Masafumi Gotoh

Masafumi Gotoh or Gotch is the lead vocalist, main songwriter and rhythm guitarist of the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Masafumi met fellow band members Kensuke Kita and Takahiro Yamada while attending a music club of Kanto Gakuin University. The three formed Asian Kung-Fu Generation in 1996, with drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi joining the band shortly after. As the main songwriter of the band, Gotoh is credited with writing a majority of their lyrics, but has a strong tendency to share songwriting duties equally among his bandmates. His vocal style most often alternates between soft, melodic singing, and harder, harsher, yelling. Masafumi has a degree in economics and his favourite artists include Weezer, Number Girl, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and Beck. He produces records for other artists such as Chatmonchy, Dr. Downer and The Chef Cooks Me. He was also one of the founding members of the band Skeletons (スケルトンズ).

2 December 1976

Born on the same birth day (2 December): Adam Kreek • Carlo Furno • Christos Karipidis • Emperor Jianwen of Liang • Erima Northcroft • Fernando Consag • Francis Fox • Fumika Shimizu • Gastón Ramírez • Gianni Versace • Inori Minase • Jarron Collins • John Banks (New Zealand politician) • Lucy Liu • Nelly Furtado • Pedro II of Brazil • Peter Blakeley • Razzle (musician) • Rewi Alley • Taisto Mäki • Thomas Pöck • Tom McGuinness (musician) • Tomokaze Yūta

Born in the same month (December 1976): Atko Väikmeri • Brettina • Byron Kelleher • Danny McBride • Filip Kuba • Joe Manganiello • Kastro (rapper) • Katleen De Caluwé • Kim Eagles • Linda Ferga • Luís Carreira • Mona Hanna-Attisha • Patrick Kerney • Patrick Müller (footballer) • Santiago Ezquerro • Shareef Abdur-Rahim • Tammy Blanchard • Trond Nymark • Vangelis Sklavos