Akira Yamanaka (山中 明, Yamanaka Akira, September 2, 1946 – August 7, 2011), better known as Joe Yamanaka (ジョー山中), was a Japanese singer and actor.[1] He is known for both his work with Flower Travellin' Band and as a solo musician; singing at a vocal range of three octaves.[2] As an actor, he appeared in many television shows and movies, such as Takashi Miike's Deadly Outlaw: Rekka and the 1989 version of Zatoichi.[3]
Joe Yamanaka
Yamanaka with Flower Travellin' Band in New York City in 2008.
He is also recognized for 20 years of charity and volunteer work with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and flew around the world helping those in poor or war-torn conditions; visiting more than 30 countries including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bosnia, numerous sovereign states in Africa, China, Ukraine (including Chernobyl), North Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Brazil. While doing aid work in Jamaica, he met local musicians and later became involved in reggae music. His aid work was a personal inspiration to help those who were growing up in similar conditions that he had experienced as a child.
Akira Yamanaka was born in Yokohama, Japan, on September 2, 1946. He grew up in a family of seven children, though the only one of mixed descent as his father was a US Army soldier of Caribbean descent.[4] In his autobiography, he mentions that he never met his biological father and that he came from a poor family in ruined Yokohama; being born in a brothel as his mother was a prostitute for the Recreation and Amusement Association. The only knowledge of his father was that he was a US soldier from either Cuba or Jamaica. Joe grew up in an orphanage after his mother and stepfather died. During an interview with Mainichi Shimbun, Akira stated that he was born with tuberculosis and that he never really thought about his biological father, believing that those who raised him were his real parents.[5]
He left the orphanage at the age of 16 and became a boxer (inspired by his childhood idol Hiroyuki Ebihara) to earn money, he then met his lifelong friend Rikiya Yasuoka, who was a kickboxer of Japanese-Sicilian heritage. Yamanaka mentions that he adopted the English name Joe because it is the English pronunciation of his favorite painter, Keito Joh; with Joh meaning castle in Japanese. As a teenage boxer, he used the ring name Akira Jo (城アキラ).[5] Joe and Rikiya decided to become actors and starred in the 1964 Japanese film Bicycle Thieves. Yamanaka's career changed once again, though he would continue to act until his death, when he met another lifelong friend, Johnny Yoshinaga, who persuaded him to become a musician. In 1966, he became a member of the group sounds band 4.9.1.[4] Four years later, while in the blues band Mystic Morning with Hideki Ishima, the two of them were scouted by Yuya Uchida for Flower Travellin' Band.[6] They went on to become successful, particularly in Canada where they lived for a while, and are now considered a pioneering and influential Japanese band.[7]
In his acting career he was known as one of the three "real tough guys" in Japanese cinema, along with Tsunehiko Watase and Jerry Fujio. The trio were known for being good-natured, but with a rebellious past and noted fighting prowess. In his autobiography, Akira recounts the times during his youth when he was involved in violent fights. After a large brawl with members of the Zenkyoto in Hibiya Park in which he almost killed a man, the resulting police raid led him to an epiphany that "violence leads to nothing."[5] Yamanaka starred as himself in the Hollywood action movie Ulterior Motives featuring Thomas Ian Griffith and Ellen Crawford.[8] Three of Joe's songs were used in the film.
After Flower Travellin' Band disbanded in 1973, Joe started a solo career the following year. His most well-known song is "Proof of the Man" (人間の証明), which sold more than half a million copies,[1] and is a household name throughout Asia. It is the theme song and namesake of the 1977 film Proof of the Man,[4] which is based on a novel by Seiichi Morimura about war babies. Joe also has a small acting role in the film as a half Japanese, half African-American who is murdered, which the film is based around. In Chinese speaking countries the song is called "Old Straw Hat", taken from lyrics in the song. That same year, he was arrested on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Law.
He was close friends with numerous celebrities including Mickey Curtis and Yoko Ono. Joe recorded the entrance theme for Shinji Takehara titled "Hot Vibration" and composed the song "Sorrow of Florence" (哀しみのフローレンス) with his friend Amália Rodrigues. He later became the lead singer of The Wailers for around five years after his friend Bob Marley died.[8]
In 2007, Flower Travellin' Band reunited and released an album the following year. They performed several concerts, including internationally in the US and Canada.
