The Checkers were a Japanese pop-rock band formed in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture,
by Toru Takeuchi and Fumiya Fujii after winning the Yamaha Light Music Contest
in 1980. The initial lineup included Fumiya Fujii as lead singer and lyricist,
Naoyuki Fujii on saxophone and flute, Masaharu Tsuruku and Yoshihiko Takamoku on
vocals, Tohru Takeuchi on guitar, Yuji Ohdoi on bass, and Yoshiya Tokunaga on
drums. The band's debut single "Giza Giza Heart no Komoriuta" was released in
September 1983. This marked the beginning of a successful career that saw them
produce numerous top-10 hits, i...