Wowaka

wowaka
wowaka
	Wowaka in 2017
Background information
Also known as	Genjitsutouhi-P (現実逃避P)
Born	4 November 1987; Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Died	5 April 2019 (aged 31)
Genres	J-pop; dance-rock; post-punk; nightcore; trap;
Occupation(s)	Composer, lyricist, arranger, vocalist, guitarist
Instrument(s)	Hatsune Miku, Megurine Luka, Megpoid, Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster
Years active	2009–2019
Labels	Balloom
Formerly of	Hitorie
Website	www.hitorie.jp; lineblog.me/hitorie/

Wowaka (stylized as wowaka, Japanese: ヲワカ; 4 November 1987 – 5 April 2019),^[3] also known as Genjitsutouhi-P (現実逃避P), was a Japanese musician. Considered to be a pioneer in the Vocaloid industry, wowaka was internationally acclaimed for his musical work over a career spanning a decade.^[4]

Wowaka began his career in 2009, debuting with the song In the Gray Zone. (グレーゾーンにて。) He later co-founded the record label Balloom in 2011, and in the same year released his debut album Unhappy Refrain (アンハッピーリフレイン), which placed 6th on the Oricon Charts and is an influential work in the Vocaloid industry. Following this, he formed the band Hitorie as the lead vocalist and guitarist, and continued work there for the rest of his career.

On 5 April 2019, at the age of 31, he died due to heart failure.^[5]

Early life

Wowaka was born in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan on 4 November 1987.^[3] He was interested in joining rock bands since his middle school, starting as a guitarist, he joined bands in his high school and college. He was an alumnus of University of Tokyo, and was the leader of the music club "Toudai Onkan" (東大音感).^[6] In college, he began composing original music for his band.^[7]

Career

Wowaka's first contact with Vocaloid music was in December 2008, when he listened to livetune's song Last Night, Good Night. Taking a liking to the song, he was shocked to learn that this song was the work of one man. He then quit his band, and began creating Vocaloid music using Hatsune Miku in April 2009.^[8]^[9] Wowaka began his musical career in May 2009, by uploading his original Vocaloid music titled In the Gray Zone. (グレーゾーンにて。) to the Japanese video-sharing website Niconico Douga. In the video of In the Gray Zone, trying to convey the image of the song without using illustrations of Vocaloid characters, wowaka used his own drawing instead, and, for consistency, he kept this style in all his later Vocaloid works.^[7]

Wowaka's songs published on Niconico are characterised by obscure lyrics depicting thoughts of young women in fast-paced melodies.^[8] He has said that although he initially wanted to make music that can only be made using Vocaloid, he later realized the advantages of Vocaloid music.^[10] He became known under the name "Genjitsutouhi-P" after writing the phrase "Escaping from reality, how nice!" (Japanese: 現実逃避って、いいよね！) in several descriptions of his music.^[7] His works gained particularly large popularity on Niconico Douga. After releasing his self-published album, he helped found Balloom, an independent record label, along with other musicians popular on Niconico Douga.

In May 2011, wowaka released his debut studio album Unhappy Refrain (アンハッピーリフレイン) under the Balloom label.^[11]^[12] The album released to widespread acclaim, peaking at 6th on Oricon and with several tracks, including the title track, entering Niconico Douga's Hall of Legends and Hall of Myths. It is considered a classic in the Vocaloid music industry, and is often considered Wowaka's signature work.^{[by whom?]} The tracks, including "Two-faced Lovers", "World's End Dancehall", "Rolling Girl", and "Unhappy Refrain", all attained a cult following.^[13] Following this, wowaka was the composer and lyricist of the single And I'm Home, which was used as one of the ending theme songs in the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica.^[14] In the same year, he joined the rock band Hitorie as the primary vocalist and guitarist,^[3] and shifted his focus towards the band. Hitorie released their debut album Room Sick Girls Escape (ルームシック・ガールズエスケープ) in 2012.^[15]

