Yasutaka Nakata (中田 ヤスタカ, Nakata Yasutaka, born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese music producer and DJ. He formed the band Capsule in 1997 with vocalist Toshiko Koshijima and himself as composer and record producer. The band debuted in 2001 with the song "Sakura".[2]

Yasutaka Nakata
中田 ヤスタカ
Background information
Birth nameYasutaka Nakata (中田 康貴)
Born (1980-02-06) February 6, 1980 (age 44)
Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
Genres
Occupation(s)Music producer, DJ, remixer, composer
Years active1997–present
LabelsContemode (former), Warner
Websiteyasutaka-nakata.com

He is known for being the music producer of Japanese girl group Perfume and Japanese model-turned-singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu since 2003 and 2011, respectively. These artists have gained commercial success for the songs that Nakata wrote and produced, such as "Chocolate Disco", "Polyrhythm", "Fashion Monster", and "Ninja Re Bang Bang". Nakata has worked with several other Japanese pop singers, including MEG, Ami Suzuki, and SMAP, and has also remixed songs by other artists, including M-Flo and Leah Dizon. He ran his own label, Contemode, in association with Yamaha. After Towa Tei, he was the second Japanese artist to officially remix Kylie Minogue,[3] contributing a version of her single "Get Outta My Way". He also formed Coltemonikha with singer, model, and fashion designer Kate Sakai. In July 2012, he won the "Creator" award for the "Change Maker of the Year 2012" event.[4] The Japan Record Awards also awarded Nakata the Best Music Arrangement Award twice, the first for the songs "Tsukema Tsukeru" by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and "Spice" by Perfume in 2012, and the second one for Kyary's songs "Harajuku Iyahoi" and "Easta" in 2017. Nakata released his first solo album, Digital Native, on February 7, 2018.

As of September 25, 2019, Nakata has yielded a total of ten number-one albums, mostly under his production with Perfume (six albums and two compilations)[5] and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (two albums).[6]

Works

edit

Discography

edit

Studio albums

Albums

edit
Studio albums listed are full-length original studio albums fully produced by Yasutaka Nakata.
Year Title Artist Record label Oricon
Weekly
chart
peak
position
Oricon
Weekly
digital chart
peak
position
2001 High Collar Girl Capsule Yamaha Music Communications N/A
2003 Cutie Cinema Replay 232
Phony Phonic Contemode 120
2004 S.F. Sound Furniture 35
2005 Nexus-2060 59
L.D.K. Lounge Designers Killer 49
2006 Fruits Clipper 29
2007 Sugarless Girl 25
Beam Meg Universal J 24
Flash Back Capsule Contemode 20
2008 Game Perfume Tokuma Japan Communications 1
Step Meg Universal J 8
More! More! More! Capsule Contemode 6
Supreme Show Ami Suzuki Avex Trax 16
2009 Beautiful Meg Universal J 10
Triangle Perfume Tokuma Japan Communications 1
2010 Player Capsule Contemode 4
Maverick Meg Universal J 20
2011 World of Fantasy Capsule Contemode 3
JPN Perfume Tokuma Japan Communications 1
2012 Stereo Worxxx Capsule Contemode 5
Pamyu Pamyu Revolution Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Unborde 2
2013 Nanda Collection 1
Level3 Perfume Universal J 1
Caps Lock Capsule Unborde 13
2014 Pika Pika Fantajin Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 1
2015 Wave Runner Capsule 5
2016 Cosmic Explorer Perfume Universal J 1
2017 Natsumelo Natsume Mito Sony Music Associated Records 64 N/A
2018 Digital Native Yasutaka Nakata Unborde 13 1
Future Pop Perfume Universal J 1 1
Japamyu Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Unborde 12 7
2021 Candy Racer Nippon Columbia 22 28
2022 Plasma Perfume Universal J 3 1
Metro Pulse Capsule Warner Music Japan 23 16
2024 Nebula Romance (Part 1) Perfume Polydor TBA 3

Produced artists

edit

Collaborations

edit

Remixes

edit

Other works

edit

Nakata composed the station departure melody to be used on the Hokuriku Shinkansen platforms at Kanazawa Station in his hometown Kanazawa from March 2015.[8] He has also contributed a composition that was featured in the Closing ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games titled "1620" which was produced to highlight Japan's electronic dance culture which also featured choreography from MIKIKO.

Awards

edit
Year Ceremony Award
2012 Japan Record Award Arranger Award
2017

References

edit
  1. ^ "Perfume Interview" (in Japanese). bounce.com. February 7, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2009. (English translation)
  2. ^ "An interview with Yasutaka Nakata". cnngo.com. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  3. ^ "capsule-web.com". capsule-web.com. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  4. ^ "Nakata Yasutaka wins "creator" award at "Change Maker of the Year 2012" event". tokyohive.com. July 7, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  5. ^ "Perfumeのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS.
  6. ^ "きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS.
  7. ^ Inc, Natasha. "中田ヤスタカ初ソロアルバム発表、米津玄師やきゃりー参加曲収録". 音楽ナタリー. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ 北陸新幹線、金沢駅に中田ヤスタカ氏の発車メロディー採用 [Departure melody by Yasutaka Nakata to be used for Hokuriku Shinkansen Kanazawa Station]. Nihon Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: Nikkei Inc. December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
edit