B’z’s Koshi Inaba on Life, Music, and Staying True After 30 Years: “The Joy of Music Is What Drives Me”

The only artist whose songs have been used for both the WBC and the World Cup will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his solo debut next January. We captured the private side of a man whose extraordinary career speaks for itself.

Why he is frequently chosen for major sporting events

On a weekday afternoon in mid-June, it was Kōshi Inaba (61), the vocalist of B’z, who appeared from a mixed-use building in Tokyo. He carried an unmistakable aura befitting a rock star, yet his casual outfit—a T-shirt and pants—was anything but flashy or rock ’n’ roll.

Since making his debut at the age of 23 in 1988, Inaba has led Japan’s music scene. Even now, with more than 35 years of career behind him, his influence remains immeasurable.

In fact, this March, at the baseball showcase event “World Baseball Classic (WBC),” Inaba covered the theme song of the timeless anime Touch as Netflix’s official tournament cheer song. When Inaba himself appeared at the pregame ceremony before Japan’s opening first-round match against the Czech Republic and delivered a passionate performance, Tokyo Dome erupted with excitement, reaching a fever pitch.

The game itself ended in a dominant “9–0” victory for Japan, with Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami (26) hitting a grand slam, among other highlights. Inaba’s performance provided the perfect production to elevate the atmosphere of the game.

Furthermore, at the “FIFA World Cup 2026,” which kicked off on June 11, he wrote the original song “Kanzen Muketsu” (“Perfectly Complete”) as the official theme song for Nippon TV’s coverage. His passionate voice and powerful sound helped propel Japan to a “4–0” victory over Tunisia in their second group-stage match, contributing to their advancement from the group stage.

“‘B’z’ has increasingly been featured at major sporting events in recent years, from the Rugby World Cup support song ‘Hei, Hashiru’ in 2019 to the WBC and the World Cup. The reason is not only Inaba’s powerful vocal tone but also the strong compatibility with the upbeat style unique to ‘B’z.’ Viewers can easily associate their music with the excitement and energy of sports, and it is enjoyable to listen to.”
—Sports newspaper reporter

The man who has displayed overwhelming presence at globally watched sporting events once shared the following thoughts in an interview with the magazine “anan:”

“Music is fun. It’s simple, but that is my driving force.”

“I want to create works and go perform live in the cities where my fans are. That is my greatest mission and joy as Kōshi Inaba.”

True to those words, Inaba, who will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his solo debut next January, continues to stand on stages across Japan. As B’z, he held a dome tour at the end of last year, and in June he had just completed an arena tour consisting of 20 performances across 10 locations nationwide. With the announcement of a commemorative 30th anniversary tour beginning in September, his momentum shows no signs of slowing.

Loving and enjoying music with all his heart—Kōshi Inaba is, without a doubt, a perfectly complete rock star.