Boøwy

Boøwy
Boøwy performing in Japan, 1984
Background information
Also known as	Bōi (暴威?, "Tyranny")
Origin	Takasaki, Gunma, Japan
Genres	Rock, post-punk (early years)
Years active	1981–1988
Labels	Victor/Invitation, Tokuma Japan, East World/Toshiba EMI
Associated acts	Complex
Members	Kyosuke Himuro Tomoyasu Hotei Tsunematsu Matsui Makoto Takahashi
Past members	Mamoru Kimura Kazuaki Fukasawa Atsushi Moroboshi

Boøwy (pronounced: bóui, stylized as BOØWY) was a Japanese rock band formed in Takasaki, Gunma in 1981. The best-known lineup of Kyosuke Himuro (vocals), Tomoyasu Hotei (guitar), Tsunematsu Matsui (bass) and Makoto Takahashi (drums) reached legendary status in Japan during the 1980s.

In 1988, they became the first male artists to have three albums reach number-one within one year on the Oricon charts. The 1990s "Band Boom" in Japan was credited to Boøwy as they popularized the formation of musical groups, which caused musical instrument sales to hit an all-time high during the 1990s and the record companies signed and debuted 80 bands during the 1990s in hopes of finding a new Boøwy. They were named Artist of the Year at the 3rd annual Japan Gold Disc Awards. In 2003, HMV Japan ranked Boøwy at number 22 on their list of the "100 Most Important Japanese Pop Acts". In September 2007, Rolling Stone Japan rated their album Just a Hero at number 75 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time". In a 2012 poll by Recochoku, Boøwy were ranked the number one band that people want to see reunite.

In 1979, Kyosuke Himuro was in a band called Death Penalty, that won a music contest that was being held in his hometown of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture. In that same contest was Tomoyasu Hotei's band Blue Film, who came in second place. After the contest Death Penalty signed with the record company Being and went to Tokyo. Things did not go as well as expected and they broke up. Himuro then joined Spinach Power, but he had problems with them as well and decided to form another band after seeing an RC Succession concert in 1980.