ACE COLLECTION

Overview

ACE COLLECTION is a Japanese rock band formed in 2017, also associated with anime and J-pop. Nicknamed "Ace," the band is managed by STARSEED Inc., a company it runs itself, and releases music on STARSEED Records. Its official fan club is called "01's."

Career

The band formed on December 9, 2017. While searching for a way to grow a large fanbase, the members were advised to try YouTube. Having heard that a YouTuber's subscriber count influences event attendance, they worked backwards from the live-show scale they wanted to reach to the subscriber numbers they would need, and began their activities on YouTube.

On the day of formation they posted a video mashing up 19 Western and Japanese songs over the riff of Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You." Tatsuya◎ proposed the idea because mashups were popular overseas but still little known in Japan. He wrote down famous songs and linked them by feel on acoustic guitar, adding fake ad-libs and changing phrasing at the joins so everything flows naturally.

In 2018 the band announced it was joining Ends Entertainment and released its first original song, "Uppun," as a debut digital single. On April 8, 2020 it made its major debut with "L.O.V.E." on EMI Records, a label within Universal Music. On August 16, 2021 it announced via official social media and its website that it was leaving its agency and would operate through its own company, STARSEED Inc.

Bassist Kanade left after the national tour ULTIMATE TOUR 2021-22, and bassist Mochi joined on April 1, 2022. On April 15, 2025 the band announced an agent contract with IMK R ENTERTAINMENT.

Tatsuya◎ and LIKI also co-composed "Your Turn" for Da-iCE, included on the album MUSi-aM released October 2, 2024 (avex trax).

Members

• Tatsuya◎ (vocals): Born July 23, 1997 in Saitama. Before ACE COLLECTION he was in the band April Mist with LIKI, under the name Tatsuya◎. He has played many instruments since about age three, including guitar, drums, piano, bass, Electone and beatboxing. His favorite artists include the Beatles and the Carpenters. He is a second cousin of singer-songwriter Eito.
• LIKI (guitar): Born June 19, 1997 in Tokyo. He played bass in April Mist and previously belonged to a visual kei band, giving him fast-picking skills. He mainly listens to anime songs.
• RIKU (drums): Born July 5, 1997 in Kanagawa. He called on the others to form the band. Hailed as a prodigy child, he performed with X JAPAN's Toshl after posting X JAPAN drum videos on YouTube, won awards at big band jazz contests, and took first place in a national YAMAHA competition. He has endorsement deals with Zildjian, LERNI and CANOPUS Type-R.
• Mochi (bass): Born January 6, 1999 in Tokyo. Joined April 1, 2022; he once played in a band with Tatsuya◎.
• Kanade (former bass): Born May 24, 1996 in Okinawa. Inspired to start a band by Maximum the Hormone's "What's up, people?!" He left after the 2021-22 tour and now plays in FIRE ON FIRE.

Musical Style

Songs are mainly written by Tatsuya◎ and LIKI. Unusually for a vocalist, Tatsuya◎ prioritizes rhythm over melody. LIKI handles production in Apple Logic Pro, including mixing, and also mixes the band's YouTube mashups and covers.