bless4 is a Japanese
vocal
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound production i ...
ensemble from the
United States consisting of four siblings from the Kawamitsu family. Youngest sister
Akino has her own solo musical career, and youngest brother Aiki has also released a solo single (with eldest brother Akashi arranging) to accompany his book.
History
All but Akashi were born within the United States, as their father Haru brought his family to Utah to further his education at
Brigham Young University shortly after Akashi was born. They moved to Arizona and there both Akashi and Kanasa were Arizona State
Taekwondo Champions (at ages 14 and 12, respectively), while the whole family was part of a taekwondo exhibition troupe called the "Flying Dragons" with other taekwondo practitioners.
Haru brought his family back to Okinawa in 1997 after feeling a spiritual longing for his heritage as an
Okinawan.
They made their debut in May 2003 from BMG Japan with the song "Good Morning! Mr. Sunshine"
All four now reside in
Kawasaki,
Kanagawa Prefecture, and remain followers of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They made their own independent company in December 2006 with AKASHI as the President of Kawamitsu Arttainment.
In 2009, the group contributed the songs and for the
Disney Animation Studios
The Walt Disney Company has owned and operated several animation studios since the company's founding on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio; the current Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, Ca ...
anime ''
Stitch!'', the former serving as an ending theme for its first season.
In February 2010, the youngest, AIKI made his debut as an author of a
non-fiction novel, based on his own experiences of losing a friend to drugs, titled "Heart Prints ~inochi no hana~". (From Bungeisha)
In March 2011, their company became a limited company and opened their own record label: KAWAMITSU RECORDS.
May 2010, they held their first Korean tour performing at 3 different places in Korea, including Seoul, which proved to be a success.
In September, the group released the single "Dandelion" in Europe on the German record label Marabu Records. The song placed #1 on the Radio Berlin International Charts.
They released their newest album "Yumetsumugi" (Dream Weaving) on January 12, 2011, 6 years after their debut album. It is a self-produced album with each member working as staff to bring their music video and album to life.
On April 19 2022, Aiki announced his departure from the band in order to concentrate his life on his family and his current endeavours.
Members
Current members
* - Born in
Okinawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city o ...
* - Born in
Utah
* - Born in Utah
Former members
* - Born in Utah
Discography
Singles
#"Good Morning! Mr. Sunshine" -
# -
# - (Okinawa Prefecture), (Japan)
# -
# -
#/ - (Digital Release)
#"Dandelion" -
#"Sunshine Dancer" -
Akino
Aiki
* - (Okinawa Prefecture)
* - (From publishing company Bungeisha)
Albums
* - As "
Kawamitsu Family"
*''ALL 4 ONE'' -
* -
*''WE ARE WARRIORS'' -
References
External links
bless4 websiteat
Watanabe Music Publishing
Watanabe ( and other variantsSee #Miscellaneous) is a Japanese surname derived from the noble and samurai Watanabe clan, a branch of the Minamoto clan, descending from the Emperor Saga (786-842), the 52nd Emperor of Japan, and refers to a locat ...
bless4at
Sony Music Entertainmentbless4at
Marabu Records
''Dichrostachys cinerea'', known as sicklebush, Bell mimosa, Chinese lantern tree or Kalahari Christmas tree (South Africa), is a legume of the genus ''Dichrostachys'' in the family Fabaceae.
Other common names include omubambanjobe (Tooro Ugan ...
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Japanese pop music groups
Musical groups from Okinawa Prefecture
Musical groups from Phoenix, Arizona
Musical groups from Utah
Japanese Latter Day Saints
Musical groups established in 2003
2003 establishments in Arizona