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Kazumasa Oda

おだ かずまさ

Oda Kazumasa

Aliases: K.ODA
Pen Names: K.ODA（Abbreviated credit name used in solo releases）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1947-09-20 （Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Singer-songwriter, Music producer, Company executive, Composer, Film director
Active Years
1970-
Affiliations
Far East Club (President & CEO)
Influenced By
The Beatles, Moon River (Henry Mancini et al.), Frank Lloyd Wright (architecture)
Influenced
Sukima Switch, Takako Matsu, Numerous J-pop singer-songwriters of subsequent generations

Education

Tohoku University
Faculty of Engineering / Department of Architecture
Country: Japan
Undergraduate studies; graduation year not specified
Waseda University (Graduate School)
Graduate School of Science and Engineering
Degree: 修士
Period: 1971-1976
Year of Graduation: 1976
Country: Japan
Completed master's course; master's thesis related to architecture (title adjusted by examiners)

Awards

The Television Drama Academy Awards — Theme Song Award
1997
Work: Tsutaetai Koto ga Arunda (There Is Something I Want to Tell You)
Organization: The Television Drama Academy Awards
Result: won
Arts Festival (Geijutsu Senshō) — Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
2009
Category: 芸術（音楽）
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: won
Tohoku University 100th Anniversary Cultural Contribution Award
2007
Organization: Tohoku University
Result: won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Love Story wa Totsuzen ni

1991 J-POP

A landmark 1991 song written as the theme for the TV drama 'Tokyo Love Story'. It became a major hit and one of his signature million-selling singles.

LovePartingFate
Adaptations
  • [TV drama (theme song)] Tokyo Love Story (1991)

Jiko Best (Best-of compilation)

2002 Best album / Compilation

A best-of compilation compiling his signature songs. It charted strongly on Oricon for an extended period and achieved notable sales milestones.

RetrospectionSelf-coversTimeless melody

Itsuka Dokoka de

1992 Film (as director) / Song

A film directed by Oda; the title song shares the same name. The film was not a commercial success but demonstrated his interest in combining music and film.

Fusion of film and musicSelf-expression

Bibliography

  • K.ODA (album)
  • Oh! Yeah! / Love Story wa Totsuzen ni (single)
  • Jiko Best (compilation)

Adaptations

  • Tokyo Love Story (theme song usage)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Simple, straightforward lyricsMelody-driven pop arrangementsAcoustic-based arrangements
Recurring Motifs
Love and partingNostalgia (hometown)Time and memory

Health

  • Injuries from a car accident (1998)
    1998-1998
    Sustained serious injuries (four-week recovery) but recovered and returned to performing.
  • COVID-19 infection (2022)
    2022-08
    Some tour dates were cancelled or rescheduled

Legacy

A leading figure both in Off Course and as a solo artist who has had a major influence on Japanese pop music. His songs—prominently used as drama themes and in commercials—have reached wide audiences across generations, and he holds multiple age-related chart records.

Academic Societies

  • Tohoku University (recognized with a cultural contribution award)

Archives

  • Far East Café (office/shop holding related materials)

In Popular Culture

  • Gained nationwide recognition through the theme for the drama 'Tokyo Love Story'
  • 'MY HOME TOWN' adopted as the station melody at Keikyu Kanazawa-Bunko Station

Quotes

  • There is nothing certain, yet I still walk on.
    Source: Song: "Tashika na Koto"
  • Do it or not. If you don't, it's zero; if you do, something remains.
    Source: Interview / public remarks

Trivia

  • 'MY HOME TOWN' was adopted as the arrival melody at Keikyu Kanazawa-Bunko Station (2008).
  • Suffered a serious self-inflicted car accident injury in 1998 but recovered and returned to performing.
  • Studied architecture at Tohoku University and completed a master's degree at Waseda University; his master's thesis title was altered by examiners.