SURVIVE
SURVIVE | ||||
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Studio album by B'z | ||||
Released | November 19, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | Hard rock | |||
Length | 49:56 | |||
Label | Rooms Records | |||
Producer | Tak Matsumoto | |||
B'z chronology | ||||
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Singles from FIREBALL | ||||
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SURVIVE is the ninth studio album by B'z, released on November 19, 1997. The album preceded the band's tenth anniversary compilations B'z The Best "Pleasure" and B'z The Best "Treasure" by one year and was an essential stepping stone in their rebirth as a hard rock band. The period of time spanned by the singles—"FIREBALL" in spring, "Calling" in summer, and "Liar! Liar!" in fall—showcase the album's prolonged production timeline. In fact, "Calling" was the first song written for the album and last to be finalized, having required more time to finish than any other song in their catalogue to that point. The release also marks the first full time contributions by Akihito Tokunaga with regarding to aiding in arrangements. Previously working as an auxiliary support member, here he brought his expertise with technology and recording software that had long been absent from B'z works.
The album is associated with two tours: the month-long B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL" which preceded much of the album's production but included a provisional version of album track "Do me" and two of its singles, and the more directly connected B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE". The latter lasted a full six months, from January to June of 1998, and began two months after the album's release. Unusually for an album of its size with regard to B'z activities, every song was performed on the aforementioned tour though some have not been performed again since.
Notably, a song entitled "Anata Nara Kamawanai" was recorded for the album's sessions but was ultimately not included. It would be heard publicly three years later as the closing track on B'z The "Mixture", an album of re-recordings and remixes that primarily consisted of reversions of the band's most beloved early songs.
Upon release, SURVIVE debuted at the top of the Weekly Oricon Album chart with 1,1040,160 physical copies sold in the first week. The album would go on to rank at number 10 on the year end chart. To date, the album has sold in excess of 1,723,030 physical copies, qualifying it for a Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
Production information
As the band further transitioned further into hard rock territory, SURVIVE would nearly be the culmination of those efforts but not quite. It would not be until Brotherhood in 1999 that B'z realized their intent to form a "full band sound" with their music before further iterating on it with ELEVEN in 2000. The band were joined in the studio by live bassist and newly-minted support member Akihito Tokunaga, who would go on to be a production force for numerous artists in the Being stable. At this time, though, he was invaluable when working on the arrangements on numerous songs due to his expertise with technology and recording software. The digital sound present in second track "Swimmer yo!!" especially shows his contributions to the album.
Coming on the cusp of the band's tenth anniversary, the album was designed as a culmination of all that had come before it. Unlike the previous album LOOSE which had recorded in Hawaii, SURVIVE had additional recording that took place in Fukuoka and Okinawa. Interestingly, the band observed in Vol. 36 of Be With! that there are songs on the album that feel as if they should be sung in English. Single "Calling", which closes the album, and "DEEP KISS", which opens it, were both offered as examples. This was especially relevant at the time as the band had just released their first English single, "Real Thing Shakes", in 1996. Notably, "Mienai Chikara ~INVISIBLE ONE~/MOVE" also released as a single the same year likewise remains uncollected here.
It was here that the band first began to embrace the digital era and the rise of internet culture. The official B'z website was launched this year, and the album's disc is also an enhanced CD, meaning it can be inserted into a PC to access certain special content. The music video for "Liar! Liar!" as well as images of the band and song lyrics are all accessible. As was the case with LOOSE, the packaging included a cardboard case and photo book.
At the time of release, Tak said that, "I think it is better than LOOSE" and "It is our best work as of now." In 2002, Tak reiterated that he re-listened to their work to that point and felt SURVIVE was at the top for him. Much later, in 2013, Koshi suggested the album was an answer to "What is the No.1 B'z album?".
For the first time since the release of RUN in 1992, all songs from the album were performed live on the album's tour. This would not occur again until the release of EPIC DAY in 2015 and the associated live tour that followed. The tour saw all of their previous support members replaced with fresh faces, including the temporary replacement of longtime Tak friend and keyboardist Takanobu Masuda, who was preoccupied with his own band's activities at the time.
To date, SURVIVE is the fourth best-selling studio album released by the band.
Track listing
All music and guitar by Tak Matsumoto. All lyrics and lead vocals by Koshi Inaba.
- DEEP KISS
- File:a09 01.ogg While the opening number for the work, "DEEP KISS" was the last song to be produced. In fact, it was written solely due to the band feeling they had no other suitable tracks to open the album with. The song came together very quickly, with the arrangement alone being finished in under one day, according to Tak. The song utilizes sampling, beginning with a heartbeat sensor that gradually grows into a distorted, heavy rock guitar, and also utilizes an ambulance's siren. The song has not been heard live since it was performed on three dates of B'z LIVE-GYM The Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!". While none of those performances were captured on home video, the highlight showing from B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" was included on B'z LIVE-GYM Hidden Pleasure ~Typhoon No.20~.