In August 2017, wowaka released his final Vocaloid song entitled Unknown Mother Goose (アンノウン・マザーグース) following six years since his previous works in Vocaloid. The song was created for Hatsune Miku's 10-year anniversary compilation album Re:Start.^[16] In October of the same year, he released his own vocal cover version of the song under Hitorie.^[17] In an interview, wowaka credited Hatsune Miku for getting him into making music. He stated: "I never gave it a second of thought 10 years ago as I posted songs, but no matter how you look at it, Hatsune Miku is the one who got me to start music. Miku is sort of like a mother figure to me."^[18]^[19]

Death

Wowaka died in his sleep on 5 April 2019, due to heart failure, at the age of 31. The death was announced on Hitorie's website on 8 April 2019.^[20] After his death, the band postponed their planned tour but continued in September so as to not diminish wowaka's legacy.^[21] The band has released 2 albums since his death. Band member Shinoda took wowaka's place as the vocalist. A private funeral was held by his family members.^[3] On 1 June 2019, Hitorie held a remembrance concert. On Hatsune Miku's Magical Mirai 2019 and Miku Expo Europe 2020 concerts, tributes were held to honor him.

Legacy

Various Vocaloid artists have made music with wowaka as an inspiration.^[18] His songs like "Rolling Girl" and "World's End Dancehall" are widely influential and, along with other songs of his, have inspired others to make covers and derivative works.^[4] Following his death, fans of Wowaka paid tribute to him on various social media to commemorate his musical and vocal capabilities.^[5]

Musician Kenshi Yonezu, also known by his stage name Hachi when creating Vocaloid music, was a close friend of wowaka. After his death, Yonezu praised wowaka for having a deep impact on the concept of "Vocaloid-esque" music among Vocaloid creators, and that since his own music was also influenced by wowaka, he held his greatest respect for him.^[22]

Aiden Strawhun wrote on Kotaku that "For those who've been part of the Vocaloid community since Hatsune Miku's early days, Wowaka's name carries more than just the weight of nostalgia. It carries a teenage-angsty resonance thanks to songs such as the turbulent, cacophonic 'Rolling Girl.' [...] Where there is Hatsune Miku, there is Wowaka. [...] With his passing, we've not only lost a huge, immensely influential part of the community but a monumental part of our history. His work, though, will live on. Wowaka did more than create music for a generation. He created magic."^[4]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title	Album details	Peak positions
Title	Album details	JPN ^[23]
the monochrome disc	Released: 15 November 2009 Label: Hinichijou Records Formats: CD	—
World 0123456789	Released: 7 February 2010 Label: Hinichijou Records Formats: CD	—
SEVEN GIRLS' DISCORD	Released: 14 November 2010 Label: Hinichijou Records Formats: CD	—
Unhappy Refrain (アンハッピーリフレイン)	Released: 18 May 2011 Label: Balloom Formats: CD, digital download	6
"—" denotes items which did not chart in that region.

