B'z's Koshi Inaba appears in "anan" for the first time in 20 years! This is his first time on the cover

■ “There was a time when I thought that I didn’t need anything other than live performances and recordings” (B’z Inaba Koshi)

Koshi Inaba (B’z) will appear for the first time on the cover of “anan” issue 2406 (on sale July 17th).

As a member of B’z, he will celebrate his 35th debut anniversary in 2023, and in June 2024, he will release his first solo album in 10 years, “Tadamono.” Although he has appeared in anan twice in the past, this will be his first time on the cover in 20 years.

As he looks at us in a casual style, we can feel his confidence, backed by the years he has spent as a musician, and his passion as a player who is still active at the forefront, coexisting with his deep energy. This 24-page feature looks at the past and future of Inaba, who has sung about the world, hope, and himself.

Four different situations were prepared for the shoot to bring out Inaba’s overwhelming star quality, visually expressing his natural presence and the unique presence that only Inaba can exude.

First, he is dressed in a luxurious black suit. The background is simple, and the shooting situation allows you to fully enjoy his impressive posture and the mature sophistication that exudes from it. There are also scenes where he jumps lightly, and Inaba’s playful movements shine through the heavy shooting. The close-up shots, with the lighting that makes the light rays shine, are a must-see.

In a shirt style with a sexy chest, the shoot was inspired by Inaba’s live performance scenes, with themes of “mesh” and “see-through” and challenged to shoot using fences and vinyl. The facial expression as he forcefully tears the vinyl apart is so powerful that it is mistaken for a live performance. Actual live footage (“Koshi Inaba LIVE 2023 ~en3.5~”) was also projected for a shoot that overlaps the past and present.

In addition, in a riders style, he is photographed looking like a rock star. The perfect portrait of the charismatic Koshi Inaba, who appears just by folding his arms, and his charming smile that he occasionally shows, are also noteworthy.

For the final shot, he goes for a casual style in a T-shirt and denim pants. Inaba brought his acoustic guitar and a quiet photo of him playing it is included in the magazine. His relaxed expression as he plays the guitar makes it hard to believe he is in the middle of a shoot, making this the ultimate photo that encapsulates Inaba’s natural, genuine charm. His charisma that seems to burn you if you get too close, and the preciousness of his completely natural face are all captured in this world, captured from every angle. It is a one-of-a-kind world that will never be repeated.

The interview looked back on Inaba’s 35+ years of activity and his motivation to continue at the forefront of music. As this was his first appearance in 20 years, he started off by talking about his previous appearance. Inaba has such a strong passion for music that he says, “There was a time when I thought I didn’t need anything other than live performances and recordings.” Inaba writes lyrics and sings for B’z, but in his solo activities he also composes and produces songs himself, and recently provided songs for Ado as part of B’z, demonstrating his talent in a wide range of areas. Furthermore, he has recently been changing the way he approaches his creations, actively incorporating stimuli from outside the music industry and applying them to his own music and ideas, and his appearance in “anan” seems to have been one of those new challenges.

Despite his overwhelming stardom, however, he is very humble, releasing his first solo album in 10 years titled “Just Another.” When asked about the special feature’s theme of “adult men,” he said, “There’s still a lot I don’t know.” Inaba’s assessment of himself as “ordinary” made for an interview that revealed the reason he continues to shine as a star, accumulating experience and confidence but not resting on his laurels.

The book provides a wide range of information about Inaba, who continues to invigorate the Japanese rock scene, including his 35-year career trajectory and his consistent approach to music.