Ken is a musician and singer-songwriter, best known as guitarist of the Japanese rock bandL'Arc-en-Ciel. He is also the leader, vocalist and guitarist of Sons of All Pussys and has released a solo albumentitledIn Physical. While in L'Arc-en-Ciel his name is stylized as ken.
Biography
L'Arc-en-Ciel
Two months before his graduation in 1992, Ken left the Nagoya Institute of Technology, where he was an architect major, to join L'Arc-en-Ciel at the request of his childhood friendTetsuya. He has written a breadth of L'Arc-en-Ciel's music ever since his joining, including "As if in a Dream", "Vivid Colors", "Niji", "The Fourth Avenue Cafe", "Shout at the Devil", "Kasou", "Lies and Truth", "Lover Boy", "My Heart Draws a Dream", "Lost Heaven", "Daybreak's Bell" and "Twinkle Twinkle".
In 2002 Ken formed his own band, Sons of All Pussys, as a result of a break in L'Arc-en-Ciel's activities, with ex-L'Arc-en-Ciel member Yasunori "Sakura" Sakurazawa as drummer, and Ein as bassist. Each member contributed songs based on themes; Ken with love, Ein with desire, and Sakura with his experiences in jail, and together they released three albums; Grace, Gimme A Guitar, High! and one single, "Paradise". All S.O.A.P. activities have ceased since 2004.
On August 23, 2006, Ken released a solo single titled "Speed", and has taken a new "clean" appearance similar to his early days with L'Arc-en-Ciel. In 2008, he began releasing more singles, including "Deeper" and "S", leading up to the eventual release of his first solo album, In Physical, in 2009.
Ken is currently an endorser for Fernandes Guitars and is usually seen playing these guitars live with L'Arc-en-Ciel. However he tends to modify his models instead of using them stock. For instance, in the past he used to use Van Zandt pick-ups heavily in his own personal guitars and has since moved on to Kinman pick-ups. However he has also used many different guitars in and out of L'Arc-en-Ciel, including Gibson, Fender, and Steinberger models. In 2010, he endorsed the American-based guitar brand Fender, Ken was approached by Fender and signed the endorsement contract; his signature model is a Stratocaster.
