About

Novelbright

Overview

Novelbright is a Japanese rock band working in the J-pop and J-rock space. Its vocalist is Yudai Takenaka (born November 10, 1995, in Himeji, Hyogo), who is also a singer-songwriter, whistler and YouTuber. He was among the founders of the band in 2013.

Career

2013: Novelbright is formed. Takenaka began composing after joining a ONE OK ROCK cover band in high school.
October 2018: Indie debut with the nationwide-distribution mini-album "SKYWALK".
August 17, 2020: Major debut on Universal Sigma with the digital release featuring "Sunny drop".
November 12, 2020 – March 25, 2021: Hosted the Nippon Broadcasting radio show "Novelbright U-Dynamite Nippon".
2021: Takenaka launched his solo YouTube activity on January 14 and was named Himeji Furusato Ambassador on August 31.
2023: A run of singles – "Last Scene" (ラストシーン, February), "嫌嫌" (March), "Cantabile" (April), "面影" (September), "ODYSSEY" (October) and "雪の音" (December). Takenaka also staged his own whistling concert, "Whistling Sound Vol. 1", in Tokyo.
2024: "Awesome Life" (March), the album "CIRCUS" (April), "Everywhere I Go" (August) and "アイビー" (October).
2025: "ワインディングロード" (January), "カノープス" (April) and "Call me" (August). From July 20 he appeared on BS Nippon TV's "Geneki Kaou JAPAN" and won as the top-ranked of Japan's TOP 7, performing Official Hige Dandism's "Pretender" in the final. The day before, he happened to meet ONE OK ROCK's Taka at Haneda Airport and was invited to perform; their first collaboration took place on September 6 at Sapporo Dome. He joined the Japan–Korea 60th anniversary program "2025 Japan-Korea Kaou Match" from September 14 and the "Genki Kaou ALL STAR DREAM MATCH" on November 1. On November 9 he announced his first solo cover album "DIVA" during a YouTube livestream, and on his 30th birthday, November 10, he released the lead track "Love Story". The album was released in January 2026, including in South Korea.
2026: "アネモネ" (January) and "Caravan" (February).

Musical style and persona

Takenaka is known for a high-pitched vocal tone and for whistling in songs such as "See You Tomorrow". He won the International Whistlers Convention in North Carolina in 2009 and 2013. His vocal inspirations include ONE OK ROCK's Taka, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Yuzu. He has occasionally cancelled live appearances due to chronic bronchial asthma.