- Swimmer yo!! — スイマーよ!!
- File:a09 02.ogg Almost as if it is from a future era, "Swimmer yo!!" utilizes a great deal of digital implementation that would pre-date some of their early 2000s work. The contributions of longtime support member and live bassist Akihito Tokunaga are especially apparent here as a result. The song was produced in Okinawa with the idea that it would be a slower, more downbeat composition. When the song was performed alongside "Calling" on Music Station in 1997, the digital sound was replaced with a full band sound including a significant slap bass line and other changes including to the arrangement and additional guitar. The song was recorded on a compilation for the first time nearly ten years later on B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" where it was ranked at number 15 per fan demand. A bonus performance from the album tour was included on the DVD edition of once upon a time in Yokohama ~B'z LIVE GYM'99 "Brotherhood"~ as a bonus track per fan request, as the band had asked what song fans would like to see in video form. On the same day said DVD was released, as a B-side to "ultra soul", a new edition of the song entitled "Swimmer yo 2001!!" was released to tie in with the aforementioned single's swimming tie-in promotion. The arrangement for the reversion was drastically altered to make it a companion piece the A-side, with new lyrics added amidst numerous other changes. In essence, due to the variety of changes and completely different sound—including the keyboard being replaced by an acoustic guitar—it can almost be considered a new song that stands far apart from its original composition. The song was later performed on nearly every stop of LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN", for some shows of LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION", and all shows of B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT-.
- Survive
- File:a09 03.ogg Although it is the album title, which is in all capitals, "Survive" as a song title is in normal case. It was the seventh song produced and only became the title song after lyrics were applied. The band described the title as "reflecting our present mood". As with fellow album track "Happiness", the song re-appeared for B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- after a fifteen year absence following the "SURVIVE" LIVE-GYM. A guitar instrumental version of the song was used as Ending SE for the aforementioned album tour but it has not been released in the intervening years.
- Liar! Liar!
- File:a09 04.ogg A hard rock, guitar-driven song, "Liar! Liar!" was not chosen easily as a single from its album. It was at the end of recording when a single couldn't be settled on that the song came to fruition and immediately was chosen for the occasion. In contrast with the next single, "Calling", which took over seven months to complete, Tak claimed that "Liar! Liar!" was completed in the shortest time to date for the band. The song has found great popularity on the live stage, where its high energy has permitted it fairly frequent inclusion over the years. The song was performed in LIVE-GYMs in 1998, 1999, internationally in 2002, and the band's 15th anniversary tour in 2003. It would be revived for B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" after a five year absence, and would be performed again three years later for B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon-. The song to date has only one reversion to date, with the version included on B'z The Best "Treasure" being retouched with the aid of Rockman preamps.
- Happiness — ハピネス
- File:a09 05.ogg As one of the more popular songs from the album, "Happiness" was first collected on a compilation as part of The Ballads ~Love & B'z~ before being voted by fans onto B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" nearly a decade after its initial release. Tak performs the guitar solo with an acoustic guitar, and it was the demo take prepared as a test that went straight onto the released track. After the album tour in 1998, the song was not played again for ten years. Its appearance at B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" was brief, but it would return for further dates a half-decade later at Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER-.
- FIREBALL
- File:a09 06.ogg Going into the recording with the mindset of creating a song with "all live sound" in mind, "FIREBALL" was recorded without the aid of computers or a synthesizer. Actual recording and production took place in December 1996, prior to the sessions for the rest of the SURVIVE album on which it would later be collected. Due to the song serving as a tie-in, Shiseido requested that the product line's full slogan "Light your make-up soul on fire" (meiku tamashii ni hi wo tsukero) be incorporated into the lyrics. An emergency solution was implemented in the second chorus in which Koshi's vocals feature a long "mei—" just prior, which was stressed in the commercial version of the song. Koshi suggested that Tak wanted to produce a "grunge" song when it came to the recording. Interestingly, Tak also prominently features on backing vocals, something that was and remains uncommon in B'z tracks. The song was played regularly throughout 1997 and 1998 during the "FIREBALL" and "SURVIVE" tours and revived during the band's tours in 2002, including their showing with Aerosmith at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, their 2002 United States tour, and their "GREEN" album tour. Following its many performances for 2002, it returned 15 years later in B'z LIVE-GYM 2017-2018 "LIVE DINOSAUR".
