D-51

Overview

D-51 (ディー・ゴー・イチ, Dī Gō Ichi) is a Japanese male vocal duo from Okinawa Prefecture, made up of Yu (Yū Uezato) and Yasu (Yasuhide Yoshida). They are currently signed to GiftBank LLC and are best known for "No More Cry," the theme song of the drama Gokusen, and "Brand New World," an opening theme of the anime One Piece.

Members

• Yu (born Yū Uezato): born November 9, 1983, in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture.
• Yasu (born Yasuhide Yoshida): born April 6, 1982, in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. He is the third son of Yasumori and Moriwakako Yoshida, hosts of an Okinawan folk-music radio program on Radio Okinawa, and his elder brother Yasutaka Yoshida is a folk singer.

Career

The name D-51 comes from the Japanese National Railways' D51 steam locomotive class, which ran all over Japan; the principal of the music school the two attended gave them the name.

• 2003: In June they began street performances at Carnival Park in Mihama, Chatan, Okinawa. On August 30 they self-released the single "Let's Try" and sold 5,000 copies by hand.
• 2004: On February 14 they made their indie debut with the single "Street Breeze," initially sold only in Okinawa before going nationwide on April 5. After a bidding contest among 17 major record labels, they signed with Pony Canyon and made their major debut on July 7 with "Top of the Summer."
• 2005: Their third single, "No More Cry," became the theme of the TV drama Gokusen and sold over 400,000 copies (402,034), becoming the 13th best-selling single of the year; it reached the top five on the Oricon chart (peaking at No. 2 by some accounts). They also performed the theme for the film Always: Sunset on Third Street.
• 2006: "Brand New World" was used as the sixth opening theme of One Piece. Through that connection, Yu and Yasu appeared as guest voice actors, playing officials, in episode 272 (aired July 23).
• 2008: On February 6 they released their first best-of album, Best of D-51, together with their tenth single, "Sepia." In April, "Travelers of Life" was used as a Calpis Water commercial song for the second year running.
• 2011: On December 7 they released the mini-album Yet the earth does move through Flying High, available only by mail order, at live venues and via digital distribution.
• 2012: They moved their recording contract to Tokuma Japan Communications.
• 2022: They moved their recording contract to GiftBank LLC, within their own agency.

Musical Style

D-51 is a pop-oriented male vocal duo whose music reached a wide audience through tie-ins with anime, television drama, film and commercials. Their grassroots start, built on street live shows and hand-sold CDs, is a defining part of their story.