WANDS

WANDS is a Japanese rock band that was formed in 1991, initially consisting of members Ohshima, Uesugi, and Shibasaki, marking the first generation of the group. The band released their debut single, "Sabishisa wa Aki no Iro," in December of the same year. Following the release of their third single, Ohshima departed in 1993 to join the music unit SO-FI, prompting the band to welcome Kimura Shinya, thus beginning the second generation of WANDS. The band's breakthrough came with the single "Sekaijuu no Dare Yori Kitto," featuring Nakayama Miho, followed by their album Toki no Bira, which achieved sales exceeding a million copies. By the end of 1993, WANDS had established itself as one of Japan's premier musical acts, with total sales surpassing 7 million copies of singles and albums, and they received their first accolade at that year's Japan Record Awards. In 1995, WANDS began to take a more hands-on approach to their music, engaging in writing, composing, and arranging, starting with their album PIECE OF MY SOUL. The following year, after the release of their eleventh single, Uesugi and Shibasaki left to form the unit al.ni.co. The band subsequently recruited Waku and Sugimoto, marking the transition to the second generation of WANDS. The group disbanded in March 2000 under circumstances that remain unclear. However, they made a comeback in 2018, with Shibasaki and Ohshima inviting the new vocalist Daishi Uehara, and the keyboard position transitioned from Ohshima to Kimura. WANDS continues to be celebrated for their contributions to the Japanese music scene, characterized by their melodic rock sound and impactful lyrics.