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Masafumi Gotoh

Masafumi Gotoh
後藤正文
Masafumi Gotoh in 2017
Masafumi Gotoh in 2017
Background information
Also known asGotch
Born (1976-12-02) December 2, 1976 (age 48)
Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • producer
  • editor-in-chief
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1996–present
Labels
WebsiteSony OID

Masafumi Gotoh (後藤 正文, Gotō Masafumi) or Gotch (December 2, 1976) is the lead vocalist, main songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after.[1] As the main songwriter of the band, Gotoh is credited with writing a majority of their lyrics, but has a strong tendency to share songwriting duties equally among his bandmates. His vocal style most often alternates between soft, melodic singing, and harder, harsher, yelling.[2] Masafumi has a degree in economics and his favourite artists include Weezer, Number Girl, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and Beck.[3] He produces records for other artists such as Chatmonchy, Dr. Downer and The Chef Cooks Me.[4] He was also one of the founding members of the band Skeletons (スケルトンズ).[5]

In 2010, Gotoh launched his own music label, only in dreams.[6] In 2012, he started a solo project under the name Gotch, and released the single "'Lost".[7] In 2014, he released his debut solo album, Can't Be Forever Young and released live album called, Live in Tokyo.[8] In 2016, he released his second solo album, Good New Times, with most songs using English lyrics.[9] In 2024, he established a non profit organization "Apple Vinegar Music Support" and is building a studio called "Music inn Fujieda" in Fujieda to support young and independent musicians.[10] In March 2024, Gotoh released drone/ambient music album Recent Report I under his original name.[11]

Life and Career

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Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1976,[12] Gotoh used to work at an art publishing company as an office employee. While playing in his band, he also traveled to bookstores, stationery shops, and art museums as a salesman. He mentioned that having a regular job provided a sense of security while pursuing his passion as a musician.[13]

In 1996, his band performed in Yokohama alongside musicians who would later become his bandmates in Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Their early tracks were heavily influenced by Western alternative rock bands.

On October 6, 2023, he published an essay collection, 'Asa kara Rock'. The book contains selected essays that started in April 2017 in the morning edition of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. They range from music, society, politics, books, 2011 earthquake, Corona, and other topics, to a piece of everyday life, all written with Goto’s musician’s unique sensibility. The book consists of seven chapters, and Goto’s narrative on the chapter’s theme are included at the door of each chapter in the book version.

Gotoh is now the Editor-in-Chief of The Future Times, a newspaper that explores the new era and future society.[14]Gotoh's involvement with The Future Times is part of his broader engagement with politics and environmental issues, particularly in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. He also uses the platform to discuss themes of happiness, companionship, and harmonizing societal issues with personal emotions in music.

Discography

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Asian Kung-Fu Generation

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Main article: Asian Kung-Fu Generation discography

Solo

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Studio albums (as Gotch)

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[15] 		JPN
Billboard
Can't Be Forever Young 14 —
Good New Times 25 47
Lives By The Sea 115 —

Studio albums (as Masafumi Gotoh)

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Details
Recent Report I
  • Released: 27 March 2024 [19]
  • Label: only in dreams
  • Formats: Cassette, download, streaming

Live albums

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List of live albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
[15] 		JPN
Billboard
Live in Tokyo 85 —

Extended plays

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List of extended plays
Title Details
Goto to Togo
(with Kiyomaru Togo)

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN
Oricon
[15]
"Lost" 2012 — Can't Be Forever Young
"The Long Goodbye" 2013 —
"Wonderland" 2014 48
"Route 6" — —
"Taxi Driver" 2017 — Lives By The Sea
"Nothing But Love" 2020 —
"Stay Inside"
(featuring Mabanua) 		—
"The Age"
(featuring BASI, Dhira Bongs and Keishi Tanaka) 		—
"Heaven"
(with GuruConnect) 		2023 — Non-album singles
"Stateless"
(featuring YonYon) 		2024 —
"Masa-masa (Japanese Ver.)"
(Gotch and The Adams) 		2025 —