Death
In March 2010, it was announced that Joe was diagnosed with lung cancer,[9] which he learned in February.[10] On September 6, his house was burned down after a lit cigarette was left unattended .[4] In March of the following year Yamanaka participated in fundraising for relief from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami,[10] and performed his last concert on May 5.[1] He suffered cardiac arrest in late July.[4][10] Joe died from his cancer on August 7, 2011 at 6:56 am,[1] less than a month before his 65th birthday.[9]
Discography
Solo
Cover of Japanesque with Akira Ito and Hideki Ishima.
^. jrawk.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
^"Sex, drugs and sitars". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
^ ab"Flower Travellin' Band's Joe Yamanaka Dies at 64". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
^ ab"Popular singer Joe Yamanaka dies at 64". kyodonews.jp. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
^ abc. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
External links
Official website
March 22, 2023
yamanaka, akira, yamanaka, 山中, yamanaka, akira, september, 1946, august, 2011, better, known, ジョー山中, japanese, singer, actor, known, both, work, with, flower, travellin, band, solo, musician, singing, vocal, range, three, octaves, actor, appeared, many, televi. Akira Yamanaka 山中 明 Yamanaka Akira September 2 1946 August 7 2011 better known as Joe Yamanaka ジョー山中 was a Japanese singer and actor 1 He is known for both his work with Flower Travellin Band and as a solo musician singing at a vocal range of three octaves 2 As an actor he appeared in many television shows and movies such as Takashi Miike s Deadly Outlaw Rekka and the 1989 version of Zatoichi 3 Joe YamanakaYamanaka with Flower Travellin Band in New York City in 2008 Background informationBirth nameAkira YamanakaAlso known asJoe Akira Jo 城アキラ Born 1946 09 02 September 2 1946Yokohama JapanDiedAugust 7 2011 2011 08 07 aged 64 Yokosuka JapanGenresReggae psychedelic rock group soundsOccupation s Singer musician composer actor boxerInstrument s Vocals guitarYears active1966 2011Formerly ofFlower Travellin Band The Wailers 4 9 1Websitewww wbr joe yamanaka wbr com He is also recognized for 20 years of charity and volunteer work with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and flew around the world helping those in poor or war torn conditions visiting more than 30 countries including Afghanistan Myanmar Bosnia numerous sovereign states in Africa China Ukraine including Chernobyl North Korea Vietnam Iraq and Brazil While doing aid work in Jamaica he met local musicians and later became involved in reggae music His aid work was a personal inspiration to help those who were growing up in similar conditions that he had experienced as a child Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 Discography 3 1 Solo 3 2 With Flower Travellin Band 3 3 With Kuni Kawachi 3 4 With The Wailers 3 5 With Akira Ito and Hideki Ishima 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditAkira Yamanaka was born in Yokohama Japan on September 2 1946 He grew up in a family of seven children though the only one of mixed descent as his father was a US Army soldier of Caribbean descent 4 In his autobiography he mentions that he never met his biological father and that he came from a poor family in ruined Yokohama being born in a brothel as his mother was a prostitute for the Recreation and Amusement Association The only knowledge of his father was that he was a US soldier from either Cuba or Jamaica Joe grew up in an orphanage after his mother and stepfather died During an interview with Mainichi Shimbun Akira stated that he was born with tuberculosis and that he never really thought about his biological father believing that those who raised him were his real parents 5 He left the orphanage at the age of 16 and became a boxer inspired by his childhood idol Hiroyuki Ebihara to earn money he then met his lifelong friend Rikiya Yasuoka who was a kickboxer of Japanese Sicilian heritage Yamanaka mentions that he adopted the English name Joe because it is the English pronunciation of his favorite painter Keito Joh with Joh meaning castle in Japanese As a teenage boxer he used the ring name Akira Jo 城アキラ 5 Joe and Rikiya decided to become actors and starred in the 1964 Japanese film Bicycle Thieves Yamanaka s career changed once again though he would continue to act until his death when he met another lifelong friend Johnny Yoshinaga who persuaded him to become a musician In 1966 he became a member of the group sounds band 4 9 1 4 Four years later while in the blues band