Huwie Ishizaki 石崎ひゅーい | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Ishizaki at the 29thTokyo International Film Festival (2016) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1984-03-07)March 7, 1984 (age 41) Mito, Ibaraki, Japan |
| Genres | J-Pop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present[a] |
| Formerly of | Astrocoast |
| Website | ishizakihuwie |
Huwie Ishizaki (Japanese:石崎ひゅーい,Hepburn:Ishizaki Hyūi; born March 7, 1984) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor. He began writing and performing when he was in middle school and later became the vocalist of the band Astrocoast. In 2012, at the age of 26, he became a solo artist after being persuaded to by the music producer Akira Sudo; he debuted in July 2012 with his mini albumDai-san Wakusei Kōkyōkyoku. As of March 2025, he has released six full albums. He charted onBillboard Japan's Hot Lyricist and Composer in November 2021.
Ishizaki has made various film and television appearances, beginning with his debut role in 2016 filmJapanese Girls Never Die as Yuji Soga. He appeared as Takashi Nozoe in the 2019 filmSora no Restaurant, and as Kamiya Yusuke in the TV drama seriesHidarikiki no Eren.
He has written songs for other artists such asMasaki Suda andAina the End; he also performed theme songs for Japanese film and TV dramas such as "Yakan Hikō", which was used as the ending theme for 2013 TV drama seriesMinna! ESPer Dayo!. He performed "Parade" which served as the secondary ending theme of the 2019 animeCase File nº221: Kabukicho.
Ishizaki was born on March 7, 1984, inMito, Ibaraki.[1] His name was derived from the middle name ofDavid Bowie's son,Duncan Zowie Jones, as his mother was a fan of Bowie's. Ishizaki said in an interview withMusic Natalie that he was often asked with disbelief to "write his real name", even though Huwie was his real name.[2]
In Ishizaki's first year of middle school, he decided to start his music career. He has said that he particularly likedSpeed and that he was a member of a Speed fan club. A friend of his joined a band that coveredHi-Standard's songs, and he joined the band as a vocalist. He also wrote songs and performed live in locallive houses in Mito, Ibaraki.[2] At this time he also joined a children's theater group because his mother wanted him to become an actor.[3][4]
Ishizaki was part of the Hi-Standard cover band until he was in his first year of college in Tokyo, when he left the band because he was tired of singing English lyrics without understanding them. Ishizaki founded the rock bandAstrocoast in 2004, which focused on singing Japanese songs. One of the first songs that he wrote was "History of Gandhi", which is aboutMahatma Gandhi.[2][5][4][6]
Ishizaki was a member of Astrocoast for two years, but left as their songs' sales remained stagnant. Later, he met Akira Sudo, a music producer in a live venue inYokohama where Astrocoast often performed. Sudo persuaded him to become a solo artist, which he did when he was 26.[1] Astrocoast disbanded in November 2010.[6]
Ishizaki's debut as a solo artist came on July 25, 2012, with the mini albumDai-san Wakusei Kōkyōkyoku. It followed his appearance in a live show byRake that year.[7] The album's songs were based on his feelings about real life events such as the2011 Great East Japan earthquake, Some of the songs were personal, such as one about his mother's death four years prior. After his father told him that his mother would not have liked melancholy songs, he rewrote it.[2] He released his first single "Fantastic Radio" on November 21.[8] He was selected as one of the "12 Artists to Watch" for 2012 byiTunes Japan.[9]
Ishizaki released a single, "Yakan Hikō", on June 5, 2013, which served as the ending theme song for theJapanese drama seriesMinna! ESPer Dayo!, the first episode of which featured acameo from him.[10][11][12] He released his first full album,Dokuritsu Zen'ya, on July 17, the one-year anniversary of his debut. The album's title (lit. "Eve of Independence") is a reference to his decision to become a solo artist.[13][14] On November 27, he released another single, "Mayday, Mayday", which was used as the theme song for the2013 Judo Grand Slam Tokyo.[15]