Compilation albums

Title	Album details
EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Supernova	Released: 2 December 2009 Label: Exit Tunes Formats: CD Song featured: Zureteiku (ずれていく)
EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalolegend feat. Hatsune Miku (EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalolegend feat.初音ミク)	Released: 20 January 2010 Label: Exit Tunes Formats: CD Song featured: Two-Faced Lovers (裏表ラバーズ, Ura Omote Lovers)
EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Supernova 2	Released: 3 March 2010 Label: Exit Tunes Formats: CD Song featured: Rolling Girl (ローリンガール)
LOiD-02 -postrock- LOiD's MiND	Released: 17 March 2010 Label: LOiD Formats: CD Song featured: delayed verb
EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalogenesis feat. Hatsune Miku (EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalogenesis feat.初音ミク)	Released: 19 May 2010 Label: Exit Tunes Formats: CD Song featured: Rolling Girl (ローリンガール)
VOCAROCK collection feat. 初音ミク	Released: 21 July 2010 Label: FARM RECORDS Formats: CD Song featured: World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
Niconico Touhou Kenbunroku Genkyokushuu (ニコニコ東方見聞録原曲集)	Released: 5 January 2011 Label: BinaryMixx Records Formats: CD Song featured: World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
Letters to U	Released: 20 April 2011 Label: Aniplex Formats: CD Composer and arranger
"Niconico Touhou Kenbunroku" Utattemita -Cast Vocal shuu- (「ニコニコ東方見聞録」歌ってみた〜キャストボーカル集〜)	Released: 27 April 2011 Label: BinaryMixx Records Formats: CD Song featured: World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
SUPER VOCALO BEAT	Released: 1 June 2011 Label: Dwango User Entertainment, Inc. Formats: CD Song featured: World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
VOCALOID BEST from Niconico Douga (Red) (VOCALOID BEST from ニコニコ動画 (あか))	Released: 22 June 2011 Label: Sony Music Direct Formats: CD Song featured: World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
V.I.P Append(Marasy plays Vocaloid Instrumental on Piano)	Released: 27 July 2011 Label: Dwango Formats: CD Song featured: World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
antinotice/hanabira (「antinotice」 /「花弁」)	Released: 17 August 2011 Label: Toy's Factory Formats: CD Composer and lyricist
Hatsune Miku - Project DIVA - extended Complete Collection (初音ミク-Project DIVA- extend Complete Collection)	Released: 9 November 2011 Label: Sony Music Direct Formats: CD Song featured: Rolling Girl (ローリンガール), Two-Faced Lovers (裏表ラバーズ, Ura Omote Lovers)
Kaeshi uta (かえしうた)	Released: 30 November 2011 Label: dmARTS Formats: CD Song featured: World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
Hatsune Miku DANCE REMIX Vol.1 (初音ミク DANCE REMIX Vol.1)	Released: 7 December 2011 Label: JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment Formats: CD Song featured: World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
LOVER"S"MiLE	Released: 22 February 2012 Label: Aniplex Formats: CD Composer and arranger
TwinTail・TwinGuitar	Released: 9 May 2012 Label: Royal Records Formats: CD Song featured: Rolling Girl (ローリンガール)
Hatsune Miku 5th Birthday Best - Impacts - (初音ミク 5thバースデーベスト〜impacts〜)	Released: 1 August 2012 Label: Dwango Formats: CD Song featured: Two-Faced Lovers (裏表ラバーズ, Ura Omote Lovers)
Yuukei Sekai Reconstruction (有形世界リコンストラクション)	Released: 17 October 2012 Label: Pony Canyon Formats: CD Song featured: Two-Faced Lovers (裏表ラバーズ, Ura Omote Lovers)
V-box	Released: 31 October 2012 Label: dmARTS Formats: CD Song featured: Unhappy Refrain (アンハッピーリフレイン)
Hatsune Miku - Project DIVA - F Complete Collection (初音ミク -Project DIVA- F Complete Collection)	Released: 6 March 2013 Label: Sony Music Direct Formats: CD Song featured: Unhappy Refrain (アンハッピーリフレイン), World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール)
LANDSPACE	Released: 30 October 2013 Label: Aniplex Formats: CD Composer, arranger, lyricist
HATSUNE MIKU 10th Anniversary Album「Re:Start」	Released: 30 August 2017 Label: Dwango Formats: CD Song featured: Unknown Mother Goose (アンノウン・マザーグース)

VOCALOID songs

List of VOCALOID songs uploaded to Niconico Douga under the names wowaka and Genjitsutouhi-P, and the VOCALOID programs that were used.^[24]
Title	Year	Notes
In the Gray Zone (グレーゾーンにて。, Gray Zone nite) (Hatsune Miku)	2009	First musical work.
Palm (テノヒラ, Tenohira) (Hatsune Miku)		Received over 600,000 views.
Line Art (ラインアート, Lineart) (Hatsune Miku)		Received over 400,000 views.
Not Letting You Pass (とおせんぼ, Tosenbo) (Hatsune Miku)		Received over 1,500,000 views.
My Talent (僕のサイノウ, Boku no sainou) (Hatsune Miku)		Received over 600,000 views.
Two-Faced Lovers (裏表ラバーズ, Ura Omote Lovers) (Hatsune Miku)		Sixth work. Received over 8,200,000 views.
Out of Step (ずれていく, Zureteiku) (Hatsune Miku)		Received over 1,400,000 views.
Doll of Building Blocks (積み木の人形, Tsumiki no Ningyou) (Hatsune Miku, Megpoid)		Received over 1,100,000 views.
Rolling Girl (ローリンガール) (Hatsune Miku)	2010	Received over 9,200,000 views.
World's End Dancehall (ワールズエンド・ダンスホール) (Hatsune Miku, Megurine Luka)	2010	Received over 21,000,000 views.
Unhappy Refrain (アンハッピーリフレイン) (Hatsune Miku)	2011	Received over 9,300,000 views.
Unknown Mother Goose (アンノウン・マザーグース) (Hatsune Miku)	2017	Received over 56,000,000 views. Last Vocaloid song before his death.

