Polaris is a Japanese rock group formed in 2000 by duo Yusuke Oya (who had previously been a primary vocalist for rock group LaB LIFe) and Yuzuru Kashiwabara (who also served as bassist in Fishmans), as well as drummer Manabu Sakata who has since departed. Since their first release, a mini album titled Polaris, the band has made six studio albums and a multitude of mini albums and live albums. Their most popular release, their first album Home was released in 2002 and bears significant resemblance to Fishmans' sound and, therefore, is usually seen as an immediate spiritual successor to the band. In 2006, the band entered a six-year hiatus as Oya moved to Berlin and Kashiwabara was left to his own devices, working in band So Many Tears in the meantime. In 2012 Polaris got back together with a comeback EP, and since then they've released two new albums.
Polaris is also known to recruit drummer Kin-Ichi Motegi and guitarist Shinya Kogure for live performances, though this is notably rare. The band is known to perform live regularly and at festivals such as Fuji Rock Festival, and still operates to this day, their last work being an EP released in 2020. An archive of their website can be found here, and their Facebook page is here.
Members[]
Modern photo, from about 2012.
Official Members[]
- Yusuke Oya (vocals, guitar)
- Yuzuru Kashiwabara (vocals, bass)
Past Members[]
- Manabu Sakata (drums)
Primary Support Members[]
- Kin-Ichi Motegi (drums)
- Yu Kawakami (drums)
Discography[]
Albums[]
- Home (2002, Familysong)
- Family (2003, Familysong)
- Union (2005, Familysong)
- 空間 (2006, Familysong)
- Music (2015, Familysong)
- Tentai (2018, HMV Record Shop)
Mini Albums[]
- Polaris (2001, Familysong)
- Tide (2002, Familysong)
- 色彩 (2013, Familysong)
Live Albums[]
- Live at Aoyama Cay / By Intoxicate 2004/02/28 (2004, Intoxicate)
- Live at Shibuya-ax 2006/11/10 (2007, Familysong)
- Polaris Presents Continuity #5 & #6 (2008, Familysong) (mini-album)
EPs[]
- 檸檬 (2003, Familysong)
- Cosmos (2004, Familysong)
- 光る音 (2012, Familysong)
- 走る (2017, Bud Music)
- 光 (2020, Bud Music/HMV Record Shop)
Maxi-Singles[]
- 深呼吸 (2003, Familysong)
Singles[]
- 月の恋人 (2005, Familysong)
- 風を想う (Live at 代官山 Unit 2005/12/29) (2006, Familysong)
- Nocturne (2012, Familysong)
- Neu / とける (2013, Familysong)
- 深呼吸 / コスモス (2017, Bud Music)
- Season / 光と影 (2017, Bud Music)
- オハナレゲエ / とどく (2018, Bud Music)
Compilations[]
- 音色 (2006, Familysong)