Masahiko Kondō

Masahiko Kondō
In 2008, as director of Kondo Racing
Background information
Native name	近藤 真彦
Also known as	Matchy
Born	(1964-07-19) July 19, 1964 (age 52)
Origin	Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Genres	Pop, hard rock, kayōkyoku
Occupation(s)	Singer, actor, tarento, racing car driver, racing team manager, company executive
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Sony Music (Ariola Japan)
Associated acts	Johnny & Associates
Website	www.matchy.co.jp

Masahiko Kondō (近藤 真彦, Kondō Masahiko^?, born July 19, 1964 in Yokohama, Japan) or Matchy is a Japanese singer, lyricist and actor represented by Johnny & Associates.

Kondō is also a semi-professional racing driver and a racing team owner. He founded the racing team Kondo Racing in 2000 which competes in Formula Nippon and the Super GT.

As a part of the agency Johnny & Associates Kondō was signed to the record label RVC. His debut single "Sneaker Blues" debuted at number-one on the Oricon weekly single charts in December 1980. With the single he became the first artist to have a debut single to go straight in at number one on Oricon at release. As of 2008, he is the only solo male singer to have a debut single to debut at number one in his teens in Oricon history. The single topped the Oricon charts for five consecutive weeks, and eventually sold over one million copies.

On March 5, 1981, Kondō released his first studio album Thank Ai You. He wrote the lyrics of the songs "Gloria" and "Just A Dance" for the album. Thank Ai You topped the Oricon weekly charts making him the youngest solo male singer to have the debut album to reach number one on the charts at the age of 16 years 8 months.

In 1985 Kondō moved from RVC to CBS Sony (now Sony Music Entertainment Japan). On December 31, 1987, his song "Orokamono" won the grand prix award at the 29th Japan Record Awards.

Kondō learned to drive when he was already famous as a singer. Kondō had always had an interest in cars from an early age and driving on the track engendered his desire to drive race cars. He practiced and was accepted into a racing team when he was 19 in 1984 going on to having a moderately successful career on Japan's race circuit. In 1988 he took part in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship for the first time. On November 10, 1989, he released the single "Andalucia ni Akogarete", which was his cover version of the single by Masatoshi Mashima of Japanese punk rock band The Blue Hearts released on October 21, 1989. While Mashima's original version peaked at number thirteen, Kondō's cover version reached number nine in the Oricon charts.