Tomoyo Yoshida, the highly talented vocalist from “VOCALAND,” produced by Toshiki Kadomatsu, and Tetsuji Hayashi’s “GRUNION” project, finally meets Kenta Yoshida of Omega Tribe!
TORA project Press release: October 14, 2025 To Members of the Press Tomoyo Yoshida, the highly talented vocalist from “VOCALAND,” produced by Toshio Kadomatsu, and Tetsuji Hayashi’s project “GRUNION,” has finally met Kenta Yoshida of Omega Tribe! The new band “SUNSET GROOVE” with the strongest lineup has launched! The long-awaited debut album “Aha! Moment” is set to be released!
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https://x.gd/Bv0p5 [CD information] “Aha! Moment” 1. Aha!
Moment~Sunset Groove theme 2. Feel Your Heart 3. SOS 4. Rhythm of the soil 5. Love For Two 6. It’s okay. 7. The Truth Released on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Product Number: SSG-1001 JAN Code: 4522197162379 Price: ¥3,000 (tax included) ¥2,727 (tax excluded) Specifications: 12cm CD Track List: 7 songs in total Released by SUNSET GROOVE, Distributed by PCI Music. *Available for overseas sales. [PCI Music] TEL 03-6268-8956 FAX 03-6268-8957 order@pcimusic.jp [Pre-order Bonus] “SUNSET GROOVE Unreleased Live Digest CD-R (3 songs total)” *The bonus CD-R will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that this offer will end when stock runs out. We recommend that you pre-order early at your local CD shop or online store. *Some stores may not offer bonus items, so please check when pre-ordering or purchasing. *If you pre-order through the online store and would like to purchase a product with a bonus, please be sure to order from the bonus cart. Pre-order CD Pre-order here Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166299/2/166299-2-1ac5fb8173021574b16f97718fcb48b7-2229×1486.jpg SUNSET GROOVE profile The origins of this band date back to the AOR cover band “Tokyo Sunset Boys,” formed around 2008 by musicians active in various fields, centered around Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe guitarist Kenta Yoshida. The band’s members include Crazy Ken Band drummer Keiichi Hiroishi (who passed away in 2025), MEN’S 5
keyboardist Harunobu Okubo (also known as Bonhoyosi), and vocalist Tomoyo Yoshida, formerly of Grunion, a unit formed by composer Tetsuji Hayashi and LOOK saxophonist Cheap Hiroishi (who passed away in 2014). Their live performances, which faithfully reproduced the original songs, were well-received, and the venues were always full to capacity, with standing-room only crowds. However, as each member became busy with their musical careers, the band went on hiatus, after which they made a long-awaited comeback as “SUNSET GROOVE,” with a new look and led by Yoshida Kenta and Yoshida Tomoyo. The band’s members include Keiju Murakami, a soulful and powerful vocalist from the Tokyo Sunset Boys; Yukio Ogawa, a tight-knit drummer with a rich sense of song; Masao Nakamura (ex. STOIC-MODE), a bassist active in the Tetsuji Hayashi songwriting band SWINGING 1984, who also serves as the rhythm section; Koichi Oota (CORVETTES / The Southpaw Snipers), a versatile and skilled arranger highly sought-after keyboardist by musicians from all walks of life; and support members Harunobu Okubo and Junya Kondo, a saxophonist. The band will finally release their first album, “Aha! Moment,” in 2025.
