Sukima Switch

Biography

Sukima Switch (スキマスイッチ) is a Japanese rock/jazz fusion duo consisting of core members Takuya Ōhashi (大橋卓弥, Ōhashi Takuya), born May 9, 1978, and Shintarō Tokita (常田真太郎, Tokita Shintarō), born February 25, 1978, formed in 1999. Formerly with BMG Japan (bought by SMEJ in early 2009), they signed with Sony Music Japan's Ariola Japan label in September 2009.

History

Ōhashi's musical duties include vocals, guitar, and harmonica, while Tokita plays piano/keyboards, numerous other instruments, and oversees overall production. Most of the other instrumentation heard on their albums is played by guests and studio musicians. In this sense, their band structure and chemistry could be compared to that of the American group Steely Dan. Their style is very heavily jazz influenced (another similarity with Steely Dan), yet it retains core pop elements and catchy melodies that have proved popular with Japanese audiences.

In popular culture

Many of Sukima Switch's songs have appeared in anime and video games. Ōhashi also covered the song "Katamari on the Swing" in the PlayStation 3 game Katamari Forever.

Their second single, "Kanade", was covered by Sora Amamiya and Rie Takahashi for the ending themes to the anime series One Week Friends and Teasing Master Takagi-san 2, respectively. The song was also used as the theme song for the live-action adaptation of One Week Friends.
Their fifth single, "Zenryoku Shōnen", is featured as the first song in the Nintendo DS game Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2, which was released in Japan on May 17, 2007. The song is also in the expansion pack to the Nintendo DS game Daigasso! Band Brothers. The song was re-released for the Japanese release of Disney and Pixar's 2020 film Onward.
Their seventh single, "Boku Note", was also used as the theme song for Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006.
The eighth single, "Guarana" is the theme song of the film adaptation of Rough, with their second, third and fifth singles used as inserts.
The song "Shizuku" is the opening theme for the anime adaptation of the novel series The Beast Player.
Their 12th single, "Golden Time Lover", is the third opening of the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Their 13th single, "Ice Cream Syndrome", is the ending theme of the Pokémon movie Phantom Ruler: Zoroark.
Their 17th single, "Eureka", is the second opening to the anime Space Brothers.
Their 19th single, "Hello Especially×Hello Especially31 July 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Hello Especially4:002サウンドオブ3:56310th -type Ⅱ- (instrumental)2:494Hello Especially (backing track)3:59", is the ending song to the anime Silver Spoon.
Their 20th single, "Ah Yeah!!×Ah Yeah!!23 July 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Ah Yeah!!5:082夏のコスモナウト4:333passage (from 新宿LOFT 2014.4.9)4:294Ah Yeah!! (anime ver.)1:345Ah Yeah!! (backing track)5:07", is the second opening to the anime Haikyuu!!.
Their 22nd single, "Hoshi no Utsuwa" (星のうつわ), is the ending theme song for the anime film The Last: Naruto the Movie.
Their 23rd single, "LINE", is the eighteenth opening to the anime Naruto Shippuden.

Singles

Debut single – "view" – July 9, 2003
2nd single – 奏 ("Kanade") – March 10, 2004
3rd single – ふれて未来を ("Furete Mirai o") – June 16, 2004
4th single – 冬の口笛 ("Fuyu no Kuchibue") – November 24, 2004
5th single – 全力少年 ("Zenryoku Shōnen") – April 20, 2005
6th single – 雨待ち風 ("Ame Machi Kaze") – June 22, 2005
7th single – ボクノート ("Boku Note") – March 1, 2006
8th single – ガラナ ("Guarana") – August 16, 2006
9th single – アカツキの詩 ("Akatsuki no Uta") – November 22, 2006
10th single – マリンスノウ ("Marine Snow") – July 11, 2007
11th single – 虹のレシピ ("Niji no Recipe") – May 20, 2009
12th single – ゴールデンタイムラバー ("Golden Time Lover") – October 14, 2009
13th single – アイスクリームシンドローム ("Ice Cream Syndrome") – July 7, 2010
14th single – さいごのひ ("Saigo no Hi") – January 26, 2011
15th single – 晴ときどき曇 ("Hare Tokidoki Kuromi")
16th single – ラストシーン ("Last Scene")
17th single – ユリーカ ("Eureka") – August 8, 2012
18th single – スカーレット ("Scarlet") – June 19, 2013
19th single – "Hello Especially×Hello Especially31 July 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Hello Especially4:002サウンドオブ3:56310th -type Ⅱ- (instrumental)2:494Hello Especially (backing track)3:59" – July 31, 2013
20th single – "Ah Yeah!!×Ah Yeah!!23 July 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Ah Yeah!!5:082夏のコスモナウト4:333passage (from 新宿LOFT 2014.4.9)4:294Ah Yeah!! (anime ver.)1:345Ah Yeah!! (backing track)5:07" – July 23, 2014
21st single – パラボラヴァ ("Parabolover") – November 19, 2014
22nd single – 星のうつわ ("Star Vessel") – December 3, 2014
23rd single – "LINE" – November 11, 2015
24th single – 全力少年 produced by 奥田民生 ("Zenryoku Shōnen produced by Tamio Okuda") – November 30, 2016
25th single – ミスターカイト / リチェルカ ("Mr. Kite / Ricerca") – September 12, 2017
26th single – 青春 ("Youth") – July 3, 2019
27th single – "Lovin' Song" – February 21, 2024

