, lyrics
  • Lil Boom – "The End of the World" (2021) vocals
  • Nahavand – "World Trigger"' (2022) recording
  • Yuragi – For you, Adroit it but soft : Remixes & Rarities (2022) mastering
  • The Tiva – On This Planet (2022) mastering
  • Mofution Vibration – "Oboroge" (2022) mixing, mastering
  • Dhira Bongs – A Tiny Bit of Gold in The Dark Ocean (2022) vocals on "Make Me Fallin In Love Again"
  • Link – Tsuki no Hana EP (2023) producer, recording, mixing
  • Jared Mattson – Peanut (2023) vocals on "Koko ni Kite"
  • Kanjani Eight – "Ikiteru Bokura" (2023) songwriter
  • Takehisa Chiba – "Spacewalker" (2023) vocals, vocals engineer, mixing
  • Link – Taiyou to Tsuki no Beatniks (2023) producer, recording, mixing
  • A Flood of CircleCandle Songs (2024) producer on "Candle Songs"
  • Furusato Osamu to Furoshiki – "Ryusui" (2024) co-producer, recording, mixing, mastering; guitar and chorus on "Ryusui"; lyrics, vocal, guitar, and programming on "Ryusui Remix"
  • Furusato Osamu to Furoshiki – "Takibi" (2024) co-producer, recording, mastering

References

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  1. ^ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION: Biography". ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Official Website. Ki/oon Records Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  2. ^ Kao, Larry (2005-11-03). "Talkin Bout My (Asian Kung-Fu) Generation". Asian Pacific Arts. UCLA Asia Institute. Archived from the original on 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  3. ^ Asian Kung-Fu Generation Fansite Flash Back! - Profile Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Vo.ゴッチの日記". Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". skeletonsman.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Gotch | only in dreams".
  7. ^ "Gotch Profile". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Gotch of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION to Embark on Solo Tour This May". jpopasia. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  9. ^ "6月8日に新しいアルバム「Good New Times」が発売になりました。" (in Japanese). Gotch. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  10. ^ "アジカン後藤正文が音楽支援を行うNPO法人創立「何度でもチャレンジできる場所を目指す」" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Masafumi Gotoh released his first drone/ambient album "Recent Report I"". Kyodo News. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  12. ^ a b c "後藤正文 オリコン". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  13. ^ "「Can't Be Forever Young」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  14. ^ "「Good New Times」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  15. ^ "「Lives By The Sea」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  16. ^ "「Recent Report I」後藤正文". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  17. ^ "「Live in Tokyo」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  18. ^ "後藤と東郷". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
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