Takahiro Moriuchi (Japanese: 森内 貴寛, Hepburn: Moriuchi Takahiro, born April 17, 1988, in Tokyo), known professionally as Taka, is a Japanese singer and musician who is the lead vocalist of the Japanese rock band One Ok Rock. Moriuchi is the band's main lyricist and composer. In 2017, Kerrang! magazine placed him at number 27 on their list of the "50 Greatest Rockstars in the World".[1] He was also listed by Rock Sound magazine as one of "50 Most Influential Figures in Rock".[2]
Prior to One Ok Rock, he was in the boyband NEWS throughout 2003 until he left the group and the agency.[3] He performs in English and Japanese.
He attended Keio Elementary School and graduated in March 2001, then continued his studies at Keio Middle School in April 2001. He joined soccer club in his first year of middle school. In April 2004, he attended Keio High School until his first year of high school (March 2005). He then dropped out to pursue his musical career, which his parents opposed knowing how hard it can be to become successful.[4] After dropping out of high school, after a fight with his parents he left home and lived with his grandmother. During this time, he took up a part-time job at a restaurant in Aoyama to prepare himself for living alone.[7] In April 2005, his parents divorced.[8]
In 2005, he changed his last name from Moriuchi (森内) to Morita (森田) due to the divorce of his parents.[9] However, in the June 2012 issue of the magazine, Rockin'On Japan, he stated in an interview that his real name is Takahiro Moriuchi.[10]
In 2013, he is shown again in a photo using his last name, Moriuchi, where all One Ok Rock band members held a written sign of their real names.[11] The photo was taken by the band's official photographer Rui Hashimoto.[12]
Taka wrote the song "Nobody's Home" on fourth album Niche Syndrome, tells about his apology and gratitude straightforwardly for his parents. The song was performed at several concerts, including at the Nippon Budokan in 2010 where his parents attended the concert.[13] On November 14, 2023, he and his brother Hiroki performed the Nobody's Home together with their bands on My First Story X One Ok Rock concert "VS" at Tokyo Dome.[14]
Health
On July 2, 2024, Taka revealed in a post that he is suffering from panic disorder.[15]
Career
2001–2004: Career beginnings and other musical pursuits
Taka signed with Johnny's Entertainment in August 2001 at age 13. He joined as a trainee in the group called Johnny's Junior and made some singing appearances on Japanese music shows during this period. In September 2003, two years after joining the agency, Taka was one of the Johnny's Juniors chosen to be part of the idol group NEWS. However, his activities were suspended when he left the agency and the group in December of the same year.[16][17]
He was briefly in the cover band Chivalry of Music in 2004, comprising a keyboardist, guitarist, and himself on vocals.[18][19]
Taka was invited by guitarist Toru Yamashita to join One Ok Rock in 2005.[19] The band released their first independent CD in 2006 and were signed by Amuse, Inc., whom they made their major debut with.
Moriuchi performing in 2015
The band tours extensively in Japan, but ONE OK ROCK has also held concert tours overseas in Asia, the U.S., Europe and South America.
In March 2013, Simple Plan announced a new version of their song "Summer Paradise" with Moriuchi for a Japanese-only release [20] They later performed together at the music festival, Punkspring 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.[21]
In November 2013, Taka helped Pay Money to My Pain to sing and write one of their songs on their tribute album Gene after their vocalist, K (後藤慶, Kei Gotō), died due to heart failure.[22]
In February 2015, Moriuchi was featured as a guest vocalist on the track "Dreaming Alone" by Against the Current.[24][25]
As of July 2015, One Ok Rock is signed with the U.S. label, Warner Bros. Records and released an English version of their album, 35xxxv in February 2015.
On September 11, 2016, One Ok Rock signed with Fueled by Ramen. Their eighth album, Ambitions, was released on January 11, 2017, for the Japanese version album under the Japanese label A-Sketch and on January 13, 2017, for the English version album under the American label Fueled by Ramen.
On September 14, 2020, Journey frontman Arnel Pineda collaborated with him covering the 1981 Journey classic ballad "Open Arms". The cover was recorded separately in isolation, and uploaded on Pineda's YouTube channel.[30]
Moriuchi's high tenor voice has been praised by vocal experts for its wide and dynamic range, smooth transitions between registers, emotiveness, power, tone, as well as his breath control, and ability to change textures and hold out high notes for a long time. Experts agree that he is one of the most well-trained rock vocalists in the current musical scene.[40][41][42]
^"森進一の長男ＴＡＫＡ 絶体絶命からの復活？" [Taka, Eldest Son of Shinichi Mori Has Recovered from Desperate Situation?]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). January 25, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
^"ONE OK ROCK ＠ 日本武道館" [One Ok Rock at Nippon Budokan]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). November 28, 2010. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
^"ONE OK ROCKとMY FIRST STORY初共演、兄弟の絆見せた東京ドームの一夜「僕らにしかできない」" [ONE OK ROCK and MY FIRST STORY perform together for the first time, a night at Tokyo Dome that showed the bond of brotherhood: “Only we can do it”]. Natalie (in Japanese). November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
