English translation

The Checkers was a seven members rock band and - confirmed by their own words - male idols active from early 1980s to early 1990s. They were extremely popular 1980s male idols (*around the level of Kudo Shizuka and Nakayama Miho, with their total sales slightly higher than those two, but just slightly). 

Their members:

- Fujii Fumiya (born: July 11, 1962), vocalist ; nickname: Fumiya, pic

- Takeuchi Toru (born: July 21, 1962), guitar, leader; nickname: Toru, pic

- Takamoku Yoshihiko (born: September 9, 1962), chorus, percussion, known for his trademark mustache; nickname: Moku, pic

- Odoi Yuji (born: November 2, 1962), bass, vice leader' nickname: Yuji or Yu-chan, pic

- Tsuruku Masaharu (born: March 31, 1964), chrous, keyboard; nickname: Masaharu or Ma-san, pic

- Tokunaga Yoshiya (born: June 7, 1964, died: August 17, 2004), drums; nickname: Kurobee, pic

- Fujii Naoyuki (born: December 27, 1964), saxophone, guitar, flute, Fujii Fumiya's younger brother; nickname: Naoyuki or Nao-chan, pic

The Checkers was formed in 1980 as an amateur band. Takamoku begged Fumiya who was drunk at that time to join. And then they started to recruit talented people in each field; which includes went to their houses and begged,  and in case of their drummer - even "kidnapping" attempt. Their drummer, Yoshiya, was a highly seek talent and already had experience in amateur band. One day, three members "kidnapped" him into their car and jokingly threatened him "either join our band or we will bury you in the mountain". 

The Checkers had undergone several times line-up change until they settled with 7 members. They won a Yamaha music contest in 1981, and once all the members graduated from highschool, The Checkers officially debuted in September 21, 1983. In their early career, they appeared literally in checkered pattern costumes. Their debut single didn't sell well but their second single exploded and brought them to Kohaku Uta Gassen 1984.

These were how The Checkers songs ranked in Oricon chart from 1983 - 1992:

#8 (<-- debut song), #2, #1, #1, #1, #1, #1, #1, #1, #2, #1, #2, #2, #1, #2, #3, #4, #2, #3, #5, #2, #2, #2, #7, #3, #4, #4, #5, #7, #4

*their debut single didn't sell well, but once their other singles exploded, people started to buy their debut single again, so it re-climbed Oricon chart and reached high spot

*ALL their singles were in top 10 or Oricon chart. Even when they disbanded, they were still in their peak and never declined

In their entire career, The Checkers have released a total of 31 singles and 10 original albums. They have 9 Oricon #1 ranked songs. Based on the survey of "Music Station" in 2011, they released their version of "Top 50 Japanese Idols" list and The Checkers was ranked #11 with total sales of 15,380,000 copies (*as comparison: #12 Miporin, #13 Kudo Shizuka). They have performed 9 consecutive times in Kohaku Uta Gassen 1984 (vs Kyon2), 1985 (vs Kyon2), 1986, 1987 (vs Akina), 1988 (vs Kyon2), 1989 (vs Oginome), 1990 (vs Kudo Shizuka), 1991, 1992 (vs Kudo Shizuka). 

They also have acting career, although barely, in which they appeared in 2 movies (1985, 1986, movies about themselves) and 4 dramas (1986 - 1989). They were also appeared as semi-regular in some variety shows. The Checkers were also trendsetter, their fashions and hairstyles were used by a lot of young people in that era.

This song is their highest selling song. Released in November 21, 1984 as their fifth single, it reached #1 in Oricon (weekly) chart with 703,000 sales. More importantly, this song reached #1 in Oricon yearly chart of 1985 (highest selling song of 1985). It also won award in "Japan Record Awards". One year later, they performed this song in Kohaku Uta Gassen 1985 (*because they sang other song in Kohaku 1984, their other big hit).

Their live performances:

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^ in "Yoru no Hit Studio"

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^ in "Yoru no Hit Studio" again

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^ in "The Best Ten" that had their own ranking system independent from Oricon chart, this song also reached #1

^ cool stage set. From "The Top Ten" probably (?)

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^ stage mix which includes footage that looks like "The Top Ten"

^ stage mix which includes footage from "Let's Go Young"

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in 1985 concert tour:

live concert, 1986:

concerts with unspecified  years:

By early 1990s, four of their members already married and/or had child. Some members also had their solo careers. They agreed to disband in 1992 and Kohaku Uta Gassen 1992 became their last stage before officially disbanded. 

And...... this was Fujii Fumiya, July 2022

Fujii Fumiya 40th anniversary concert tour planned on September 2023

Takeuchi Toru (their leader, guitarist), October 2022

Takamoku Yoshihiko (percussion, the guy with mustache) appeared in a movie in 2019

^ the guy who shouted in (0:17). He played as the main character's dad....and guess who's the mom? Does she look familiar? That's..........Asada Miyoko!

His recent photos

Odoi Yuji (vice leader, bassist), July 2022

Tsuruku Masaharu (chorus, keyboard), 2016

Recent photos:

Singing with Nogizaka46, unspecified year:

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Tokunaga Yoshiya (the drummer) died in 2004 when he was just 40 because of tongue cancer 

Fujii Naoyuki (saxophone guy, Fumiya's younger brother), August 2022

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