# Spyair

Spyair (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese rock band from Nagoya, formed in 2005. The band consists of Yuji "UZ" Nakai (guitar, programming), Kenji "Momiken" Momiyama (bass guitar, leader), Kenta Sasabe (drums) and Yosuke (vocals). The band's name was determined in one shot by the members, which came from the word spyware, a type of computer virus.

## History

The band was formed in 2005 and produced and released a number of materials themselves up until 2009 when they signed with the indie label U-Project. While with U-Project, they released the singles "Japanication" and "Kanjō Discord" before signing a major record deal with Sony Music in 2010. Their major debut single, "Liar," was released on August 11 and was used as the theme song for the drama Hammer Session!. Their second major single, "Last Moment," was released on December 1 and was used as the 25th ending song for the anime Bleach.
Spyair's indies debut single "Japanication" was re-released on March 16, 2011, followed by their fourth major single, "Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)," on June 8, which was used as the 17th ending song to the anime Gin Tama. In early 2012, the single "My World" was used as the second ending song for Mobile Suit Gundam AGE. The single "0 Game (Love Game)" was used as an official soundtrack for the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man in Japan. They also provided the theme song for the second Gin Tama movie, "Genjō Destruction". Their eighth major single "Naked" was released on September 5 and was followed by the announcement of the band's second album, Just Do It, which features 12 tracks including their last three singles.
In October, DJ Enzel☆ announced that he would be leaving the band after their Nippon Budokan concert on December 18. The single "Wendy: It's You" was used as the theme song for the drama Koi Suru Hae Onna, which started airing in November. On December 18, the band successfully held their first live concert at the Nippon Budokan, performing a total of 21 songs including their latest singles. This concert was Enzel's last performance with the group. After the concert, they announced a new single, "Sakura Mitsutsuki," set for release on March 13, 2013. It was used as the 13th opening song for Gin Tama for the month of January.
Spyair's third studio album, Million, was released on August 7. On September 23, it was released by JPU Records in Europe, where the CD only version included three bonus tracks: "Last Moment," "Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)" and "My World." In October, the single "Just One Life" was used as the first opening song of the anime Samurai Flamenco. Their next single "Imagination" was released on April 30, 2014, and served as the first opening song of the anime Haikyū!!. The single "Firestarter," released on July 22, 2015, was used as the theme song for the drama The Last Cop. In October, Spyair contributed with the first opening song of the second season of Haikyū!!, "I'm a Believer", and a year later, their single "Rage of Dust" was used as the opening song of the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans.
On March 31, 2022, it was announced that Ike would be leaving the band due to struggles with ulcerative colitis. On April 13, 2023, Ike's replacement was announced to be 24 year old Yosuke.

## Musical style and influences

The members of the band have cited their musical influences to be Korn, Linkin Park, and Michael Jackson. SPYAIR combines elements of rock, pop and electronic music.

## Band members

* UZ (中井祐二, Nakai Yuji, born December 13, 1984) — guitar, programming (2005–present)
* Momiken (籾山健二, Momiyama Kenji, born November 14, 1984) — bass guitar, leader (2005–present)
* Kenta (笹部健太, Sasabe Kenta, born March 16, 1985) — drums (2005–present)
* Yosuke — vocals (2023–present)

### Former member

* Enzel☆ (岩田洋輔, Iwata Yosuke, born May 11, 1985) — DJ (2009–2012)
* Ike (池田秀文, Ikeda Hidefumi, born April 18, 1984) — vocals (2005–2022)

### Timeline
## Discography
### Albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | JPN Oricon | JPN Billboard | KOR Gaon |
| Alive | Released: September 10, 2008 Label: Self-released Format: CD | — | — | — |
| Rockin' the World | Released: September 21, 2011 Label: Sony Music Formats: CD, digital download | 8 | 8 | 67 |
| Just Do It | Released: September 19, 2012 Label: Sony Music Formats: CD, digital download | 20 | 25 | 44 |
| Million | Released: August 7, 2013 Label: Sony Music, JPU Records Formats: CD, digital download | 2 | 2 | 34 |
| Best | Released: November 26, 2014 Label: Sony Music, JPU Records Formats: CD, digital download | 3 | 6 | 36 |
| 4 | Released: November 18, 2015 Label: Sony Music, JPU Records Formats: CD, digital download | 6 | 7 | 66 |
| Kingdom | Released: October 11, 2017 Label: Sony Music, JPU Records Formats: CD, digital download | 5 | 5 | 61 |
| Unite | Released: March 31, 2021 Label: Sony Music, JPU Records Formats: CD, digital download | | | |

### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | Notes | Album |
| Title | Year | JPN Oricon | JPN Billboard | KOR Gaon | Sales | Certifications | Notes | Album |
| "Japanication" | 2009 | 84 | — | — | | | Released under the label, U-Project | Non-album singles |
| "Kanjō Discord" | 2009 | — | — | — | | | Released under the label, U-Project | Non-album singles |
| "Liar" | 2010 | 55 | 26 | — | | | Spyair's major debut single, used as Hammer Session! theme song | Rockin' the World |
| "Last Moment" | 2010 | 43 | 95 | — | | | Bleach 25th ending song | Rockin' the World |
| "Japanication" | 2011 | — | — | — | | | Re-released | Rockin' the World |
| "Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)" | 2011 | 18 | 40 | — | JPN: 250,000+ | RIAJ: Platinum | Gin Tama 17th ending song | Rockin' the World |
| "Beautiful Days" | 2011 | 34 | 67 | — | | | Don Quixote theme song | Rockin' the World |
| "My World" | 2012 | 21 | 31 | — | | | Mobile Suit Gundam AGE second ending song | Just Do It |
| "0 Game" | 2012 | 15 | 10 | — | | | The Amazing Spider-Man Japanese theme song | Just Do It |
| "Naked" | 2012 | 47 | 22 | — | | | | Just Do It |
| "Rock This Way" | 2012 | — | 52 | — | | | Collaboration with Japanese hip-hop artist Seamo | Non-album single |
| "Wendy: It's You" | 2012 | 29 | 26 | — | | | Koi Suru Hae Onna theme song | Best |
| "Sakura Mitsutsuki" | 2013 | 10 | 8 | — | JPN: 100,000+ | RIAJ: Gold | Gin Tama 13th opening song | Million |
| "Niji" | 2013 | 20 | 24 | — | | | Sennyu Tantei Tokage theme song | Million |
| "Genjō Destruction" | 2013 | 6 | 5 | — | JPN: 100,000+ | RIAJ: Gold | Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya theme song | Million |
| "Just One Life" | 2013 | 23 | 15 | — | | | Samurai Flamenco opening song | Best |
| "Imagination" | 2014 | 9 | 3 | — | JPN: 100,000+ | RIAJ: Gold | Haikyū!! opening song | Best |
| "Glory" | 2014 | — | — | — | | | | Best |
| "Rockin' Out" | 2015 | 11 | 17 | 50 | | | | 4 |
| "Firestarter" | 2015 | 18 | 26 | — | | | The Last Cop theme song | 4 |
| "I'm a Believer" | 2015 | 9 | 5 | — | JPN: 100,000+ | RIAJ: Gold | Haikyū!! Season 2 opening song | 4 |
| "This Is How We Rock" | 2016 | 8 | 17 | 59 | | | | Kingdom |
| "Rage of Dust" | 2016 | 10 | 7 | 64 | JPN: 100,000+ | RIAJ: Gold | Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 opening song | Kingdom |
| "Be With" | 2017 | 12 | 34 | 55 | KOR: 573 | | | Kingdom |
| "Midnight" | 2017 | 20 | 65 | — | | | Utsubokazura no Yume theme song | Kingdom |
| "I Wanna Be..." | 2018 | 26 | 24 | — | | | Gintama 21st Opening song | Unite |
| "We'll Never Die" | 2018 | | | | | | digital single | Unite |
| "B-the One" | 2019 | | | | | | 2018–19 B.League season theme song | Unite |
| "Pride of Lions" | 2019 | | | | | | | Unite |
| "Inside of Me" | 2020 | | | | | | digital single | Unite |
| "One Day" | 2020 | | | | | | Haikyu!! To the Top 2nd ending song | Unite |
| "Wadachi" | 2021 | | | | | | Gintama: The Final theme song | Unite |
| "iris" | 2021 | | | | | | digital single | Unite |
| "All I Need" | 2021 | | | | | | digital single | Non-album single |
| "Orange" | 2024 | 12 | 8 | — | | | Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle theme | Orange |

## Music videos

| Year | Song | Director(s) |
| 2012 | "ジャパニケーション" (Japanication) | Takahide Ishii |
| 2012 | "0 Game" | Kensaku Kakimoto |
| 2012 | "Liar" | Wataru Saito |
| 2012 | "Last Moment" | Takuya Tada |
| 2012 | "Beautiful Days" | Tatsuya Murakami |
| 2012 | "My World" | Tatsuya Murakami |
| 2012 | "サムライハート(Some Like It Hot!!)" (Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)) | Tatsuya Murakami |
| 2012 | "Naked" | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2012 | "Wendy ～It's You～" | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2012 | "Movin' On" | Dan Nishi |
| 2013 | "サクラミツツキ" (Sakura Mitsutsuki) | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2013 | "虹" (Niji, Rainbow) | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2013 | "現状ディストラクション" (Genjō Destruction) | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2013 | "Just One Life" | Hideaki Sugawara |
| 2014 | "イマジネーション" (Imagination) | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2014 | "Glory" | Masahiko Tsuruo |
| 2015 | "Rockin' Out" | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2015 | "ファイアスターター" (Firestarter) | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2015 | "アイム・ア・ビリーバー" (I'm a Believer) | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2016 | "This is How We Rock" | Wataru Saito |
| 2017 | "Be with" | Yamado Yuki |
| 2017 | "Midnight" | Masakazu Fukatsu |
| 2018 | "I Wanna Be…" | Masakazu Fukatsu |

## Awards and nominations
### Billboard Japan Music Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2012 | Spyair | Animation Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2013 | Spyair | Animation Artist of the Year | Nominated |

### JpopAsia Music Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2013 | "Niji" | Best Single | Nominated |
| 2013 | Ike (Spyair) | Best Use of Social Media | Nominated |

### Neo Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2016 | Spyair | Best Musical Act | Nominated |