THE ALFEE

The Alfee (formerly spelled Alfie) is a Japanese rock band formed in Tokyo in 1973. Originally a folk quartet, they became a trio of bassist Masaru Sakurai, acoustic guitarist Kohnosuke Sakazaki and electric guitarist Toshihiko Takamizawa in 1975. With all three performing vocal duties, they adopted a harder rock sound in the early 1980s. Beginning with their 16th single "Marie-Anne" in 1983, they have released 59 consecutive top 10 singles. The Alfee hold the record for most concerts performed by a Japanese band, with 3,000 as of April 2026. HMV Japan ranked them number 92 on their list of the top 100 Japanese pop acts. After moving to Tokyo in 1970, Masaru Sakurai formed a three-piece band at Meiji Gakuin Senior High School called Confidence (コンフィデンス), which covered Western music acts such as Simon & Garfunkel. In 1972, they entered a folk music contest sponsored by Victor and won. There, Sakurai met Kohnosuke Sakazaki, who joined the group later that year. Sakurai and Sakazaki both enrolled in Meiji Gakuin University. There, they recruited Toshihiko Takamizawa, who was also a classmate of Sakurai's in high school. Confidence changed their name to Alfie in 1973, and released their first single "Natsu Shigure" on August 25, 1974. Their first album, Seishun no Kioku (re-titled Greenhorn on most re-issues), was released on July 25, 1975. Yasuo Miyake then left the group, leaving the lineup of Sakurai, Sakazaki and Takamizawa, which continues to this day. The song "Fuchutorimono Hikae" was set to be released as their third single on December 10, 1975, the day the statute of limitations expired for the 300 million yen robbery, which is parodied in the lyrics. However, Victor cancelled its release due to the connection, causing a rift between the band and their label. (The song would finally be released in 2014 as part of a re-release of Seishun no Kioku that coincided with the band's 40th anniversary.) Alfie produced no further music for Victor. Instead, they acted as the backing band for artists such as Hiroshi Kamayatsu. In 1979, they signed with Pony Canyon (then known as Canyon Records), changed the spelling of their name to Alfee, and released "Love Letter" as their third single on January 21. In 1983, their song "Marie-Anne" became a massive hit. It earned them an appearance at the prestigious Kōhaku Uta Gassen event, where they performed the song. That year, Alfee performed at the Nippon Budokan for the first time. This began a 35-year tradition of them performing at the venue every year, until 2019, when renovations for the 2020 Summer Olympics ended the streak. They hold the record for most concerts at the Nippon Budokan by a band, with 105 as of December 2025. The band added "The" in front of their name in 1986. That year, their August 3 concert Sweat & Tears Tokyo-Bay Area, which was held at Tokyo Bay Reclaimed Land No. 13 (now Odaiba), set a Japanese attendance record for the largest-ticketed concert ever held by a single act when it attracted 100,000 people. Additionally, the name "Tokyo Bay Area" coined by Takamizawa, became a common name by which the area is known. With their 50th single, "Taiyō ha Shizumanai", released in August 2002, The Alfee set a Japanese record for 35 consecutive top 10 singles on the Oricon Singles Chart. In March 2014, Sakurai, Sakazaki and Takamizawa were presented with honorary degrees from Meiji Gakuin University, their alma mater where they had formed The Alfee. In the 1970s, Takamizawa had dropped out of the school, while Sakurai and Sakazaki were expelled. At a December 2015 concert at the Nippon Budokan, The Alfee performed as an alterego band named The KanLeKeeZ. The idea was, with all three members having reached their 60s, they decided to pay tribute to group sounds bands of the 1960s. The KanLeKeeZ released the album G.S. meets The KanLeKeeZ on December 21, 2016. It won a Planning Award at the 59th Japan Record Awards in 2017. Due to providing the theme song to Kansai TV's broadcast of the Osaka International Women's Marathon for 31 