EXILE ATSUSHI

Overview

EXILE ATSUSHI (born Atsushi Sato, April 30, 1980) is a Japanese singer, lyricist and composer from Saitama Prefecture. He is a vocalist of EXILE and a member and former producer of COLOR. Working in J-pop and J-R&B, he has built a distinct solo career since his 2011 solo debut. His trademarks are his sunglasses and closely cropped hair.

Career

Before debut

Atsushi began playing piano at age four and decided to become a vocalist after joining a band in high school. He then trained at the ESP Musical Academy. In 2000 he reached the final round of the TV Tokyo audition program ASAYAN but was not selected. While singing in Shibuya clubs, he was approached by HIRO.

EXILE and production work

He joined J Soul Brothers in 2001, and the group relaunched as EXILE on September 27, 2001. Its debut single "Your Eyes Only (Aimai na Boku no Katachi)" was a drama theme song and was certified gold. The 2002 debut album Our Style included "Eyes in Maze," the first song for which he wrote lyrics, and his first solo-vocal song. Hits followed, including "Choo Choo Train" (2003), "Scream" (2005) and "Tada...Aitakute" (2005). He has written many EXILE songs, among them "Everything" (2006), "Someday" (2009), "Rising Sun" (2011), "Joy-ride" (2016), "Reason" (2023) and "Get-go!" (2025).

He launched COLOR in 2004 and left the group on October 21, 2006, but continued as its producer until it was renamed DEEP in June 2009. He also began solo activity in 2006. In 2008 he collaborated with AI on "So Special," and in September 2009 he held his first solo live, EXH SPECIAL EXILE ATSUSHI PREMIUM LIVE SOLO, whose video release won a Japan Gold Disc Award for music video in 2010.

Solo career

On September 14, 2011, he made his solo debut under the name EXILE ATSUSHI with "Itsuka Kitto...," released alongside an EXILE single, followed by his debut solo album Solo on January 1, 2012. A re-recorded version of the song became the Japanese theme for Captain America: Civil War. In 2014 he won the Best Vocal Performance Award at the 56th Japan Record Awards.

From May 28 to September 3, 2016, he held his first solo dome tour, EXILE ATSUSHI LIVE TOUR 2016 "IT'S SHOW TIME!!", announcing the formation of the band RED DIAMOND DOGS on opening day. In July he sang the Japanese national anthem at a Los Angeles Dodgers game. On August 31 he announced he would study abroad, and from October 2016 to early February 2018 he lived in Los Angeles and New York. He resumed EXILE activities in 2018, and the group released the album Star of Wish.

On November 2, 2020, he announced he would step down as EXILE vocalist to focus on his solo career. He released 40〜forty〜 Acoustic Album on November 4, a book on November 12, and the single "Sunshine" on December 16.

2021 onward

In 2021 he released the singles "KAZE" (February), "Amazing Grace" (April), "Heart to Heart" (July), "Night Flight" (October) and "I always love you 〜Itsumo soba ni〜" (November). In 2022 came "You Raise Me Up" (January), "Yukigeshou" (February), and on April 28 the album ONE alongside the compilation THE BEST 〜One + Only〜; "You Own My Heart" followed in December.

In place of a graduation live that COVID-19 prevented, he joined EXILE's POWER OF WISH tour on a limited basis from July 2022, and on the final day, December 21, announced his return to group activities. In August 2022 he tested positive for COVID-19, and three Saitama shows were canceled.

In 2023 he released "Photograph," featuring the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra horn section, on June 14. In April he postponed or canceled part of his solo tour Heart to Heart Season 2, and on June 2 canceled all remaining dates. In September he disclosed that carbon monoxide poisoning had triggered Ménière's disease and that he was also being treated for Lyme disease. He released the digital EP MBAT on December 21. He announced his return on September 27, 2024, and released EXILE ATSUSHI -Winter Best- on December 18.

In 2025 he held the canceled tour, resumed EXILE activities and also performed with COLOR. He released "Love Thang / It’s Brand New" on April 1, held the exhibition EXILE ATSUSHI REBORN in September, a fan meeting in Hawaii in October, and ATSUSHI ANGELS FES 2025 in December.

Musical style

His repertoire is rooted in R&B and incorporates jazz and crossover elements; his 2016 dome tour and its theme song "Beautiful Gorgeous Love" were jazz-themed. As a songwriter he has penned many of EXILE's signature songs, and as COLOR's producer he supplied warm, heartfelt material. A devoted fan of Boyz II Men, he is fluent in English and also speaks Chinese.

Image and philanthropy

He wears sunglasses (including a collaboration model with the Italian brand police) as a trademark, reportedly after reacting badly to bright studio lights. In January 2020 he launched a YouTube channel whose proceeds support children's care facilities, and in July 2020 he co-founded the Musician Aid Japan Project with singer AI. In December 2025 he established a foundation supporting children in care facilities. He has served as a Ministry of Justice correctional support ambassador since 2015 and as a National Police Agency special crime prevention ambassador since 2025.