# Aobozu (band)

Aobozu (藍坊主, Aobōzu) is a Japanese alternative rock band, signed to Toy's Factory. They debuted in 2003, with the album Aobozu.

## Biography

Hozzy, Kamei and Fujimori were originally childhood friends, all coming from Odawara. In 1999, they formed a band in called The Blue Boss (ザ･ブルーボーズ, Za Burū Bōzu) in 1999, that was a cover band for Japanese punk band The Blue Hearts. In 2000, they changed the band's name to aobōzu (藍坊主) - the name of a mythical yōkai (Japanese folk legend ghost), however with a different kanji for ao (藍 instead of 青). In 2001, Yūichi Tanaka (a friend of Fujimori's since kindergarten) joined the band as its guitarist. The band then centred their live activities in their hometown, as well as around the Tokyo areas of Hachiōji and Shimokitazawa.
In 2002, the band produced their first self-published CD: "Michi" (道, Street). The following year, the band independently released their debut album Aobozu through Buddy Records, and had their songs featured on many punk compilation albums.
In 2004, the band's drummer Kamei left, and was replaced by a classmate of Tanakas, Takurō Watanabe, as a session drummer. The band then made their major debut under Toy's Factory, Hiroshige Blue, which reached the top 30 on the Oricon albums charts.
Since then, the band has toured exclusively, gradually gaining more fame. Their 2010 album Mizukane reached the top 10 on Oricon.

## Discography
### Albums

| Year | Album Information | Oricon albums chart positions |
| 2003 | Aobozu (藍坊主, Aobōzu) Released: February 12, 2003 Label: Buddy (DLCR-03021) | 125 |
| 2004 | Hiroshige Blue (ヒロシゲブルー, Hiroshige Burū) Major label debut album Released: May 12, 2004 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86155) | 30 |
| 2005 | Soda (ソーダ, Sōda) Released: May 18, 2005 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86180) | 29 |
| 2006 | Hanamidori (ハナミドリ) Released: April 26, 2006 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86194) | 26 |
| 2008 | Forestone (フォレストーン, Foresutōn) Released: April 2, 2008 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86251) | 15 |
| 2010 | Mizukane (ミズカネ) Released: February 17, 2010 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86321) | 10 |
| 2011 | The Very Best of Aobozu (ザ・ベリー・ベスト・オブ・アオボウズ) Released: April 27, 2011 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86255) | — |
| 2012 | Noctiluca (ノクティルカ, Nokutiruka) Released: April 18, 2012 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86381) | — |
| 2013 | Bloomery (ブルーメリー, Burūmerī) Released: May 15, 2013 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86438) | — |
| 2013 | S/Normally (スノーマリー, Sunōmarī) Released: November 6, 2013 Label: Toy's Factory (TFCC-86447) | — |
| 2014 | Himawari (向日葵) Released: August 29, 2014 Label: Toy's Factory | — |
| 2019 | Moenai Kaseki (燃えない化石) Released: July 10, 2019 Label: Toy's Factory | 35 |

### Singles

| Release | Title | Notes | Oricon Singles charts | Album |
| 2003 | "Shizuku" (雫, Drop) | Released under Buddy Records. | 52 | Hiroshige Blue |
| 2003 | "Sora" (空, Sky) | Sole release under Hills Records. | 66 | Hiroshige Blue |
| 2005 | "Uzura" (ウズラ, Quail) | First major label single. | 35 | Soda |
| 2005 | "Spoon" (スプーン, Supūn) | | 40 | Hanamidori |
| 2006 | "Sakura no Ashiato" (桜の足あと, Cherry Blossom Footprints) | | 28 | Hanamidori |
| 2006 | "Hello Goodbye" (ハローグッバイ, Harō Gubbai) | | 19 | Forestone |
| 2007 | "Coin Toss" (コイントス, Koin Tosu) | | 24 | Forestone |
| 2007 | "Sora o Tsukuritaku Nakatta" (空を作りたくなかった, I Didn't Want to Make the Sky) | | 30 | Forestone |
| 2008 | "Kotoba no Mori" (言葉の森, Forest of Words) | | 29 | Forestone |
| 2008 | "Mother" (マザー, Mazā) | | 28 | Mizukane |
| 2009 | "Namae no Nai Iro" (名前の無い色, Nameless Color) | | 32 | Mizukane |
| 2010 | "Dengon" (伝言, Rumor) | | 21 | Mizukane |