The Alfee


The Alfee is a Japanese rock band formed in Tokyo in 1973. Originally a folk quartet, they became a trio of bassist Masaru Sakurai, acoustic guitarist Kohnosuke Sakazaki and electric guitarist Toshihiko Takamizawa in 1975. With all three performing vocal duties, they adopted a harder rock sound in the early 1980s. Beginning with their 16th single "Marie-Anne" in 1983, they have released 59 consecutive top 10 singles. The Alfee hold the record for most concerts performed by a Japanese band, with 2,972 as of August 2025. HMV Japan ranked them number 92 on their list of the top 100 Japanese pop acts.
WWW alfee.comIG kohnosukesakazaki

History

After moving to Tokyo in 1970, Masaru Sakurai formed a three-piece band at Meiji Gakuin Senior High School called Confidence, which covered Western music acts such as Simon & Garfunkel. In 1972, they entered a folk music contest sponsored by Victor and won. There, Sakurai met Kohnosuke Sakazaki, who joined the group later that year. Sakurai and Sakazaki both enrolled in Meiji Gakuin University. There, they recruited Toshihiko Takamizawa, who was also a classmate of Sakurai's in high school. Confidence changed their name to Alfie in 1973, and released their first single "Natsu Shigure" on August 25, 1974. Their first album, Seishun no Kioku, was released on July 25, 1975. Yasuo Miyake then left the group, leaving the lineup of Sakurai, Sakazaki and Takamizawa, which continues to this day. The song "Fuchutorimono Hikae" was set to be released as their third single on December 10, 1975, the day the statute of limitations expired for the 300 million yen robbery, which is parodied in the lyrics. However, Victor cancelled its release due to the connection, causing a rift between the band and their label. Alfie produced no further music for Victor. Instead, they acted as the backing band for artists such as Hiroshi Kamayatsu. In 1979, they signed with Pony Canyon, changed the spelling of their name to Alfee, and released "Love Letter" as their third single on January 21.
In 1983, their song "Marie-Anne" became a massive hit. It earned them an appearance at the prestigious Kōhaku Uta Gassen event, where they performed the song. That year, Alfee performed at the Nippon Budokan for the first time. This began a 35-year tradition of them performing at the venue every year, until 2019, when renovations for the 2020 Summer Olympics ended the streak. The band added "The" in front of their name in 1986. That year, their August 3 concert Sweat & Tears Tokyo-Bay Area, which was held at Tokyo Bay Reclaimed Land No. 13, set a Japanese attendance record for the largest-ticketed concert ever held by a single act when it attracted 100,000 people. Additionally, the name "Tokyo Bay Area" coined by Takamizawa, became a common name by which the area is known.
With their 50th single, "Taiyō ha Shizumanai", released in August 2002, The Alfee set a Japanese record for 35 consecutive top 10 singles on the Oricon Singles Chart.
In March 2014, Sakurai, Sakazaki and Takamizawa were presented with honorary degrees from Meiji Gakuin University, their alma mater where they had formed The Alfee. In the 1970s, Takamizawa had dropped out of the school, while Sakurai and Sakazaki were expelled. At a December 2015 concert at the Nippon Budokan, The Alfee performed as an alterego band named The KanLeKeeZ. The idea was, with all three members having reached their 60s, they decided to pay tribute to group sounds bands of the 1960s. The KanLeKeeZ released the album G.S. meets The KanLeKeeZ on December 21, 2016. It won a Planning Award at the 59th Japan Record Awards in 2017.
Due to providing the theme song to Kansai TV's broadcast of the Osaka International Women's Marathon for 31 consecutive years from 1987 until 2018, when the broadcaster announced they would no longer use themes, The Alfee were certified with the Guinness World Record for "Most theme songs sung by the same artist for the same international sports event broadcast on TV" in December 2018.
With the release of "The 2nd Life -Daini no Sentaku-" in July 2021, The Alfee achieved 55 consecutive top 10 singles on the Oricon Singles Chart. This tied them with SMAP and AKB48 for second place, behind Arashi with 58. Celebrating their 50th anniversary, they performed at the Nippon Budokan on December 23 and 24, 2023. The former marked their 100th concert at the venue. The July 2024 double A-side "Ko.Da.Ma." / "Romance ga Maiorite Kita Yoru" was their 58 consecutive top 10 single, returning them to second place alongside Arashi, and behind AKB48 with 62. At the end of the year, The Alfee performed at the 75th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Taking place 41 years after their first Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearance, it marks the longest gap between appearances in the event's history. "Heart of Rainbow", released in July 2025, made them the male act with the most consecutive top 10 singles.