consecutive years from 1987 until 2018, when the broadcaster announced they would no longer use themes, The Alfee were certified with the Guinness World Record for "Most theme songs sung by the same artist for the same international sports event broadcast on TV" in December 2018. With the release of "The 2nd Life -Daini no Sentaku-" in July 2021, The Alfee achieved 55 consecutive top 10 singles on the Oricon Singles Chart. This tied them with SMAP and AKB48 for second place, behind Arashi with 58. Celebrating their 50th anniversary, they performed at the Nippon Budokan on December 23 and 24, 2023. The former marked their 100th concert at the venue. The July 2024 double A-side "Ko.Da.Ma." / "Romance ga Maiorite Kita Yoru" was their 58 consecutive top 10 single, returning them to second place alongside Arashi, and behind AKB48 with 62. At the end of the year, The Alfee performed at the 75th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Taking place 41 years after their first Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearance, it marks the longest gap between appearances in the event's history. "Heart of Rainbow", released in July 2025, made them the male act with the most consecutive top 10 singles. Principal members Masaru Sakurai (桜井 賢, Sakurai Masaru): Born (1955-01-20) January 20, 1955 (age 71) in Chichibu, Saitama. Vocals, bass guitar Kohnosuke Sakazaki (坂崎 幸之助, Sakazaki Kōnosuke): Born (1954-04-15) April 15, 1954 (age 72) in Sumida, Tokyo. Vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, former bandleader Toshihiko Takamizawa (高見沢 俊彦, Takamizawa Toshihiko): Born (1954-04-17) April 17, 1954 (age 72) in Warabi, Saitama. Vocals, electric guitar, main songwriter, bandleader since 1983. Also has a solo career as "Takamiy". Early member Yasuo Miyake (三宅康夫, Miyake Yasuo): Born (1955-01-08) January 8, 1955 (age 71). Vocals, guitar (1973–1975) One Night Dreams 1983–1987: Special Live Edition (September 17, 1987, live album) The Alfee Classics with London Symphony Orchestra (March 21, 1990, remix album) Confidence -The Alfee Acoustic Special Live- (July 21, 1993, live album) Live in Progress (July 21, 1995, live album) The Alfee Classics II: The Alfee with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (December 16, 1996, remix album) The Alfee Classics III: The Alfee with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (November 16, 2001, remix album) 40th Anniversary Special Concert at Nippon Budokan (デビュー40周年 スペシャルコンサート at 日本武道館; March 18, 2015, live album) Over Drive 1983 Alfee 8.24 Budokan (October 21, 1983) Flying Away Alfee in Yokohama Stadium 1984.8.3 Fri (September 21, 1984) Alfee 3 Days 1985.8/27/28/29 Yokohama Stadium (October 15, 1985) The Alfee History I 1982–1985 (December 15, 1985) The Alfee 1986 8.3 Sweat & Tears Tokyo Bay-Area (October 5, 1986) 1986 12.24 Christmas Special All Night The Alfee (May 21, 1987) Sunset – Sunrise 1987 Aug. 8–9 (September 30, 1987) Meigaku Live 3 November 1987 (June 21, 1988) All Over Japan 4 Access Area 1988 (October 5, 1988) The Alfee in Gekitotsu (THE ALFEE in 激突; December 21, 1988) The Alfee with Jean Paul Gaultier (June 14, 1989) U.S. Camp Drake ASC The Alfee 1989.8.13 Sun (October 4, 1989) Bridge Across the Future Reel I: Yokohama MM21 Reel I (October 3, 1990) Bridge Across the Future Reel II: Yokohama MM21 Reel II (October 3, 1990) Arcadia Included by Count Down 1999 (November 21, 1990) Long Way to Freedom Revolution II & Smile Photo Collection (March 27, 1991) 10kaime no Natsu -Since 1991- (10回目の夏 -SINCE 1991-; October 2, 1991) The Alfee History II 1986–1991 (March 25, 1992) Just Live! Promised Night August 9, 1992 (October 7, 1992) Video Clips Victory (July 21, 1993) Victory Stadium Silver Night Special (October 21, 1993) Victory Stadium Gold Night Special (October 21, 1993) King's Night Dream Western Conference Final (October 5, 1994) King's Night Dream Eastern Conference Final (October 5, 1994) Gen'yosai Red Phantom Eve (幻夜祭 Red Phantom Eve; October 4, 1995) Gen'yosai Blue Phantom Eve (幻夜祭 Blue Phantom Eve; October