つんく♂

Mitsuo Terada (寺田 光男, Terada Mitsuo, born October 29, 1968 in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan), better known professionally as Tsunku (つんく, often written as つんく♂), is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist. He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary songwriter, and main studio backing vocalis... more

Mitsuo Terada (寺田 光男, Terada Mitsuo, born October 29, 1968 in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan), better known professionally as Tsunku (つんく, often written as つんく♂), is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist. He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary songwriter, and main studio backing vocalist for idol supergroup Morning Musume, in addition to Aya Matsuura and other associated artists under the Hello! Project banner, for whom he has written and produced a number of chart-topping hits. He has also produced music for other Japanese artists, including Ayumi Hamasaki when she debuted. His musical influences include The Beatles, Queen, and Onyanko Club. In June 2006, Tsunku married Kanako Idemitsu (出光 加奈子), a 25 year-old former model from Fukuoka. Tsunku later worked with Nintendo and J.P.ROOM to create the music video game, Rhythm... less