Other

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  • New Order – Waiting for the Sirens' Call (2005) lyrics on "Krafty (Japanese Version)"
  • Dr. Downer – Rising (2011) music director
  • Special Others – Special Others (2011) collaboration on "Dance in Tsurumi"
  • Feeder – Generation Freakshow Japanese edition (2012) vocals on "Idaho"
  • Chatmonchy – "Kirakira Hikare" (2012) producer; vocals on "Karisomethod"
  • Chatmonchy – Henshin (2012) producer on "Yes or No or Love" and "Kirakira Hikare"
  • Dr. Downer – Gensō no Maboroshi (2013) producer
  • The Chef Cooks Me – Kaitentai (2013) producer, vocals on "Kanjōsen wa Bokura o Nosete"
  • ART-SCHOOL – YOU (2014) producer
  • Ovall - "Nadaraka Yoru" (2018) vocals
  • The Mattson 2 – Vaults of Eternity: Japan (2018) vocals on "My Memories Fade"
  • Co.Ruri Mito - MeMe (2019) music producer
  • Nahavand – Vandalism (2019) producer, vocals on "Hold On"
  • The Chef Cooks Me – "Kakato de Ai o Uchinarase" (2019) vocals
  • SOFTTOUCH – "Jiyū Ishi" (2019) producer
  • Aiha Higurashi – "Je t'aime" (2019) producer
  • Aiha Higurashi – "Shining all over" (2019) vocals
  • Manami Konishi – Cure (2020) producer and backing vocals on "Endless Summer", producer on "Ain't Nobody Know"
  • FIRE EX. – "The Light" (2020) vocals
  • Moment Joon – "Doukutsu" (2020) vocals
  • The Rentals – "Goodbye, Steve" (2020) vocals
  • SOCCER*SCHOOL - "last summer bleeze" (2021) mixing
  • Moment Joon – "Distance" (2021) vocals
  • Hironoi Momoi – "Fog" (2021) vocal, lyrics
  • Lil Boom – "The End of the World" (2021) vocals
  • Nahavand – "World Trigger"' (2022) recording
  • Yuragi – For you, Adroit it but soft : Remixes & Rarities (2022) mastering
  • The Tiva – On This Planet (2022) mastering
  • Mofution Vibration – "Oboroge" (2022) mixing, mastering
  • Dhira Bongs – A Tiny Bit of Gold in The Dark Ocean (2022) vocals on "Make Me Fallin In Love Again"
  • Link – Tsuki no Hana EP (2023) producer, recording, mixing
  • Jared Mattson – Peanut (2023) vocals on "Koko ni Kite"
  • Kanjani Eight – "Ikiteru Bokura" (2023) songwriter
  • Takehisa Chiba – "Spacewalker" (2023) vocals, vocals engineer, mixing
  • Link – Taiyou to Tsuki no Beatniks (2023) producer, recording, mixing
  • A Flood of Circle – Candle Songs (2024) producer on "Candle Songs"
  • Furusato Osamu to Furoshiki – "Ryusui" (2024) co-producer, recording, mixing, mastering; guitar and chorus on "Ryusui"; lyrics, vocal, guitar, and programming on "Ryusui Remix"
  • Furusato Osamu to Furoshiki – "Takibi" (2024) co-producer, recording, mastering
  • Generations from Exile Tribe – "MY GENERATION" (2025) producer, guitar, lyrics, music
  • SATOH – "MILE" (2025) featured vocals

References

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  1. ^ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION: Biography". ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Official Website. Ki/oon Records Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  2. ^ Kao, Larry (2005-11-03). "Talkin Bout My (Asian Kung-Fu) Generation". Asian Pacific Arts. UCLA Asia Institute. Archived from the original on 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  3. ^ Asian Kung-Fu Generation Fansite Flash Back! - Profile Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Vo.ゴッチの日記". Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". skeletonsman.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Gotch | only in dreams".
  7. ^ "Gotch Profile". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Gotch of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION to Embark on Solo Tour This May". jpopasia. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  9. ^ "6月8日に新しいアルバム「Good New Times」が発売になりました。" (in Japanese). Gotch. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  10. ^ "アジカン後藤正文が音楽支援を行うNPO法人創立「何度でもチャレンジできる場所を目指す」" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Masafumi Gotoh released his first drone/ambient album "Recent Report I"". Kyodo News. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Cultural Riches Defy the Confines of Currency – Exploring the Realms of Value with Masafumi Goto / Music, work, and sometimes memorial services | NiEW". NiEW - The media for the culture of asia and Japan such as music, film, art, fashion and more. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  13. ^ "Cultural Riches Defy the Confines of Currency – Exploring the Realms of Value with Masafumi Goto / Music, work, and sometimes memorial services | NiEW". NiEW - The media for the culture of asia and Japan such as music, film, art, fashion and more. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  14. ^ "Cultural Riches Defy the Confines of Currency – Exploring the Realms of Value with Masafumi Goto / Music, work, and sometimes memorial services | NiEW". NiEW - The media for the culture of asia and Japan such as music, film, art, fashion and more. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  15. ^ a b c "後藤正文 オリコン". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  16. ^ "「Can't Be Forever Young」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  17. ^ "「Good New Times」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  18. ^ "「Lives By The Sea」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  19. ^ "「Recent Report I」後藤正文". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  20. ^ "「Live in Tokyo」Gotch". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  21. ^ "後藤と東郷". only in dreams. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
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