Members

  • Masaru Sakurai: Born in Chichibu, Saitama. Vocals, bass guitar
  • Kohnosuke Sakazaki: Born in Sumida, Tokyo. Vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, former bandleader
  • Toshihiko Takamizawa: Born in Warabi, Saitama. Vocals, electric guitar, main songwriter, bandleader since 1983. Also has a solo career as "Takamiy".

Former members

  • Yasuo Miyake: Born. Vocals, guitar

Discography

Studio albums

  • Seishun no Kioku
  • Time and Tide
  • Sanjūshi
  • Almighty
  • Doubt,
  • Alfee
  • Alfee's Law
  • The Renaissance
  • For Your Love
  • Ages
  • UK Breakfast
  • DNA Communication
  • Arcadia
  • Journey
  • Mugen no Hate ni
  • Love
  • Nouvelle Vague
  • Ōrb
  • Glint Beat
  • Going My Way
  • One -Venus of Rock-
  • Shin Sekai -Neo Universe-
  • Sanmi Ittai
  • Battle Starship Alfee
  • Tenchi Sōzō
  • ''Kimi ga Ikiru Imi''

Compilation albums

  • Alfee A-Side Collection
  • Alfee B-Side Collection
  • Page One: 13 Pieces of Alfee
  • Alfee Gold
  • Alfee Silver
  • Best Selection
  • Alfee 4-Way Story
  • The Best Song
  • Alfee A-Side Collection Special
  • Alfee B-Side Collection Special
  • Non-Stop
  • Best Selection II
  • The Alfee: The Best
  • Promised Love -The Alfee Ballad Selection-
  • Single History I: 1979–1982
  • Single History II: 1983–1986
  • Single History III: 1987–1990
  • Single History IV: 1991–1994
  • Emotional Love Songs
  • Emotional Message Songs
  • Pride
  • The Best 1997–2002 ~Apres Nouvelle Vague~
  • Yume yo Isoge -Osaka International Ladies Marathon Image Song Album-
  • The Alfee 30th Anniversary Hit Single Collection 37
  • Starting Over ~Best Hit of The Alfee~
  • Single History V: 1996–2001
  • Single History VI: 2002–2008
  • Alfee Gets Requests
  • Alfee Gets Requests! 2
  • Single History VII: 2009–2012
  • Last Run!
  • Single Connection & AGR -Metal & Acoustic-
  • ''The Alfee 50 Songs 1974–1996''

Other albums

Singles

1970s

  • "Natsu Shigure
  • "Seishun no Kioku"
  • "Love Letter"
  • "Odoriko no Yō ni"
  • "Hoshi Furu Yoru ni... "
  • "Fuyu Shōgun"

