Chachamaru

For a character in Negima! Magister Negi Magi, see Chachamaru

Chachamaru
Birth name	藤村幸宏 (Yukihiro Fujimura)
Genres	Rock, Metal, Blues
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, singer, composer, producer, arranger
Instrument(s)	Guitar, Shamisen
Years active	1980s–present
Labels	Nippon Crown

Yukihiro Fujimura (藤村幸宏, Yukihiro Fujimura, born March 3, 1960 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan), is a Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter, arranger and producer. Usually referred to by his stage name "Chachamaru", little is known about his early years and personal life. Besides as a member and collaborator with various bands and musical acts in the 80s and 90s, he is most known as being the lead guitarist and associate music producer for Gackt.

Biography

Yukihiro "Chachamaru" Fujimura was born in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, on March 3, 1960. He was a student at the Bukkyo University, private university with philosophy based on Pure Land Buddhism.

In 1983, Chachamaru co-founded progressive rock band Gerard, as a leader vocalist and guitar. It was until 1986 the band disbanded because their signed label King Records no longer supported progressive music. After a two year long break, with Shusei Tsukamoto formed a progressive/hard rock band Vienna being on vocals and guitar. In the same year they released their first album "Overture". With one more album and live record they went on a hiatus. During 1989, he was a guitarist for Minoru Niihara, at the time ex and now current singer of famous Loudness, session metal band Ded Chaplin for releasing their first album "Ded Chaplin 1st".

In 1990 he participated Gerard reunion for a new recording, although shortly after due to musical divergences left the band. Not long after, Chachamaru with Minoru Niihara re-formed metal band Ded Chaplin. Within two more years on music scene, they released two more albums, and "The Best Works of Ded Chaplin" until their disbandment. Without another period of band activities, in 1994 to 1995 helped Toshi from X Japan on his second studio album "Grace" for composing and guitar playing, and live supporting as a lead guitarist and backing vocals. In the next year, until then being known under his real name, changed to stage name "Chachamaru" and joined the session hard rock band Girl U Need to release self-titled album on the same year. As a part of Vienna reunion, they managed to publish one more album "Unknown" until their final disbandment.

Since 2000, when Chachamaru joined the solo artist Gackt, he is an associate producer and the lead guitarist for his live support band, as well as backing vocalist. In 2010 was the tenth anniversary of their musical collaboration.

Music Style and technique

Chachamaru primarily being as the lead guitarist, is considered as a technical guitarist, known for his loose yet melodic and controlled playing and also for his unique tuning. His musical style varies from progressive rock, metal, soul and blues with experimental playing.

Guitar Legacy

At the time, Jackson/Charvel luthier Itaru Kanno designed several guitar models for the companies, among them the 27-fretter „Jackson Falcon Custom“ for Chachamaru, a guitar never sold outside of Japan. When around 94s Jackson's contract with the Japanese trading company Kyowa-Shokai expired and they opted not to renew their contact with Jackson guitars, Itaru as one of the main designers at the Chushin Gakki factory, in 95s established a new guitar company, the Caparison Guitars. Their new model, 27-fretter „The Caparison Horus“ made its debut in the same year, and more than ten years later, the collaboration with Chachamaru is still improving, as the model being the most famous company guitar.

Discography

In 2002, Chachamaru managed to release a solo album "Air". He brought some of his old friends, Shusei Tsukamoto, Masafumi Nishida and Ryuichi Nishida, as well new friends You Kurosaki and Gackt Camui who took part in it as a guest vocalist, into the studio to record.

Albums

All tracks are written by Chachamaru,

*Air (December 21, 2002)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Air"	1:08
2.	"Divine"	5:11
3.	"As"	4:22
4.	"Naked"	4:22
5.	"Kagero" (sang by Gackt)	6:23
6.	"Lucious"	5:31
7.	"Matamorphose"	4:43
8.	"Canone"	10:38
9.	"Grieve"	7:34

References

History of the first Japanese made Jackson guitars

External links

• Caparison Guitars Profile

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