Tetsuji Hayashi

Tetsuji Hayashi is a renowned Japanese composer, singer-songwriter, and arranger, celebrated for his significant contributions to the development of J-pop and city pop. Born on August 20, 1949, in Fuji, Shizuoka, Hayashi's musical journey began early, influenced by Western pop music. His career took off after winning the 1972 Chile Music Festival, leading to his debut as a singer-songwriter in 1973. He is best known for composing iconic hits like Mariya Takeuchi's "September," Miki Matsubara's "Mayonaka no Door," and Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe's "Futari no Natsu Monogatari." Hayashi's work extends beyond pop music, with notable contributions to film and TV soundtracks, including movies like "Hachikō Monogatari" and "Fishing Fool's Diary 13."

Hayashi's influence on Japanese music is profound, with over 1,500 compositions to his name. Despite initial plans to retire in 2008, he returned to music due to fan support and has continued to compose and produce. His legacy was recently celebrated with the release of the tribute album "50th Anniversary Special A Tribute of Hayashi Tetsuji: Saudade" in 2023, accompanied by a commemorative concert. Hayashi's music has experienced a resurgence in popularity, especially with the revival of city pop in recent years.