Koushi Inaba is a Japanese rock singer-songwriter and the vocalist and lyricist of B'z, one of Japan's most successful rock acts. Born on September 23, 1964, in Tsuyama, Japan, he formed B'z in 1988 with guitarist Tak Matsumoto and helped shape the duo's identity with a powerful, flexible voice and lyrics that balance direct emotion with polished pop sensibility. His performance style blends precision with emotional intensity, and his work has been central to mainstream Japanese rock for decades.
Inaba's music is rooted in rock and hard rock, with strong melodic hooks and accessible choruses that broadened B'z's appeal beyond core rock listeners. His vocal phrasing and expressive delivery remain key parts of the band's sound, while his solo career has let him explore more personal moods, textures, and songwriting approaches without losing the muscular energy associated with his name. In 2026, he returned to Tsuyama for a birthday solo live that also launched a fan hospitality project, adding another hometown chapter to a career that already spans decades. Through both B'z and his solo work, Koushi Inaba remains a major figure in Japanese popular music and a familiar name for anime and music fans alike.
