Kiro Akiyama (秋山黄色)

Overview

Kiro Akiyama (秋山黄色, Akiyama Kiiro) is a Japanese singer-songwriter born on March 11, 1996 in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. Working across J-pop, anime and J-rock, he began writing songs in his first year of high school and made his major debut in 2020 with the full album From DROPOUT. Besides writing music, he creates his own illustrations and videos.

Career

Early years

Inspired by the anime K-On! while in junior high, he took up the bass, and wrote his first original song in his first year of high school. He then shared songs and videos on YouTube and SoundCloud, and from December 2017 began performing live mainly in Utsunomiya and Tokyo.

On June 20, 2018 he released the digital single "Yasagure Kaidō" (やさぐれカイドー) on his own label BUG TYPE RECORDS; it reached No. 2 on Spotify's Viral chart (Japan) on July 2. On August 18 he advanced to the final 14 acts of the "Derennno!? Samasoni!? 2018" contest and played the JUNGLE STAGE at SUMMER SONIC 2018.

His first mini-album Hello my shoes came out on January 23, 2019, and on February 4 he was selected for Spotify's "Early Noise 2019". On September 28 he held his first solo show, "Tōkō no Hate," at Shibuya O-Crest.

Major debut and beyond

On January 14, 2020 he launched an official fan club app, and on March 4 he made his major debut on EPIC Records Japan with the full album From DROPOUT, which entered the Oricon weekly album chart at No. 17 (dated March 16), his first top-20 placement. That year he also appeared in several streamed events, including the solo stream "Tōkō no Hate.W" (March 8), Viva La Rock Online 2020 and ROCK IN JAPAN's J-Fes app.

His first CD single, "Identity" (アイデンティティ), was released on January 27, 2021, followed by his first nationwide tour, "Ikki Ichiyū TOUR Lv.2," from March 6 to June 4. On March 14 he hosted Akiyama Kiiro no All Night Nippon 0 (ZERO). From October 1 to 13, 2022 he held his first hall solo tour, "Ikki Ichiyū TOUR Lv.4."

On November 23, 2022 he was arrested on suspicion of assault. His label announced on December 3 that he had been released from custody, and on December 14 the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided not to indict him. His radio show on FM Tochigi was suspended and resumed on February 2, 2023, and he withdrew from several year-end festivals.

Recent activity

He released "SKETCH" in November 2022, followed by "Hotaru" (蛍, July 2023), "SCRAP BOOOO" (December 2023), "Sonic Move" (ソニックムーブ, March 2024), "Lonely cocoa" (August 2024) and "Caffeine Remix / Caffeine" (September 2024). The album Good Night Mare arrived on September 25, 2024, and "Wannabe" in November. In 2025 he issued "INSOMNIA" (April), "Nail Is Dead" (ネイルイズデッド, August) and "Quest" (October and November).

On March 10, 2025, marking his fifth anniversary since debut, he held the solo concert "5th anniversary 『Re:Touch』" in his hometown of Utsunomiya; the song "Rainy day," premiered there, was published on YouTube the next day. In 2026 he followed with "Nemophila" (January 28), "Scissor Hands Up" (February 25) and "DO NOT DISTURB" (March 4).

Since 2024 his live band has largely been fixed as Makoto Ideue (guitar), Hikari Fujimoto (bass) and Shunta (drums).

Musical style

Rooted in rock and working within J-pop and anime-related music, his songs have been described by music writer Marina Watanabe as cutting through gloom and darkness by sheer force, with a voice like strong light streaming through the gap. His stage name comes from his mother's maiden name (Akiyama) and a childhood nickname, "Kiiro" (yellow), earned when he was hostile toward yellow cars as an elementary schooler.