Mini albums

Debut mini album – 君の話 (Kimi no Hanashi) – September 17, 2003

Studio albums

Debut album – 夏雲ノイズ×夏雲ノイズ23 June 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11螺旋 (らせん）5:072ふれて未来を4:033桜夜風4:464view4:165きみがいいなら3:496ドーシタトースター4:587君の話 〜エヴォリューションMIX〜3:488僕の話3:559種を蒔く人4:1710キミドリ色の世界3:2311えんぴつケシゴム 〜overture〜5:0512奏 (かなで)5:29Disc 21-interview- 夏雲ノイズ編2-interview- ビデオクリップ編3view4君の話5奏 (かなで)6ふれて未来を (Natsugumo Noise) – June 23, 2004
2nd album – 空創クリップ×空創クリップ20 July 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1君に告げる1:182全力少年4:333水色のスカート4:004冬の口笛 (feat. Takuya ver.)5:275フィクション4:316さみしくとも明日を待つ (Album ver.)7:067キレイだ3:488かけら ほのか3:549目が覚めて5:5610飲みに来ないか3:3911雨待ち風 (Album ver.)6:44 (Kūsō Clip) – July 20, 2005
3rd album – 夕風ブレンド×夕風ブレンド29 November 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1藍3:592ガラナ （album ver.）4:273スフィアの羽根 （album ver.）4:424惑星タイマー （album ver.）5:125月見ヶ丘2:446空創トリップ1:317ボクノート5:398ズラチナルーカ5:199糸ノ意図4:0910アカツキの詩 （album ver.）4:4611アーセンの憂鬱4:1712願い言5:1313１＋１3:11 (Yuukaze Blend) – November 29, 2006
4th album – ナユタとフカシギ×ナユタとフカシギ4 November 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1双星プロローグ4:192雫3:183ゴールデンタイムラバー（album ver.)6:134ムーンライトで行こう3:115病院にいく2:566デザイナーズマンション2:3378ミリメートル6:538レモネード3:379SL95:2610虹のレシピ（album ver.）7:5411光る4:37 (Nayuta to Fukashigi) – November 4, 2009
5th album – musium×musium5 October 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11時間の止め方4:212アイスクリーム シンドローム (album ver.)5:253石コロDays5:544LとR4:535ソングライアー4:426センチメンタル ホームタウン3:347さいごのひ (album ver.)6:158Andersen3:599スモーキンレイニーブルー4:3610晴ときどき曇5:3311またね。3:58Disc 21アイスクリーム シンドローム -Video Clip-2さいごのひ -Video Clip-3晴ときどき曇 (another ending ver.) -Video Clip-4“musium” Special Interview – October 5, 2011
6th album – Sukima Switch – December 3, 2014
7th album – 新空間アルゴリズム×新空間アルゴリズム14 March 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1リチェルカ4:382LINE (shinku‐kan mix)4:423パーリー！パーリー！3:524ミスランドリー2:585Revival4:326未来花5:577ミスターカイト (shinku‐kan mix)4:448Baby good sleep4:139さよならエスケープ4:0810リアライズ7:51 (Shinkuukan Algorithm) – March 14, 2018
8th album – Hot Milk×Hot Milk24 November 2021 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1OverDriver4:342吠えろ!4:023青春5:214Ordinary4:245東京4:076スイッチ!3:447されど愛しき人生5:34 – November 24, 2021
9th album – Bitter Coffee×Bitter Coffee24 November 2021 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1/7I-T-A-Z-U-R-A4:212/7G.A.M.E.4:353/7風がめくるページ4:304/7いろは5:485/7SINK5:096/7フォークで恋して4:447/7あけたら5:30 – November 24, 2021
10th album – A museMentally×A museMentally10 July 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Intro 〜for Compact Disc〜1:402ゼログラ4:103Lovin’ Song5:344逆転トリガー4:355ごめんねベイビー3:276遠くでサイレンが泣く8:147Lonelyの事情5:228コトバリズム4:169魔法がかかった日3:2410クライマル5:5111君と願いを5:17 – July 10, 2024