- Do me
- File:a09 07.ogg Created during rehearsals for B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL", "Do me" was first premeired live there. Its original title was "DO-ME", still in English. It was later recorded here as a result of fan demand. Interestingly, essentially the entire arrangement and almost all of the lyrics differ from the version premiered live and the studio version found on the album. Until "Liar! Liar!" supplanted it, "Do me" was the leading single candidate from the sessions. The song returned in its revised form for B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" and was performed on every date, but has not been seen live since nor has it been released on home video.
- Naite Naite Nakiyandara — Cry, Cry, and Cry Again, 泣いて 泣いて 泣きやんだら
- File:a09 08.ogg Originally envisioned and produced around 1994's The 7th Blues, "Naite Naite Nakiyandara" was purposed as a "triple rock ballad". There was debate over the arrangement, however, and it was not until this album that it was resolved by chance when a borrowed Flying V guitar helped settle it. The song was collected once, on The Ballads ~Love & B'z~ in 2002 and was performed at 2007 SHOWCASE events -B'z In Your Town- and -19-, as well as a 2015 SHOWCASE event years later.
- CAT
- File:a09 09.ogg Completed after recording and production had stalled on "Calling", "CAT" was the second song to be started from the album. The song is centered on a female being compared to the titular feline. Its lyrics also include a "meow meow" backing vocal. The song's key is quite high, which caused Koshi to relay that it was a difficult one to perform live. Although included for B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" with the other album tracks, it has not been performed since nor has it been included on a B'z home video.
- Dattara Agechaeyo — Then, Why Not Just Give it Away?, だったらあげちゃえよ
- File:a09 10.ogg Produced in Okinawa, "Dattara Agechaeyo" features prominent brass and piano parts. Overall, the song has a "funk" vibe, which led to it being included on all stops of the ensuing live tour. Notably, the song has only one home video appearance: a performance from B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" from the bonus disc for B'z LIVE-GYM Hidden Pleasure ~Typhoon No.20~. It has not been performed in the years since 1998.
- Shower
- File:a09 11.ogg Recorded in Okinawa, the lyrics to "Shower" were inspired by the passing of Japanese entertainer Shintaro Katsu (seen best in the line "Please tell me why are people always bound to go away someday"). Years earlier, at an eatery in Roppongi, Koshi entered and was met by one of the regular customers that said, "My, you have a good look. Those are genuine eyes. So long after Yujiro [legendary Japanese entertainer that passed in 1987], I've finally met the real thing again." Koshi thanked him for the compliment and gave his name, which Katsu—then already in his sixties—did not recognize as the vocalist of B'z. Katsu was known to friends for his ability to judge the goodness of others by looking them in the face, and after realizing Koshi was a successful singer, he began attending B'z shows by purchasing his own tickets. The two quickly became friends. Later, following a B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'95 "BUZZ!!" show in Yokohama, Katsu presented Koshi with a New York Yankees ten-gallon hat once owned by his brother Tomisaburo Wakayama—a famous Japanese actor that had passed three years earlier. The hat had been a prized memento of the elder brother. Koshi would wear the hat on stage as a tribute during the tour finale, which was later showcased on home video as "BUZZ!!" THE MOVIE and can be seen in the opening performance. To this day, the hat has been carefully preserved in Koshi's private studio and has been described by him as a cherished possession. When Katsu was hospitalized during a bout with cancer, Koshi sent a copy of his first solo album Magma with a message hoping he would get better soon. Katsu was reportedly moved by the notion and listened to the album many times prior to his death shortly thereafter in June of 1997. The song was performed three times on the album tour but was never released on home video.
- Calling
- File:a09 12.ogg One of the band's most popular ballads, "Calling" has carved out a space essentially all its own as it exists as a ballad and hard power ballad at different measures. When debuted during LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL", the band were still several months from locking the final arrangement and mix. After seven months of work, they were finally content with the work and answered mass fan demand that it be released as a single. In its original live incarnation, the harder rock elements were not present—certainly for the opening, which was played on piano by Tak at the time. The essential foundation of the song was actually written by Tak for the wedding of a good friend in America. Later, he introduced the tune to Koshi and asked if he could think of lyrics to match. Koshi later said, "For the first time in a while, I felt invigorated and excited to start on the lyrics." While a perennial hit amongst fans of all eras, the song is now only revived for special occasions, such as serving in highlight slots during both B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -long time no see- in North America and as the closer during B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon-.