On April 2, 2014, he released his second mini album,Dakara Carnation wa Sukidenai, which was about his feelings for his mother.[16] On June 25, he released the double-sided single "Peanut Butter/Nakimushi Hacchi". "Peanut Butter" was used as the ending theme for the Japanese filmShin Kaishaku/Nipponshi [ja].[17][18] He released the song "Hoshi o Tsukamaete", which was used as the ending theme ofHaikyū!! Riēfu Kenzan! (a spin-off film of theanimeHaikyu!!).[19]
On February 26, 2015, he published his first novel, Sayonara, Tōkyō Merīgōrando.[20] In March of that year he released the song "Boku ga Iruso!", which was used as the ending theme of aMinna! ESPer Dayo! spin-off.[21] He made his stage debut in June, in the playKanojo no Kigen by theGekidan Shikagoroshi Theater Company [ja].[22] On September 4, he released the song "Otamajakushi", which served as the opening theme of theMinna! ESPer Dayo! film.[23][24]
Ishizaki released his second full album,Kabin no Hana, on May 18, 2016; a short film with the same title had been released four days prior.[25][26] He starred as Yuji Soga in the 2016 filmJapanese Girls Never Die.[27][28] On August 27, he released his single "Pino to Amélie", which served as the second ending theme of the21st season of the animeNaruto: Shippuden.[29][30] On December 7, he released his third albumAtarazumotookarazu, produced by Akira Sudo.[31]
In 2017, he wrote the song "Sayonara Elergy [ja]" which was performed byMasaki Suda.[32] On March 28, 2018, he releasedHuwie's Best, a compilation album of his fans' favorite songs—selected through online voting.[33] In December 2018, he performed "Encore", which served as the theme song for the 2018 drama seriesHeisei Bashiru [ja]—in which he had a cameo.[34] He also performed "Anata wa Doko ni Iruno", the theme song of the 2019 drama seriesSasurai Onsen Endō Ken'ichi [ja]—in which he also had a cameo, as aKokeshi doll craftsman.[35][36]
In January 2019, he starred as Takashi Nozoe in the filmSora no Restaurant [ja].[37] In February, he wrote and directedJ-Wave's 30th anniversary musical performance.[38] In March 6, he released another mini-album,Golden Age.[39] In June, he performed both the theme song "Namida" and the ending theme song "Ano Natsu no Hi no Mahō" of the anime filmFor Whom The Alchemist Exists: The Movie.[40] He wrote another song for Masaki Suda, entitled "Clover", which served as the theme song of a short film of the same name.[41] He had his first non-cameo acting role in the TV drama seriesHidarikiki no Eren as Kamiya Yusuke.[42]
In 2020, Ishizaki performed the second ending theme of the animeCase File nº221: Kabukicho, entitled "Parade", with lyrics about his own loneliness.[43][44] He performed the ending theme song of the filmTread [ja]—in which he also made an appearance.[45][46] He performed "Flowers", which served as the theme song of the filmUnderdog.[47] He wrote the song "Niji" (sung by Masaki Suda), which served as the theme song of the anime filmStand by Me Doraemon 2.[48]
In 2021, Ishizaki performed the theme song "Ayame" of the 5th season of the TV drama seriesKeishichō – Sōsaikkachō [ja]; he also had a cameo in the 8th episode of that season.[49][50] In February of that year, he performed a cover of "Sayonara Elergy", a song he originally wrote forMasaki Suda onThe First Take YouTube channel.[51] He wrote the debut song ofNinety-nine'sHiroyuki Yabe.[52] He performed "Black Star", which served as the theme song of the filmWatashi wa Hakuchō.[53] He wrote the song "Last Scene", performed by Masaki Suda, which served as the theme song of the TV drama seriesJapan Sinks: People of Hope.[54] He charted three times on bothBillboard Japan's Hot Composer and Hot Lyricist charts, peaking at 14 and 15 respectively on November 17, 2021.[55] On December 21 he released his fourth full albumDiamond.[56]
In 2022, Ishizaki performed "Hanataba" as the theme song of the 6th season ofKeishichō – Sōsaikkachō—in which he also made a cameo. The song was based on a true story about how Ishizaki's friend met his wife.[57][58][59] He collaborated with Masaki Suda on a song entitled "Aimokawarazu".[60] He acted in the TV drama seriesJapanese Style [ja] as Ringorou Asatsuki.[61][62] In 2023, he performed "Wasuregataki", which served as the opening theme of the animeDr. Stone: New World.[63] He wrote the song "Ai Kotoba [ja]"—performed byAina the End—as the ending theme of the anime seriesThe Apothecary Diaries.[64] He also released his fifth album—Uchuu Hyakkei—on July 26, 2023, in celebration of his 10th year as a solo artist.[65]
