LAZY akazukin chan goyoujin RVS-1112

A bittersweet breakthrough is the focus of this entry, highlighting the 1978 single that launched Lazy to stardom while simultaneously trapping them in an image they longed to escape. We are looking at their third single, “Akazukin-chan Goyoujin,” released on February 5, 1978, via the RCA label with the catalog number RVS-1112.

This 7-inch, 45 RPM vinyl features two tracks:
A: Akazukin-chan Goyoujin (Lyrics by Masami Sugiyama, Music by Shunichi Tokura)
B: Koi no Pierrot

Historically, this single is fascinating. Following lackluster sales of their previous releases, the band faced a contract termination if this song failed. Ironically, for members like Akira Takasaki and Munetaka Higuchi (who would later form Loudness), failure was the hope, as it would allow them to return to their hard rock roots. Instead, the song became a massive hit, selling over 200,000 copies and cementing their status as a pop-idol group styled after the Bay City Rollers.

The song featured choreography by Pink Lady’s famous choreographer and required the band to wear colorful jumpsuits, creating a “dark history” for the members. Years later, Takasaki revealed that the band did not even play on the recording, with studio musicians handling the instrumentation to ensure a polished pop sound. Because of these complex feelings and the image it represented, the song was famously “sealed” and refused to be performed during the band’s later reunions.

RVS-1112 is an essential, if ironic, piece of Japanese music history. It captures the moment future heavy metal legends became reluctant pop stars, preserving the catchy, professional sound that defined their idol era.