Reversion history
Original Song | Reversion History |
---|---|
Swimmer yo!! ALBUM SONG (1997) |
RE-RECORDING: Swimmer yo 2001!! (2001) |
Survive ALBUM SONG (1997) |
UNRELEASED: Survive [Guitar Solo Version] (1998) |
Liar! Liar! SINGLE & ALBUM SONG (1997) |
RE-RECORDING: Liar! Liar! [ALTERNATE VERSION] (1998) |
Do me ALBUM SONG (1997) |
LIVE ONLY: Do Me [Demo Version] (1997) |
Live appearances
Live Performances
- DEEP KISS [53 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM The Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" [3/23 SHOWS]
- Swimmer yo!! [145 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "Kobushi wo Nigire" [1/1 SHOWS] (2001 Version)
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN" [42/46 SHOWS] (2001 Version)
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" [12/53 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2015 -Shimonoseki Uchouten NIGHT- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- [40/40 SHOWS]
- ROCKROCK 20th ANNIVERSARY LIVE "ROCK BEYOND ROCK" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
- Survive [69 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2013 -Pleasure75- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [19/30 SHOWS]
- Liar! Liar! [176 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '99 -Brotherhood- SHOWCASE "B'zepp" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood" [24/24 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM The Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" [1/23 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" [35/53 SHOWS]
- Pepsi NEX presents B'z 1DAY LIVE [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon- [26/26 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2017 -Hissatsu Hiokinin- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2017 -B'z In Your Town- [11/11 SHOWS]
- ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2017 [1/1 SHOWS]
- RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2017 in EZO [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
- Happiness [75 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" [5/53 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2013 -Pleasure75- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [19/30 SHOWS]
- FIREBALL [102 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL" [9/9 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- 7-Eleven presents B'z PREMIUM LIVE [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2017-2018 "LIVE DINOSAUR" [18/18 SHOWS]
- Do me [59 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL" [9/9 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- Naite Naite Nakiyandara [49 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [42/49 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -19- [3/6 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -B'z In Your Town- [2/7 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2015 -Shinagawa Uchouten NIGHT- [1/1 SHOWS]
- CAT [50 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- Dattara Agechaeyo [50 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- Shower [3 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [3/49 SHOWS]
- Calling [159 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'97 "FIREBALL" [9/9 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "GO! GO! HEAVEN" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" [49/49 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood" [24/24 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM in Taipei & Hong Kong 2001 [4/4 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN" -Extra- [3/46 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [3/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2003 "BIG MACHINE" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2003 "BIG MACHINE" [12/12 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2009 -B'z In Your Town- [8/8 SHOWS]
- SUMMER SONIC 09 [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -long time no see- [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon- [26/26 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2015 -Shinagawa Uchouten NIGHT- [1/1 SHOWS]
- TV Asahi Dream Festival 2015 [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2018 -The Wall Of Rock- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI- [6/23 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
Home Videos
- DEEP KISS
- Swimmer yo!!
- Survive
- Liar! Liar!
- LIVE-GYM '99 "Brotherhood"
- LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~"
- LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll"
- Hidden Pleasure: LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE"
- GO FOR IT, BABY Limited Edition DVD: Pepsi NEX 1DAY LIVE
- LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon-
- LIVE-GYM 2008 -ACTION-
- DINOSAUR Limited Edition: ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2017
- SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820-
- Happiness
- FIREBALL
- Do me
- Naite Naite Nakiyandara
- CAT
- Dattara Agechaeyo
- Shower
- Calling
Sales data
No. | Cover | Album | Physical Copies Sold | Chart Positions | Certification | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FIRST WEEK | LIFETIME | WEEK | MONTH | YEAR | ||||
9 |
SURVIVE |
1,040,160+ |
1,723,030+ |
1 |
— |
10 |
Million |
Personnel
B'z
- Tak Matsumoto: Guitar, Bass (Track 6), Music Composition, Arrangement
- Koshi Inaba: Vocals, Chorus, Lyric Composition, Arrangement
Support Members
- Hideo Yamaki: Drums (Track 1-3, 5-12)
- Jun Aoyama: Drums (Track 12)
- Akihito Tokunaga: Bass (Track 1-4, 7-12), Arrangement (Track 1-5, 7-12)
- Masao Akashi: Bass (Track 12)
- Akira Onozuka from DIMENSION: Piano (Track 3, 5, 8, 10, 12), Hammond Organ (Track 5, 7, 8, 10), Synthesizer (Track 5), YAMAHA CS-10 (Track 9), Rhodes Piano (Track 11)
- Shin Kazuhara: Trumpet (Tracks 7 & 10)
- Nobuo Kato: Trumpet (Tracks 7 & 10)
- Eijiro Nakagawa: Trombone (Tracks 7 & 10)
- Bob Zung: Sax (Tracks 7 & 10)
- HIIRO Strings: Strings (Tracks 8 & 9)
- Shinozaki Strings: Strings (Track 12)
- Nobu Saito: Percussion (Track 11)
- Kai Saeko from SO-FI: Chorus (Track 7)
- B.B. Ikkies: Chorus (Tracks 1 & 10)
Production
- Daisuke Ikeda: Arrangement (Track 12)