Concept albums

1st album – re:Action×re:Action15 February 2017 · Album · RemixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1全力少年4:092僕と傘と日曜日5:353フィクション4:264ユリーカ4:385マリンスノウ5:046Ah Yeah!!5:377奏（かなで）5:128晴ときどき曇4:159君のとなり3:4910ふれて未来を6:0111ゴールデンタイムラバー6:5512冬の口笛4:3413回奏パズル7:09 – February 15, 2017
2nd album – スキマノハナタバ 〜Love Song Selection〜×スキマノハナタバ 〜Love Song Selection〜18 September 2018 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1パラボラヴァ (2018 Remaster)5:282奏(かなで) (2018 Remaster)5:263僕と傘と日曜日 (2018 Remaster)6:2341017小節のラブソング (2018 Remaster)4:405Revival (2018 Remaster)4:306ボクノート (2018 Remaster)5:367小さな手 (2018 Remaster)5:268藍 (2018 Remaster)3:589アイスクリームシンドローム (2018 Remaster)5:2110ラストシーン (2018 Remaster)6:1711ただそれだけの風景 (2018 Remaster)5:5112未来花 (for Anniversary)5:5613ありがとう re:produced by 常田真太郎5:51 (Sukima no Hanataba ~Love Song Selection~) – September 19, 2019
3rd album – スキマノハナタバ 〜Smile Song Selection〜×スキマノハナタバ 〜Smile Song Selection〜18 August 2020 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1全力少年 Remastered4:332夏のコスモナウト4:323青春5:224ガラナ4:305ミスターカイト4:466星のうつわ5:377かけら ほのか3:528Hello Especially3:589LとR4:5210トラベラーズ・ハイ5:4111Ah Yeah!!5:0612ゴールデンタイムラバー5:4313晴ときどき曇5:3614あけたら5:30 (Sukima no Hanataba ~Smile Song Selection~) – August 19, 2020

Compilation albums

1st album – グレイテスト・ヒッツ×グレイテスト・ヒッツ1 August 2007 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1view4:162君の話3:483奏 (かなで)5:324ふれて未来を4:035冬の口笛5:286全力少年4:357雨待ち風5:598キレイだ3:519飲みに来ないか3:3910ボクノート5:4111ガラナ4:3112スフィアの羽根4:1413アカツキの詩4:3014惑星タイマー4:4215マリンスノウ5:22 (Greatest Hits) – August 1, 2007
2nd album – DOUBLES BEST×DOUBLES BEST22 August 2012 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11全力少年4:082アイスクリーム シンドローム5:013ふれて未来を4:364藍4:335螺旋(らせん)6:036ボクノート5:197雫4:388晴ときどき曇6:319view4:2710ガラナ5:1211奏(かなで)5:2912ただそれだけの風景5:21Disc 21ラストシーン6:202ユリーカ3:56 – August 22. 2012
3rd album – POPMAN'S WORLD〜All Time Best 2003–2013〜 – August 23, 2013
4th album – POPMAN'S ANOTHER WORLD – April 13, 2016
5th album – SUKIMASWITCH 20th Anniversary BEST 『POPMAN'S WORLD -Second-』 SNT selection – June 28, 2023
6th album – SUKIMASWITCH 20th Anniversary BEST 『POPMAN'S WORLD -Second-』 TKY selection – June 28, 2023
7th album – SUKIMASWITCH 20th Anniversary BEST 『POPMAN'S WORLD -Second-』 – July 5, 2023