References

^ "ボカロ曲の流行の変遷と「ボカロっぽさ」についての考察（2）シーンを席巻したwowakaとハチ". Real Sound (in Japanese). 9 August 2020.
^ "ボカロ曲の流行の変遷と「ボカロっぽさ」についての考察（6）syudouと煮ル果実の功績、YouTube発ヒット曲の定着". Real Sound (in Japanese). 11 October 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Antonio Pineda, Rafael (7 April 2019). "Hitorie Band Vocalist/Vocaloid Producer wowaka Passes Away at 31". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c Strawhun, Aiden (9 April 2019). "Remembering A Vocaloid Legend Behind Some Of The Best Hatsune Miku Songs". Kotaku. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b Yemi, Frank (8 April 2019). "Wowaka death: Vocaloid producer and Hitorie vocalist dies of acute heart failure". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
^ "この学生サークルが面白い！ vol.16 東大音感」音楽主義". www.ongakusyugi.net (in Japanese). 17 November 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ボカロ神Pと超絶クリエイターたち〜才能が出逢う場所 (in Japanese). Yamaha Music Media. 2011. pp. 22–24. ISBN 978-4636867572.
^ ^a ^b "ボカロPインタビュー". Gekkayo (in Japanese) (426). ゲッカヨ: 26. July 2011.
^ "バンドとニコ動、2つの顔を持つ「裏表ラバーズ」作者の素性". ascii.jp (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
^ VOCALOIDをたのしもう6 (in Japanese). Yamaha Music Media. 2011. p. 40. ISBN 978-4-636-86584-4.
^ "ネットの音楽クリエーターたちが新レーベルを設立". Nikkei Trendy Net (in Japanese). Nikkei Business Publications. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
^ "「毎回外さないようにしているのは焦燥感や、もやもやした気持ち」ニコ動ヒットメーカーwowakaが描く思春期の感情". webDICE (in Japanese). アップリンク. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
^ "「裏表ラバーズ」「ローリンガール」などを発表したボカロP＆バンド・ヒトリエのwowakaさんが急性心不全のため死去". にじめん (in Japanese). 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^ "Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Ending 3 : and I'm home". www.nautiljon.com (in French). Retrieved 17 May 2020.
^ "Hitorie : Room Sick Girl's Escape". www.nautiljon.com (in French). Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
^ "【知りたい】wowakaの6年ぶりボカロ曲"アンノウン・マザーグース"までを貫く世界観とは？". rockinon.com (in Japanese). 30 August 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^ "ヒトリエ、wowakaボカロ楽曲「アンノウン・マザーグース」セルフカバー配信＆サブスクリプション開始". Musicman-net. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Wowaka, beloved Hatsune Miku composer, dead at 31". The Daily Dot. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
^ 森, 朋之. "初音ミクの10年～彼女が見せた新しい景色～｜wowaka（ヒトリエ）×DECO*27対談ボカロシーンの牽引者たちが語る「あの頃、何が起こったのか」 - 音楽ナタリー特集・インタビュー". Natalie Inc. (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2019.
^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (8 April 2019). "Vocaloid Song Artist/Hitorie Vocalist wowaka Passes Away due to Acute Heart Failure". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
^ "ヒトリエからのお知らせ". www.sonymusic.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^ "米津玄師、ｗｏｗａｋａさん訃報をＲＴ過去には「影響受けた人間の一人」とツイート". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^ "wowaka(現実逃避P)の作品" [List of wowaka (Genjitsu Touhi P)'s Releases]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^ "wowaka - Niconico". ニコニコ. Retrieved 8 January 2021.