Mystic Morning with Hideki Ishima the two of them were scouted by Yuya Uchida for Flower Travellin Band 6 They went on to become successful particularly in Canada where they lived for a while and are now considered a pioneering and influential Japanese band 7 In his acting career he was known as one of the three real tough guys in Japanese cinema along with Tsunehiko Watase and Jerry Fujio The trio were known for being good natured but with a rebellious past and noted fighting prowess In his autobiography Akira recounts the times during his youth when he was involved in violent fights After a large brawl with members of the Zenkyoto in Hibiya Park in which he almost killed a man the resulting police raid led him to an epiphany that violence leads to nothing 5 Yamanaka starred as himself in the Hollywood action movie Ulterior Motives featuring Thomas Ian Griffith and Ellen Crawford 8 Three of Joe s songs were used in the film After Flower Travellin Band disbanded in 1973 Joe started a solo career the following year His most well known song is Proof of the Man 人間の証明 which sold more than half a million copies 1 and is a household name throughout Asia It is the theme song and namesake of the 1977 film Proof of the Man 4 which is based on a novel by Seiichi Morimura about war babies Joe also has a small acting role in the film as a half Japanese half African American who is murdered which the film is based around In Chinese speaking countries the song is called Old Straw Hat taken from lyrics in the song That same year he was arrested on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Law He was close friends with numerous celebrities including Mickey Curtis and Yoko Ono Joe recorded the entrance theme for Shinji Takehara titled Hot Vibration and composed the song Sorrow of Florence 哀しみのフローレンス with his friend Amalia Rodrigues He later became the lead singer of The Wailers for around five years after his friend Bob Marley died 8 In 2007 Flower Travellin Band reunited and released an album the following year They performed several concerts including internationally in the US and Canada Death EditIn March 2010 it was announced that Joe was diagnosed with lung cancer 9 which he learned in February 10 On September 6 his house was burned down after a lit cigarette was left unattended 4 In March of the following year Yamanaka participated in fundraising for relief from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami 10 and performed his last concert on May 5 1 He suffered cardiac arrest in late July 4 10 Joe died from his cancer on August 7 2011 at 6 56 am 1 less than a month before his 65th birthday 9 Discography EditSolo Edit Cover of Japanesque with Akira Ito and Hideki Ishima Studio1974 JOE Rereleased in 1978 1977 新しい世界へ TO THE NEW WORLD 1979 GOIN HOME 1981 魂 1991 LOVE IS AN ART 2006 Mr Rally stupid philosopher 2009 Reggae Vibration IVCompilation 1980 Joe 70s 1986 20th ANNIVERSARY 1996 ３オクターブの証明 1999 REGGAE HISTORY 2001 W s 2005 究極のベスト ジョー山中Live 1978 武道館ライブWith Flower Travellin Band Edit Studio 1970 Anywhere 1971 Satori 1972 Made in Japan 1973 Make Up 2008 We Are HereCompilation 1971 Satori1975 The TimesVideo 2008 ResurrectionWith Kuni Kawachi Edit 1970 KirikyogenWith The Wailers Edit 1982 Reggae Vibration 1983 Reggae Vibration II 1984 Reggae Vibration IIIWith Akira Ito and Hideki Ishima Edit 1984 JapanesqueFilmography Edit1964 Car Thieves 1968 Blackmail Is My Life 1969 Black Rose Mansion 1977 Proof of the Man 1989 Zatoichi Darkness Is His Ally 2002 Deadly Outlaw Rekka 2003 Shin Karate Baka Ichidai Kakutōsha 2004 IzoReferences Edit a b c d ジョー山中さん死去 １年半闘病も力尽く daily co jp in Japanese Archived from the original on April 2 2012 Retrieved October 6 2012 フラワー トラヴェリン バンド JL amp Cと野音 barks jp in Japanese October 4 2008 Retrieved March 18 2016 Joe Yamanaka Internet Movie Database Retrieved October 6 2012 a b c d e Japan Loses 2 Music Stars japan zone com Retrieved October 6 2012 a b c Yamanaka Joe 2001 証 あかし 永遠のシャウト Tokuma Shoten ISBN 4 19 861365 6 We just stopped took a break It turned out to be for 36 years jrawk com Archived from the original on January 1 2009 Retrieved February 3 2016 Sex drugs and sitars The Japan Times Retrieved October 6 2012 a b Flower Travellin Band s Joe Yamanaka Dies at 64 Exclaim Retrieved November 2 2011 a b Popular singer Joe Yamanaka dies at 64 kyodonews jp Retrieved November 2 2011 a b c 肺がん闘病中のジョー山中 一時心肺停止 Yomiuri Shimbun in Japanese Archived from the original on October 5 2012 Retrieved October 6 2012 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joe Yamanaka amp oldid 1142200807, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