On September 11, 2024, Ishizaki released a single, "Season2", which was produced byYaffle.[66] On November 27, he released his sixth album, "night milk", featuring covers of songs byFujii Kaze,Mrs. Green Apple, and others.[67] He appeared in the live-action movie ofYa Boy Kongming! as Higashiyama.[68]
Ishizaki said in an interview withMusic Natalie that he writes songs to express the 'emotion that builds up' about his daily life, and he believes that songs that 'come out' that way are more human that the ones that are 'created'. He also said that most of his songs were greatly influenced by his late mother.[2][3]Aina the End describes Ishizaki as someone who writes songs in a 'straightforward' manner.[64]Billboard Japan describes him as "a cutting-edge singer-songwriter with a presence like that of a 'singing monster'".[69] GuitaristMarty Friedman commented inNikkei Business Publications that Ishizaki's vocals are "his own style, but very emotional" and added that his vocals are "absolutely impossible to auto tune."[70] Hirokazu Suzuki of RealSound said that the "core" of his expression is "real", adding that he writes "beautiful songs", but does not sing "pretty words".[59]
Ishizaki describes himself as "a sloppy person who does not understand other people's feelings, but deeply aware that he lives his life with the support of others".[71] Ishizaki has stated that he is "bit of an alcoholic" and said that he almost died twice in about a month when he was in college due toacute alcohol poisoning and after that he began slowly reducing his alcohol intake.[72][73][3] He often mentions that he likes to be naked, and said in an interview that "if it were allowed, I'd like to be naked forever."[14][72]
| Album title | Release date | Peak Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Hot[55] | ||
| Dai-san Wakusei Kōkyōkyoku | July 25, 2012 | — |
| Dakara Carnation wa Sukidenai | April 2, 2014 | — |
| Golden Age | March 6, 2019 | 72 |
| Album title | Release date | Peak Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Hot[55] | ||
| Dokuritsu Zen'ya | July 17, 2013 | — |
| Kabin no Hana | May 18, 2016 | 58 |
| Atarazumotookarazu | December 7, 2016 | 96 |
| Diamond | December 21, 2021 | 65 |
| Uchuu Hyakkei | July 26, 2023 | 27 |
| night milk | November 27, 2024 | 95 |
| Album title | Release date | Peak Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Hot[55] | ||
| Huwie's Best | March 28, 2018 | 90 |
| Single | Release date | Peak Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Hot[55] | ||
| "Fantasic Radio" | November 21, 2012 | 31 |
| "Yakan Hikō" | June 5, 2013 | 30 |
| "Mayday, Mayday" | November 27, 2013 | — |
| "Peanuts Butter / Nakimushi Hacchi" | June 25, 2014 | 72[b] |
| "Hoshi o Tsukamaete" | March 4, 2015 | — |
| "Boku ga Iruso!" | March 25, 2015 | — |
| "Otamajakushi" | September 4, 2015 | — |
| "Pino to Amélie" | August 27, 2016 | — |
| "Namida / Ano Natsu no Hi no Mahō" | June 12, 2019 | — |
| "Parade" | March 11, 2020 | — |
| "Ito" | July 17, 2020 | — |
| "Flowers" | November 24, 2020 | — |
| "Ayame" | May 17, 2021 | — |
| "Black Star" | July 7, 2021 | — |
| "Hanataba" | May 19, 2022 | — |
| "Aimokawarazu" | August 2, 2022 | — |
| "Wasuregataki" | May 24, 2023 | — |
| "Season2" | September 11, 2024 | — |
| "Sunny Days" | November 13, 2024 | — |
| Year | Film | Role | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Japanese Girls Never Die | Yuji Soga | [27] |
| 2019 | Sora no Restaurant | Takashi Nozoe | [37] |
| 2020 | Thread | [46] | |
| 2025 | Ya Boy Kongming! | Higashiyama | [68] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Minna! ESPer Dayo! | Cameo (EP1) | [11] | |
| 2018 | Heisei Bashiru | Cameo | [34] | |
| 2019 | Sasurai Onsen Endō Ken'ichi | Kokeshi doll craftsman | [36] | |
| Hidarikiki no Eren | Kamiya Yusuke | [42] | ||
| 2021 | Keishichō – SōsaikkachōSeason 5 | Cameo (EP8) | [49] | |
| 2022 | Keishichō – Sōsaikkachō Season 6 | Cameo | [58] | |
| Japanese Style | Ringorou Asatsuki | [62] | ||
| 2023 | Ya Boy Kongming! | Higashiyama | Episode 9 | [74] |
