JAM Project was founded in 2000 by veteran singer Ichirou Mizuki, who sought to revitalize the fiery spirit of earlier anime songs.3 He recruited fellow veterans of that space, including Hironobu Kageyama and Masaaki Endoh, who remain members of the group.
The following year, JAM Project began a long association with the Super Robot Wars franchise, performing "Hagane no Messiah" for the PlayStation game "Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden. In 2002, Mizuki and Eizo Sakamoto stepped back from the group but three members would join. Masami Okui had released a number of albums and had performed openings for shows including Slayers and Revolutionary Girl Utena. Hiroshi Kitadani, previously a member of the bands Stagger and Lapis Lazuli, entered the world of anime songs via One Piece and its first of several opening themes he has performed for the long-running series. Yoshiki Fukuyama, like Kageyama, Endoh and Mizuki, was a veteran of the anime world. In the 1990s, he was the singing voice of Basara Nekki in Macross 7.
In 2005, the group began another long association with the Garo franchise, writing opening themes for nearly all iterations of the franchise, both anime and live-action. Kageyama voices Madou Ring Zaruba in every release of the show.4
In 2007, JAM Project announced plans to perform outside East Asia. Since 2008, the group has performed internationally with regularity, in cities such as Baltimore, Washington, Rotterdam, Abu Dhabi and Paris, typically in conjunction with anime conventions. 2008 also marked the release of "No Border," their first single not connected with an anime or video game.
In the summer of 2012, they teamed up with Animetal USA for a limited national concert tour called the Japan-America Anison Summit (日米アニソンサミット, Nichi-Bei Anison Samitto).5 From 2011 to 2014, Japanese composer and conductor Takayuki Hattori served as orchestral arranger on several albums and tours.
In 2015, JAM Project celebrated its 15th anniversary with a series of concerts that contained 39 songs in its setlist chosen from all their previous albums, the most songs in any of their concerts to date. They also released a CD based on a new ultra-high quality (UHQ CD) standard containing re-arranged and re-recorded hits voted on by fans.6 The same year, the group exposed itself to a new audience through "THE HERO! ~Ikareru Kobushi ni Honō wo Tsukero~" (lit. "Set Fire To The Furious Fist)", their opening for the first season of One-Punch Man. The music video, filmed in San Francisco, has accumulated more than 50 million views on YouTube.7
In 2020, the group celebrated its 20th anniversary with the release of the album The Age of Dragon Knights. JAM Project worked with prominent peers, including Yuki Kajiura, GRANRODEO, ALI PROJECT, angela and members of FLOW.8 The group also released JAM Project 20th Anniversary Complete BOX, which includes all of the group's albums, a collection of its foreign-language recordings, Blu-rays of a concert and other footage, and a 300-page booklet.9
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a planned tour to be scuttled. Kageyama, however, credited the unplanned break with rejuvenating the band's creative drive. That rebirth is the subject of the 2021 documentary Get Over -- JAM Project the Movie.10
The group's producer is Shunji Inoue, the founder of Lantis and a former bandmate of Kageyama.11 JAM Project is managed by HIGHWAY STAR, a Bandai Namco-owned agency that represents Kageyama, Endoh and Kitadani in their solo careers.1213
Ricardo occasionally composes and performs with the group. He is heard on songs: "熱風!疾風!サイバスター (Neppu! Shippu! Cybuster)," "Gong," "Stormbringer," "Sempre Sonhando 〜夢追人〜 (Sempre Sonhando 〜Yume Oibito〜)," "レスキューファイアー (Rescue Fire)," "守護神 - The Guardian (Shugoshin - The Guardian)," "TRANSFORMERS EVO," "我が名は牙狼 (Waga Na Wa Garo)," "Herói (Portuguese version of Hero)," "未来への誓い (Asu he no Chikai)," "未来への大航海 〜Great Voyage〜 (Mirai he no Dai Koukai 〜Great Voyage〜," "Buddy In Soul," "決戦 The Final Round (Kessen The Final Round," "Treasure In The Sky," "sweet SWEET HOME," "静寂のアポストル (Seijaku no Apostle)," "Tread On The Tiger's Tail," "Homeward Bound," "ジャイアントスイング (Giant Swing)," and "Drei Kreuz 〜鋼のサバイバー〜 (Drei Kreuz 〜Hagane no Survivor〜)."
