MOROHA

Overview

MOROHA is a Japanese J-rap duo formed in 2008 by high school classmates Afro (MC) and UK (guitar). In 2024 they announced an indefinite hiatus. The name is written with the kanji for "double-edged blade" (諸刃), reflecting the idea of cutting the opponent while cutting oneself, sharpening both words and music into weapons, and recognizing that words can both wound and heal.

Members

• Afro (born January 7, 1988; MC): From Aoki, Nagano Prefecture; real name Yuto Takihara. He began acting in 2023 with his first leading role in the film Sayonara Hoyaman, winning the Newcomer Award (Sponichi Grand Prize) at the 78th Mainichi Film Awards and the Best New Actor Award (Toshiko Minami Prize) at the 33rd Japan Film Critics Awards. Since 2024 he has also been MC of Tententakataka.
• UK (born May 14, 1987; guitar): From Ueda, Nagano Prefecture; real name Yuki Shimizu; a graduate of Tamagawa University's College of Arts. His main instrument is a Furch FG01 acoustic guitar. He served as a judge for the 2nd High School Light Music Grand Prix 2026, hosted by the radio show atagi×Yuyuta no Otonari Radio; on his first guest appearance on that show he covered Kazuyoshi Saito's "Utaiuta no Ballad" with atagi of Awesome City Club.

Career

• 2010: Entered "Derenno!? Samasoni!?", a contest for a slot at SUMMER SONIC. Keiichi Sokabe called them "truly dangerous—an incident" and awarded them the Sokabe Keiichi Prize.
• October 21, 2010: Debuted on ROSE RECORDS with the album MOROHA.
• 2016: Founded their own label, YAVAY YAYVA RECORDS; Afro also published the essay book Ore no ga Yabai.
• 2018: Major debut on Universal Sigma.
• April 2020: Amid the COVID-19 crisis, launched the "Date TBD, Held for Sure TOUR" to prepay venue fees to struggling live houses, with dates to be set after the situation eased. It was renamed "Date Confirmed, Held for Sure TOUR × MOROHA V RELEASE TOUR" and carried out in 2023.
• 2021: Performed "Kakumei" (November 26) and "Rokumonsen" (December 8) on THE FIRST TAKE.
• February 11, 2022: Held their first solo concert at Nippon Budokan.
• December 21, 2024: Announced their hiatus at the final show of the MOROHA Solo Tour 2024 at The Garden Hall in Ebisu, Tokyo.

Their self-organized live series include "Doto" (guest artists, Tokyo), "Hacchiku" (guest artists, outside Tokyo), "Anata to Watashi" (two-act shows), "Jinmon" (no MC segments at all) and "40 Minutes" with OTOTOY. A spin-off of "Doto," "Dokyun," was held with SUPER BEAVER on Valentine's Day 2023 and White Day 2024.

Media Work

Afro has narrated or appeared in commercials for Galaxy, Toyota C-HR, Nissin Foods and Kagome, and acted in the dramas Kinshicho Paradise (2024) and Sinantrope (2025) and the film Revolver Lily (2023). The duo contributed music and appeared in the films Ice and Rain Sound (2018) and WILL (2024), and hosted the podcast MOROHA no! Warikan! (2022–2024).

Musical Style

Songs usually begin with the lyrics written by Afro rather than with UK's music; UK shapes the compositions around the images and worldview Afro conveys. Built on just an MC and an acoustic guitar, their approach treats both words and music as weapons.