Comments from Tetsuji Hayashi, Kiyotaka Sugiyama, and others Kenta Yoshida of Omega Tribe; GAAA, who once performed on stage with me in Band Eight and now forms the SWINGING1984 band in my SongFile Live; and Tomoyo Yoshida, the vocalist of GRUNION, with whom I also once formed a unit. Looking further into the band, I see Masao Nakamura, who also supports me on stage, Keiju Murakami, and Koichi Ota, all members I’ve spent some time with. I opened the file with great interest, wondering what kind of sound this group would produce. Considering their battle-hardened stage skills, I assumed they’d have a sophisticated sound, but I was surprised. Their versatile sound encompassed everything from soul and funky to R&B, AOR, and even Japanese pop. It was a lovely sight to see young people, bathed in Western music from the ’70s and ’80s, recreating their youth and enjoying the music with nostalgia. Sunset Groove – No, no, it’s not a twilight groove, it’s a lively groove! Composer, Producer Tetsuji Hayashi “I see! That’s what it means!” Music is free and fun. We gathered the sounds, rhythms, and words that we love. It feels like a soulful album, created freely! ” Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe – Kiyotaka Sugiyama This album is truly new to the ears and nostalgic to the heart; the words “Old and New” are the best description for it! With a great groove that incorporates elements of Silk Sonic-like ’60s and ’70s soul music as well as ’80s city pop, this is a masterpiece that fits perfectly into the midsummer of 2025. When you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, or when you’ve lost hope in work or love, this album is packed with songs you’ll want to listen to to recharge your energy. Well, my encounter with Tomoyo Yoshida dates back more than a quarter century to 1997, when, at the behest of Toshiki Kadomatsu, I was searching for a vocalist for the VOCALAND project. Kadomatsu is not only strict about vocal quality and singing ability, but he also values the passion with which the words are conveyed through song, so it wasn’t easy to get the OK. In an era before YouTube, I was busy calling around to numerous agencies, and when I presented Tomoyo Yoshida and Rie Yoshizawa, they recognized my all-round talent and gave me the go-ahead. The other day, I asked Tomoyo to sing an image song for a certain company, and as a director, I had a rehearsal of the vocals for the first time in a while. We had dinner on the way home, and we talked about the various things that have happened in our lives over the past quarter century. And when I listened to this album, it all made sense. By accepting not only the good things that have happened in her life, but also the bad, with an open mind, Tomoyo has acquired the power to transform those things into joy and emotion with her strong vitality as an artist. Well, I also met Murakami Keiju through the VOCALAND project. He’s a wonderful man with a strong sense of justice and a strong sense of “pushing.” He’s also a wonderful man who’s actually romantic and has a kind side. Ah, I want to listen to it again! Nobuto Ikebata, Music Producer, Avex Music Creative Inc.
CD purchase reservation Make a reservation here Tomoyo Yoshida’s 31st anniversary of debut [A voice beloved by song, a story that resonates across the ages] Born in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Tomoyo Yoshida was captivated by singing from a young age and began performing in commercials and as a radio personality in her teens. Her clear voice and expressiveness attracted attention early on, and in 1994, she made her major debut with Pony Canyon after winning the audition “Lips,” which had 6,000 participants. Since her debut with “Bright Eyes,” she has released seven singles and three albums, including “A Secret to Anyone,” “A Miracle is Coming,” “Winter Has Come!”, and “OPEN YOUR HEART” (the theme song for the National High School Volleyball Tournament). Her lyrics, which portray true-to-life women, and her crystal-clear voice have resonated with many and become a defining presence in the lives of young people. But her musical career doesn’t end here. Guided by her divine calling to sing, she continues to move forward to the next stage.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166299/2/166299-2-fc8116bab2d2a665306e579eab6ae1af-1551×2054.jpg “VOCALAND” and “GRUNION”—A Chemical Reaction Between Awakened Talent and Musicians In 1997, Tomoyo Yoshida was thrust back into the spotlight with the “VOCALAND2” project, produced by music maestro Toshiki Kadomatsu. As “Tomoyo Yoshida from VOCALAND,” she released singles such as “Together,” “Because you are,” and “Pride ~Midday Moon~” (the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “Bishoujo Shinseiki GAZER”). Her vocals, embodying the “power to convey words through song” that Kadomatsu sought, have carved a strong presence in the world of AOR and city pop music. In 2001, she joined the unit “GRUNION,” formed by composers Tetsuji Hayashi and Cheap Hiroishi. She also wrote her own lyrics for the group, portraying mature women with a delicate yet powerful voice in songs like “Sparkle” and “Bad Time, Good Time.” Through these activities, Yoshida Tomoyo established herself not just as a singer, but as a comprehensive artist who weaves lyrics, stories, and emotions.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166299/2/166299-2-40db65bae0841c4ac416aed9e089ccf7-1562×2077.jpg A groove born from a fateful encounter: Sunset Groove Launches In 2025, celebrating the 31st anniversary of her debut, Tomoyo Yoshida steps onto a new stage. She reunites with guitarist Kenta Yoshida, formerly of Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe. The encounter between Kenta Yoshida and Tomoyo Yoshida, who were central figures in the AOR cover band “Tokyo Sunset Boys,” which took the world by storm in the 2000s, was a timeless musical reboot. The band that came together included drummer GAAA, bassist Masao Nakamura, keyboardist/arranger Koichi Oota, soulful vocalist Keiju Murakami, and supporters Harunobu Okubo and Juny-a. All are seasoned veterans active at the forefront of the music scene. Thus was born SUNSET GROOVE. This is a bridge connecting the past and the future—a groove reinvented by seasoned musicians.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166299/2/166299-2-789d95263e1c446a6bec709b4e1c20d3-1553×2083.jpg Live information Friday, December 5, 2025 Meguro Blues Alley Japan *General reservations: Friday, October 17th, 4:00 PM onwards From the December Live Schedule Live Booking General booking available here
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