External links

[1] "ボカロ曲の流行の変遷と「ボカロっぽさ」についての考察（2）シーンを席巻したwowakaとハチ". Real Sound (in Japanese). 9 August 2020.

[2] "ボカロ曲の流行の変遷と「ボカロっぽさ」についての考察（6）syudouと煮ル果実の功績、YouTube発ヒット曲の定着". Real Sound (in Japanese). 11 October 2020.

[ann_2019-04-07-3] Antonio Pineda, Rafael (7 April 2019). "Hitorie Band Vocalist/Vocaloid Producer wowaka Passes Away at 31". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 April 2019.

[kotaku_2019-04-09-4] Strawhun, Aiden (9 April 2019). "Remembering A Vocaloid Legend Behind Some Of The Best Hatsune Miku Songs". Kotaku. Retrieved 10 April 2019.

[:0-5] Yemi, Frank (8 April 2019). "Wowaka death: Vocaloid producer and Hitorie vocalist dies of acute heart failure". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 18 April 2019.

[6] "この学生サークルが面白い！ vol.16 東大音感」音楽主義". www.ongakusyugi.net (in Japanese). 17 November 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2019.

[Vocalo_kami-P-7] ボカロ神Pと超絶クリエイターたち〜才能が出逢う場所 (in Japanese). Yamaha Music Media. 2011. pp. 22–24. ISBN 978-4636867572.

[Gekkayo-8] "ボカロPインタビュー". Gekkayo (in Japanese) (426). ゲッカヨ: 26. July 2011.

[ascii-9] "バンドとニコ動、2つの顔を持つ「裏表ラバーズ」作者の素性". ascii.jp (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2011.

[10] VOCALOIDをたのしもう6 (in Japanese). Yamaha Music Media. 2011. p. 40. ISBN 978-4-636-86584-4.

[11] "ネットの音楽クリエーターたちが新レーベルを設立". Nikkei Trendy Net (in Japanese). Nikkei Business Publications. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.

[12] "「毎回外さないようにしているのは焦燥感や、もやもやした気持ち」ニコ動ヒットメーカーwowakaが描く思春期の感情". webDICE (in Japanese). アップリンク. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.

[13] "「裏表ラバーズ」「ローリンガール」などを発表したボカロP＆バンド・ヒトリエのwowakaさんが急性心不全のため死去". にじめん (in Japanese). 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.

[14] "Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Ending 3 : and I'm home". www.nautiljon.com (in French). Retrieved 17 May 2020.

[15] "Hitorie : Room Sick Girl's Escape". www.nautiljon.com (in French). Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.

[16] "【知りたい】wowakaの6年ぶりボカロ曲"アンノウン・マザーグース"までを貫く世界観とは？". rockinon.com (in Japanese). 30 August 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2019.

[17] "ヒトリエ、wowakaボカロ楽曲「アンノウン・マザーグース」セルフカバー配信＆サブスクリプション開始". Musicman-net. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2019.

[dailydot_2019-04-08-18] "Wowaka, beloved Hatsune Miku composer, dead at 31". The Daily Dot. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.

[19] 森, 朋之. "初音ミクの10年～彼女が見せた新しい景色～｜wowaka（ヒトリエ）×DECO*27対談ボカロシーンの牽引者たちが語る「あの頃、何が起こったのか」 - 音楽ナタリー特集・インタビュー". Natalie Inc. (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2019.

[20] Komatsu, Mikikazu (8 April 2019). "Vocaloid Song Artist/Hitorie Vocalist wowaka Passes Away due to Acute Heart Failure". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 10 April 2019.

[21] "ヒトリエからのお知らせ". www.sonymusic.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 April 2019.

[22] "米津玄師、ｗｏｗａｋａさん訃報をＲＴ過去には「影響受けた人間の一人」とツイート". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.

[OriconPositions-23] "wowaka(現実逃避P)の作品" [List of wowaka (Genjitsu Touhi P)'s Releases]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 April 2019.

[24] "wowaka - Niconico". ニコニコ. Retrieved 8 January 2021.

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Wowaka

Early life

Career

Death

Legacy

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

VOCALOID songs

See also

References

External links

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