1980s

  • "Mugongeki"
  • *Theme song of the 1980 TV Tokyo drama Aitsu to Ore
  • "Utsukushī Season"
  • *Theme song of the 1980 Toei film Furyou Shounen
  • "Koibito ni Naritai"
  • "Atesaki no Nai Tegami"
  • "Tōri Ame"
  • "Nakanai de My Love"
  • "Sunset Summer"
  • "Wakare no Rhythm"
  • "Akatsuki no Paradise Road"
  • "Marie-Anne"
  • "Hoshizora no Distance"
  • *Theme song of the 1984 TBS TV drama Mujaki na Kankei
  • "Starship -Hikari wo Motomete"
  • *Theme song of the 1984 film SF Shinseki Lensman
  • "Koibito-tachi no Pavement"
  • "Cinderella ha Nemurenai"
  • "Kiri no Sofia"
  • "Fūyōbi, Kimi wo Tsurete"
  • "Sweat & Tears"
  • "Rockdom: Kaze ni Fukarete"
  • "Sapphire no Hitomi"
  • "Don't Pass Me By"
  • *Theme song of the 1987 Toho film Touch 3
  • "Byakuya
  • "My Truth"
  • "1-gatsu no Ame wo Wasurenai"
  • "Weekend Shuffle -Hanayaka na Shūmatsu-"
  • *Theme song of the 1988 TBS drama Papa ha Nenjū Kurō-suru
  • "19 "
  • "Faith of Love"
  • *"Faith of Love" was the theme song of the 1988 Toho film Gekitotsu
  • "Koibito no Uta ga Kikoeru"
  • *Theme song of the 1989 NTV drama of the same name

1990s

  • "Flower Revolution"
  • "Promised Love"
  • *Theme song of the 1992 NTV drama Pole Position! Aishiki Hito he...
  • "Believe"
  • *Theme song of the 1992 TBS show Move
  • "Victory"
  • "Mō Ichido Kimi ni Aitai"
  • *Ending theme of the 1992 NTV drama Super TV: Jōhō Saizensen
  • "Mada Minu Kimi e no Ai no Uta"
  • "Complex Blue -Ai dake Kanashi Sugite-"
  • *Theme song of the 1994 Fuji TV video series Complex Blue
  • "Bōkensha-tachi"
  • *Theme song of the 1994 NHK anime series Montana Jones
  • "El Dorado"
  • *Ending theme of the 1994 NHK anime series Montana Jones
  • "Love Never Dies"
  • *Theme song of the 1996 NTV drama Kiseki no Romance
  • "Shiawase no Katachi ~Send My Heart~"
  • "Brave Love: Galaxy Express 999"
  • *Theme song of the 1998 Toei anime film Galaxy Express 999: Eternal Fantasy
  • "Kibō no Kane ga Naru Asa ni"
  • *Theme song of the 1999 TBS film Salary Man Kintaro
  • "Wings of Freedom"
  • *Sold only at Yokohama Flügels matches
  • "Justice for True Love"
  • *Theme song of the 1999 anime film ''Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo 2: Satsuriku no Deep Blue''

2000s

  • "Never Fade"
  • *Ending theme of the TV Asahi program Tx2 Show
  • "Juliet"
  • *Theme song of the TV Asahi program Sushi Azarashi and the ending theme of the TV Asahi program Tx2 Show
  • "Taiyō ha Shizumanai"
  • *Ending theme of the Fuji TV drama Shomuni Final
  • "Tanpopo no Uta "
  • *Ending theme of the TV Asahi anime Doraemon
  • "Kibō no Hashi"
  • *Theme song of the TBS drama Salary Man Kintaro 4
  • "100 Oku no Love Story"
  • *Theme song of the TBS film Kochira Hon'ike Gamisho 5
  • "Innocent Love"
  • *Theme song of the drama Mikon Roku Shimai
  • "Dear My Life"
  • "Lifetime Love"
  • "Sakura Nomi no Jukusuru Toki" / "Kaze no Uta"
  • "Looking for Daybreak"
  • "Dedicate My Love"
  • *Theme song of the film ''Uchuu Senkan Yamato Fukkatsu-hen''