(English title: "Uncrowned Greatest Hero")
(featuring Yuki Kajiura)
"JAM Projectのプロフィール" [JAM Project profile] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2018-05-02. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/11663/profile/ ↩
"J!-ENT interviews JAM Project by J!-ENT's Dennis A. Amith" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-08-26. http://www.nt2099.com/J-ENT/INTERVIEWS/JAM-Project/jamproject.pdf ↩
"Interview: Superstar Rock Band JAM Project". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 May 2021. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2019-12-04/superstar-rock-band-jam-project/.153979 ↩
"Hironobu KAGEYAMA - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 8 May 2021. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=12326 ↩
"アニメタルUSA×JAM Projectが「日米アニソンサミット」" [Animetal USA × JAM Project "Japan-America Anison Summit"] (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. 2012-01-29. Retrieved 2012-02-18. https://natalie.mu/music/news/63521 ↩
"JAM Project|15周年ベストアルバムがUHQCD(Ultimate High Quality CD)での発売決定!! | News | Lantis website" [JAM Project | 15th Anniversary best album released on UHQCD (Ultimate High Quality CD) !! | News | Lantis website]. www.lantis.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-04-11. http://www.lantis.jp/news.php?id=1436520407 ↩
"[Official Video] JAM Project - THE HERO !! - "One Punch Man" Opening Theme ワンパンマン". YouTube. 14 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 8 May 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QImBolnTVH8 ↩
"The Age of Dragon Knights - JAM Project". Lantis web site (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 January 2020. https://www.lantis.jp/release-item/LACA-15796.html ↩
Komatsu, Mikikazu. "JAM Project to Release 20th Anniversary Album & Complete Box in January 2020". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 14 January 2020. https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/07/17/jam-project-to-release-20th-anniversary-album-complete-box-in-january-2020 ↩
NEWS, KYODO. "FEATURE: Veteran "anison" band get over rut, ready to keep rolling". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 8 May 2021. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/44a819bef006-feature-veteran-anison-band-get-over-rut-ready-to-keep-rolling.html ↩
"JAM Project -20th Anniversary- on Instagram: "Happy Birthday Mr.SHUNJI Inoue🥳 He is our president, our esteemed producer and JAM Project's best friend...."". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 26 May 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CANKah7jImV ↩
"JAM Project | HIGHWAY STAR". 29 March 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021. https://highwaystar.co.jp/artist/jam-project/ ↩
"History | Our Group". Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. Retrieved 21 January 2023. https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/about/history.html ↩
Luster, Joseph (2022-12-12). "Iconic Anime Theme Singer Ichiro Mizuki Passes Away at 74". Otaku USA Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-13. https://otakuusamagazine.com/iconic-anime-theme-singer-ichiro-mizuki-passes-away-at-74/ ↩
"JAM Projectのアルバム" [JAM Project albums]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/11663/products/album/ ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2010&month=06&day=21 ↩
Symphonic arrangement album; originally set to be released on March 23, 2011; postponed to April 6, 2011, due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[18] /wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2011-04-18. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2011&month=04&day=18 ↩
Tied in with their 2013-2014 live tour of the same name. Recorded in Los Angeles, with over 70 musicians participating. The name is a play on words on the Japanese transliteration of the phrase "samurais again". The logo for the tour often depicts the silhouette of a samurai holding a thumbs-up.[20] /wiki/Los_Angeles ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2013&month=11&day=4 ↩
The album is so named because the letter "z" is the final letter of the English alphabet, implying that JAM Project aims to reach a higher level. ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2016-07-11. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2016&month=07&day=11 ↩
Contains the song "EMG", used as the opening song for Garo: Vanishing Line.[23] /wiki/Garo:_Vanishing_Line ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2017&month=10&day=30 ↩
"Billboard Japan Hot Albums | Charts". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 April 2020. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2020&month=01&day=13 ↩
"Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2022/10/05 公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 5, 2022. http://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2022&month=10&day=10 ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2008-08-18. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2008&month=08&day=18 ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2009&month=12&day=7 ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2011&month=05&day=23 ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2012-11-26. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2012&month=11&day=26 ↩
The name is a play on words on the Japanese transliteration of "excuse us", came to be when Kitadani messed up his English in an airport while the group was on tour, as explained in a live concert. ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2014&month=07&day=14 ↩
The name is a play on the phrase "timeless force", where the written equivalent for multiplication (times) is also known as the letter "x", and the first two letters of the title resemble the Roman numerals for eleven when placed close together. ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2015-06-29. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2015&month=06&day=29 ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2016&month=11&day=14 ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2018&month=11&day=12 ↩
"JAM Projectのシングル" [JAM Project singles]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/11663/products/single/ ↩
"Digital Download Certifications 2016" (Select 2016年8月 on the drop-down menu) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/hs.html ↩
"週間 CDシングルランキング 2019年05月06日付" [Weekly CD Single Ranking for May 6, 2019]. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2019. https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2019-05-06/ ↩
"JAM ProjectのDVD" [JAM Project DVDs]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/11663/products/dvd/ ↩
"JAM ProjectのBlu-ray" [JAM Project Blu-rays]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/11663/products/blu-ray/ ↩
Ricardo Cruz appeared as part of JAM Project for the first time. ↩
This tour was Rica Matsumoto's last live appearance with JAM Project. ↩
Conducted by Takayuki Hattori, the set contained symphonic arrangements of several popular songs and featured solos for each member, including an arrangement of the main theme of Karei-naru Ichizoku with the addition of Endoh on vocals. /wiki/Takayuki_Hattori ↩
The tour was titled "Arigato Tomodachi" for legs outside Japan. ↩
JAM Project introduced an alter ego band called "The Monsters". ↩
Conductor Hattori conducted the opening number "Groundbreakers" and several songs featured a string quartet. ↩
This concert featured JAM Project on a circular stage in the center of the arena. ↩
"スーパーロボット大戦α ORIGINAL STORY D-2" [Super Robot Wars α Original Story D-2] (in Japanese). Bandai Visual. Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://bvc.bandaivisual.co.jp/shop/itemdetail/LACA-5034/ ↩
TV anime Yomigaeru Sora – Rescue Wings ending theme, insert & image song collection. /wiki/Yomigaeru_Sora_%E2%80%93_Rescue_Wings ↩
"GAME『マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ』Collection of Standard Edition Songs「Name」" [GAME "Muv-Luv Alternative" Collection of Standard Edition Songs "Name"] (in Japanese). Lantis. Retrieved 2018-05-04. https://www.lantis.jp/release-item/LACA-5575.html ↩
"TVアニメ『らき☆すた』らき☆すたRe-Mix002~『ラキスタノキワミ、アッー』【してやんよ】~" [Lucky Star Re-Mix002 ~Lucky Star no Kiwami, Ahh Shiteyanyo~] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2008-01-14. Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/444336/products/741444/1/ ↩
"TVアニメ『宇宙をかける少女』オリジナルサウンドトラック Vol,1" [Uchū o Kakeru Shōjo Original Soundtrack Vol. 1] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://tower.jp/item/2530478/ ↩
"ニコニコ動画せれくちょん~才能の無駄遣い" [Nico Nico Douga Selection: A Waste of Talent] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/52027/products/824142/1/ ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2009&month=07&day=13 ↩
The 10th anniversary box set release from JAM Project featuring 7 greatest hits albums; a bonus CD containing English, Portuguese, and Chinese versions of several of their songs in addition to any songs they recorded or performed that were not included on any of their other singles and albums; and 4 DVDs featuring all the music videos they created and footage of their live performance, including a reunion concert with Ichiro Mizuki, Ricardo Cruz, and Eizo Sakamoto. It also includes a 200-page JAM Project history book. ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2011&month=01&day=3 ↩
"牙狼 黄金歌集 牙狼魂" [GARO Golden Songbook Soul of Garo] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2013-10-07. Retrieved 2019-02-10. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/183/products/1036530/1/ ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2013-10-07. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2013&month=10&day=7 ↩
"Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2015-09-21. Retrieved 2019-02-10. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2015&month=09&day=21 ↩