Sambomaster (サンボマスター) is a Japanese Rock band, signed to Sony Music Japan. They were formed in February 2000 when Takashi Yamaguchi (山口隆) (Guitar & Vocals) and Yasufumi Kiuchi (木内泰史) (Drums & Back-Up Vocals) who had first met at a music club at university a few years prior, met Youichi Kondo (近藤洋一) (Bass & Back-Up Vocals) and decided to start a band. Thus, Sambomaster were born. They first made their debut at a live house (known as Showboat) in ... See more [+] the Koenji district of Tokyo not too long after first forming the band. This was quickly followed by them self-producing their first mini-album, Kick no Oni, which took almost a year to complete and was eventually released in April 2001, limited to only 300 copies. They then built on this progress by participating in various indie complations and anthologies, coupled with seemingly endless gigging across the country, which helped create a large amount of interest for the band. However, Sambomaster's big break finally came in Summer 2003, when they appeared at Fuji Rock Festival's Rookie a Go-Go (a show designed to highlight up-and-coming new bands) which lead to them getting signed to Sony Music Japan and releasing their major-label debut album, Atarashiki Nihongo Rock No Michi To Hikari, in December 2003. It eventually peaked at #3 on the music charts, which was a miraculous achievement for the band, as the album had next been given to no advertisting on Sony Music's part, and was being sold on word of mouth and good reviews only. Since releasing their debut album, Sambomaster have since released another three albums. Sambomaster Wa Kimi Ni Katarikakeru was released in Janurary 2005, Boku To Kimi No Subete Wo Rock 'N' Roll To Yobe was released in April 2006 and Ongaku no Kodomo wa Mina Utau was released in January 2008. In 2004, they released the singles Seishun Kyousoukyoku, which was used as an opening theme to the anime Naruto, and Utsukushi Ningen No Hibi, which was used as the main theme for the movie Koi no Mon. In a similar move, the 2005 single Sekai Wa Sore Wo Ai To Yobundaze was used as the closing theme for the television show Densha Otoko. It's widely accepted that these are the songs Sambomaster are currently best known for. This particularly rings true in the west, where exposure to the band is small, especially when compared to big-name Japanese Rock groups.