2010s

  • "Let It Go"
  • "Ikiyou"
  • "Final Wars!" / "Mōichido Koko Kara Hajimeyou"
  • "Glorious"
  • "Eiyū no Uta
  • "Kyō no Tsudzuki ga Mirai ni Naru"
  • "Anata ni Okuru Ai no Uta"
  • "Ningen Dakara Kanashī nda"

2020s

  • "Tomoyo Jinsei o Kataru Mae ni"
  • "Joker -Nemuranai Machi-
  • "The 2nd Life -Daini no Sentaku-"
  • "Hoshizora no Ceremony" / "Circle of Seasons"
  • "Hagane no Kishi Q" / "Never Say Die"
  • "Ko.Da.Ma." / "Romance ga Maiorite Kita Yoru"
  • "Heart of Rainbow"

Videography

  • Over Drive 1983 Alfee 8.24 Budokan
  • Flying Away Alfee in Yokohama Stadium 1984.8.3 Fri
  • Alfee 3 Days 1985.8/27/28/29 Yokohama Stadium
  • The Alfee History I 1982–1985
  • The Alfee 1986 8.3 Sweat & Tears Tokyo Bay-Area
  • 1986 12.24 Christmas Special All Night The Alfee
  • Sunset – Sunrise 1987 Aug. 8–9
  • Meigaku Live 3 November 1987
  • All Over Japan 4 Access Area 1988
  • The Alfee in Gekitotsu
  • The Alfee with Jean Paul Gaultier
  • U.S. Camp Drake ASC The Alfee 1989.8.13 Sun
  • Bridge Across the Future Reel I: Yokohama MM21 Reel I
  • Bridge Across the Future Reel II: Yokohama MM21 Reel II
  • Arcadia Included by Count Down 1999
  • Long Way to Freedom Revolution II & Smile Photo Collection
  • 10kaime no Natsu -Since 1991-
  • The Alfee History II 1986–1991
  • Just Live! Promised Night August 9, 1992
  • Video Clips Victory
  • Victory Stadium Silver Night Special
  • Victory Stadium Gold Night Special
  • King's Night Dream Western Conference Final
  • King's Night Dream Eastern Conference Final
  • Gen'yosai Red Phantom Eve
  • Gen'yosai Blue Phantom Eve
  • 1982-1994 Osaka Kokusai Joshi Marason Song by The Alfee
  • Yokohama Red Bricks I
  • Yokohama Red Bricks II
  • The Alfee Classics ~Yūgō~
  • Emotional Field Heat & Beat Emotion I
  • Emotional Field Heat & Beat Emotion II
  • The Alfee History III 1992–1997
  • Tokyo One Night Dream
  • The Alfee in NY at Forest Hills Stadium 1st. July. 1998
  • Millennium Carnival I
  • Millennium Carnival II
  • The Alfee in Berlin at Brandenburg Tour 26th, September 1999
  • Millennium Final in Osaka － Live at Osakajyo-Hall "A.D. 1999"
  • Tokyo Aube Stadium Alfee Classics Night
  • Tokyo Aube Stadium Alfee Rockdom Night
  • The Best Ten & "Aru Hii Totsuzen!" Complete Edition 2000
  • Emotion Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Nouvelle Vague Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Final Count Down A.D. 1999 Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Count Down 2001 Hello Good-bye
  • Kingdom Chapter I: Grateful Birth
  • Kingdom Chapter II: Never Ending Dream
  • The Alfee History IV 1997–2001
  • Legend of The Stadium V Silver Legend
  • Legend of The Stadium V Gold Legend
  • Yokohama Swinging Generation: Generation Dynamite Day Aug. 16
  • Yokohama Swinging Generation: Swinging Generation Day Aug. 17
  • Aube 2000 Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Aube 2001 Glint Beat Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Aube 2002 Transformation Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • 30th Anniversary Video Clips II
  • The Alfee History I–III DVD Box Special Edition
  • 30th Anniversary 2004 Travelin' Band Live at NHK Hall May 30
  • Love & Peace: A Day of Love Aug. 14
  • Love & Peace: A Day of Peace Aug. 15
  • 30th Anniversary Count Down 2005: Time and Tide
  • Tokyo Bay-Station Terminal 1
  • Tokyo Bay-Station Terminal 2
  • 2000th Live Concert Starting Over
  • 25th Summer 2006 Yokohama Star-ship Only One Night Aug. 12
