Noriyuki Makihara

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Noriyuki Makihara

Role / Field:

Highly successful Japanese pop singer-songwriter known for romantic and uplifting melodies.

Born:

1969-05-18

Century / Era:

1969s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Noriyuki Makihara (槇原 敬之, Makihara Noriyuki), nicknamed Mackey (マッキー) by his fans, is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. He has sold a total of 21 million copies in Japan alone. Makihara was born on 18 May 1969 in Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan. He attended Aoyama Gakuin University to study English literature. In addition to creating songs for his own music career, he has written, produced and performed songs for many other artists, the most notable being SMAP's "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana".

Career & Major Achievements

He is ranked at No.84 in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians, provided by HMV. He was invited to write the song "The Gift" for English band Blue in their album Guilty. Makihara made his debut to the J-pop scene in the early '90s after performing on a televised song competition program. He made a name for himself with the release of songs such as "Mou Koi Nante Shinai" (もう恋なんてしない) and "Donna Toki mo" (どんなときも), both of which, among several others, are covered to this day by current popular artists (including English-language covers by various American artists). Some of his music has been translated into other languages, and "Donna Toki mo" specifically has been remixed by Bemani artists "Dream Line Out" for use on Konami's Beatmania game series.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Much of his music's lyrical content has revolved around romantic love, though themes of profound joy, reminiscence, gratitude and deeper spiritual aspects of the human condition have become predominant in recent years. In 1999, he was given a suspended 18-month prison sentence for possession of amphetamines. In 2003 he became famous for composing "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" (世界に一つだけの花, "The One and Only Flower in the World"), which was recorded by Japanese boy band SMAP and sold millions. On 13 February 2020, Makihara was arrested for alleged illegal stimulant possession, as police found 0.083 gram of stimulant at his condominium in Tokyo's Minato Ward in April 2018. On 2 August 2020, Makihara was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years by the Tokyo District Court.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1969 (1969-05-18): Birth of Noriyuki Makihara — Highly successful Japanese pop singer-songwriter known for romantic and uplifting melodies.
2. 1999: 1999 Milestone — In 1999, he was given a suspended 18-month prison sentence for possession of amphetamines.
3. 2003: 2003 Milestone — In 2003 he became famous for composing "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" (世界に一つだけの花, "The One and Only Flower in the World"), which was recorded by Japanese boy band SMAP and sold millions.
4. 2018: 2018 Milestone — 083 gram of stimulant at his condominium in Tokyo's Minato Ward in April 2018.
5. 2020: 2020 Milestone — On 13 February 2020, Makihara was arrested for alleged illegal stimulant possession, as police found 0.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Noriyuki Makihara

True or False: “Noriyuki Makihara's song "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" was famously covered by the Japanese boy band SMAP.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The song achieved massive commercial success when recorded and popularized by SMAP, selling millions of copies.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• Akio Morita — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Alberto Sordi — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• 1969 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1969
• May 18 (05-18) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 18

Frequently Asked Questions about Noriyuki Makihara