Chiaki Satō (vocals) Hikari Fujimoto (bass) Nao Utagawa (drums, chorus) Akai Ko-en (Japanese: 赤い公園, Hepburn: Akai Kōen, meaning "Red Park") was a Japanese rock band formed in Tachikawa, Tokyo, in 2010.
The original line-up consisted of Chiaki Satō, Maisa Tsuno, Hikari Fujimoto and Nao Utagawa.
[2] Their songs clearly show Tsuno's musical influences and range, going from complex compositions with the use of counterpoint and cross-rhythm to straightforward J-pop.
The band was formed in January 2010 by school friends Hikari Fujimoto (bass) and Nao Utagawa (drums, vocals) in Tachikawa, Tokyo.
[12] In March 2013, the band was back to the recording studio for the single "Imasara/Kōshin/Sayonara wa iwanai" (今更/交信/さよならは言わない) and their first full-album, Kōen Debut (公園デビュー), both produced by Tsuno herself.
Following this release, the band actively collaborated with a variety of producers, including Kōichi Tsutaya (蔦谷好位置) and Shūta Hasunuma (蓮沼執太).
The lead track was featured as the theme song of Fuji TV's drama Lost Days and became their highest-charting single at 20th.
Reflecting on the previously released Mōretsu Rhythmics, Tsuno believed they could make an even more approachable album, with memorable melodies and choruses.
Released in February, "Yamiyo ni Chōchin" (闇夜に提灯), was produced by Koichi Tsutaya and used as the theme song for TBS's drama Rental Lovers.
[17] 4th album Nesshō Summer (熱唱サマー) was also announced to be released on 23 August, along with one final live concert including Sato on the line-up.
After being quiet for some time, Akai Ko-en performed over 20 new songs live with the three remaining members on January 4 (the band's anniversary), 2018.
After the release of the compilation album Sekihan (赤飯) on 14 February the same year, the contract with Universal Music Japan expired.
[19] As Ishino was still a high-school student and based in Hiroshima at that point, they had to limit their activity as a band to allow her to continue her studies.
In January 2020, the single "Zettai reido" (絶対零度) was released, with the title-track being chosen as the ending theme song for the anime Drifting Dragons.
The band was booked to play live at the Countdown Japan 20/21 music festival in December,[23] with the support from Yūsuke Koide (guitar) from Base Ball Bear, but the event was also cancelled due to the pandemic.
The concert, held at Nakano Sun Plaza Hall, had an in-person audience and was streamed live worldwide.
[4] Before joining Akai Ko-en, she played in a shoegaze band that covered Tokyo Incidents's songs, but with no keyboards.
[30] Tsuno had also composed and written for many other artists throughout her career, including several Hello!Project groups and remarkably SMAP's Joy!
Utagawa continued to study drum playing at the Technos International College[1][permanent dead link] even after Akai Ko-en signed with EMI Music Japan.
After her group having disbanded in February 2018, she participated in auditions to join Akai Ko-en and was promptly chosen by the members because of her clear voice and proper way of singing.