  • 25th Summer 2006 Yokohama Star-ship Next One Night Aug. 13
  • Aube 2003 Going My Way Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • 30th Anniversary 2004 Travelin' Band Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Aube 2005 Starting Over Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Aube 2006 One Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Aube 2008 Renaissance Live at NHK Hall
  • Aube 2007 Tenga no Fune Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Aube 2008 Renaissance Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Yokohama Perfect Burn 8.8 Burn Into Memory Night
  • Yokohama Perfect Burn 8.9 Burn Into Perfect Night
  • 35th anniversary 2009 My Truth Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Aube 2010 Neo Universe II Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • The Alfee 2011 Special DVD "I Love You"
  • Neo Universe 2011 Final Series I Love You, Always... Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • One Night Dream 2012 We Get Requests! 2012.7.28 at Saitama Super Arena
  • The Alfee 2013 Special DVD "Grateful Birth"
  • Neo Universe 2012 Final Series Catch Your Earth Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • 40th Anniversary 2014 Video Clips II+
  • Neo Universe 2013 Final Series Grateful Birth Final Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • 40th Anniversary 2014 40-nen-me no Natsu Saitama Super Arena 26.July.2014
  • 40th Anniversary 2014 40-nen-me no Natsu Saitama Super Arena 27 July.2014
  • The Last Genesis ~Toshi no Kiseki to Kiseki~
  • 2,500 Kai Kinen Kaminari-mai Iwai! Sakuraimasaru Kanreki Konsāto
  • 40th Anniversary 2014 Genesis Final Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Best Hit Alfee 2015 One Night Circle
  • Best Hit Alfee Final 2015 Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • Best Hit Alfee 2016 30th Summer! Natsu Fest Yokohama Arena 30.July.2016
  • Best Hit Alfee 2016 30th Summer! Natsu Fest Yokohama Arena 31.July.2016
  • Best Hit Alfee Final 2016 Fuyu Festa Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • 31st Summer Best Hit Alfee 2017 Natsu Festa Yokohama Arena 29.July.2017
  • 31st Summer Best Hit Alfee 2017 Natsu Festa Yokohama Arena 30.July.2017
  • Best Hit Alfee Final 2017 Fuyu Festa Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • 45th Anniversary Summer Best Hit Alfee 2018 Natsu no Maki Château of The Alfee Yokohama Arena 28.July
  • 45th Anniversary Summer Best Hit Alfee 2018 Natsu no Maki Château of The Alfee Yokohama Arena 29.July
  • 45th Anniversary Best Hit Alfee Final 2018 Fuyu no Maki Château of The Alfee III Live at Budokan Dec. 24
  • 45th Anniversary Summer Best Hit Alfee 2019 Natsu no Ran Battle Starship Alfee Makuhari Messe 3.August.2019
  • 45th Anniversary Summer Best Hit Alfee 2019 Natsu no Ran Battle Starship Alfee Makuhari Messe 4.August.2019
  • 45th Anniversary Best Hit Alfee Final 2019 Fuyu no Ran Battle Starship Alfee III
  • 46th Birthday Eve Natsu no Yume 2020.8.24
  • 46th Birthday Natsu no Yume 2020.8.25
  • Best Hit Alfee 2020–2021 Love & Hope Aki no Yume Fuyu no Yume
  • Oretachi no Budōkan 2020
  • 2021 Summer Baby, Come Back! 31.July.2021
  • ''2021 Summer Baby, Come Back! 1.August.2021''

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Singles
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Albums
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Videos
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