HY

Overview

HY is a Japanese mixture band from Uruma, Okinawa, formed in 2000 by five high school friends. The name comes from the initials of their hometown, Higashi-Yakena. All members write lyrics and music. The band became known for taking indie albums to No. 1 on the Oricon chart, and their signature song "366日" passed 4.5 million downloads.

Members

• Hideyuki Shinzato: guitar, vocals, rap, sanshin; the band's leader, who also runs the solo project "Hide's Music Story" from 2017.
• Shun Naka: drums, rap; writes under the name "TUN".
• Shinsuke Kyoda: bass.
• Izumi Nakasone: keyboards, vocals; the only female member and Naka's cousin.
• Former member Yuhei Miyazato: guitar; left on 5 September 2019.

Career

Formation and debut

Shinzato and Miyazato were friends from kindergarten and bonded with Naka in junior high. They met Kyoda and Nakasone in high school and formed the band in 2000, originally under the name "Higashi Yakena". In 2001, in their final year of high school, they recorded the original song "White Beach" as a keepsake; encouraged by studio staff, they decided to pursue music and began street performances in front of the Ferris wheel at Carnival Park Mihama in Chatan. With no audience at first, word of mouth soon drew crowds that surrounded them. Their debut album, Departure, came out on 22 September 2001 as an Okinawa-only release and sold out 10,000 copies almost immediately.

Indie success

On 23 March 2002 they played their first solo concert at Ginowan Seaside Park Outdoor Theater for 3,000 people, and Departure went on national release on 10 April. Despite interest from more than 20 record companies, they chose to remain independent. In June 2002 they performed at the Fête de la Musique in France, their first overseas show, and from November held their first national tour. Street Story (16 April 2003) topped the Oricon chart for four straight weeks, unprecedented for an indie act, and became a million seller; a 54-date tour of every prefecture followed, and in October they opened for Linkin Park in Japan. Trunk (2004) also debuted at No. 1, and their first national hall tour drew 50,000 people over 26 shows.

Breakthrough

In 2005 "White Beach" was used in a Coca-Cola Japan campaign. Confidence (April 2006) debuted at No. 1, making it three consecutive indie No. 1 debuts; a 47-prefecture tour drew tens of thousands, and in December they played their first arena shows at Nippon Budokan and Osaka-jo Hall, followed by a 5,000-person Christmas Eve street live at Carnival Park Mihama. In March 2007 they toured eight cities in Canada and the US, including Toronto, Boston, New York and Los Angeles, as part of the Japan Nite tour. Their fifth album, HeartY (April 2008), contained "366日", the theme song for the Fuji TV drama and film Akai Ito. It became their signature hit and has been covered by many musicians. That year they also launched their own natural brand, HeartY.

Kohaku appearances and return to Okinawa

In 2009, for their 10th anniversary, about 20,000 people gathered for a street live at Carnival Park Mihama. Their sixth album, Whistle (January 2010), reached No. 1 on Oricon, followed by a 162-date live house tour. At the end of 2010 they made their first appearance at the 61st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen. In December 2011 they hosted their first self-organized festival, SKY Fes 2011, in Uruma. Parade (March 2012) and Route29 (December 2012) followed; the latter includes the theme of the NHK morning drama Jun to Ai, and they appeared at the 63rd Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Independence

In April 2013 their management contract with TV Asahi Music ended. In August they moved to Universal Music and founded their own label, ASSE!! Records, and the office HY ENTERTAINMENT, moving recording back to Okinawa. Glocal was released in February 2014, with GLOCAL SPECIAL ASIA EDITION following in May.

Recent activity

Between April and June 2024 "366日" was re-released in a series of single editions, and the best-of album LOVE STORY HY BEST arrived on 12 June. "Kinokoinu" (October) and "Koi wo Shite" (December) followed, then the album TIME on 29 January 2025. In March 2025 the band released "Hakkyu wo Tsunage", the broadcast theme for the 97th Senbatsu high school baseball tournament, and on 19 January 2026 they released the single "Swing Swing Heart".

Musical style

HY blends rock, hip-hop and other styles in a mixture sound, with every member contributing to songwriting. Rap and sanshin appear in some songs, adding an Okinawan flavor. Rooted in their street performances, the band maintains a commitment to staying close to fans at live shows.