When SHAZNA started in 1993, Yoshikazu Hine, better known to the majority of Japanese music fans as IZAM, was between seventeen and twenty-one years of age. Like the true woman he appeared to be, IZAM decided it best not to reveal his real age, so instead offered various contradictory information.
One thing is certain though - soon after SHAZNA went major in 1997, they became one of the biggest bands in Japan at the time. It is also safe to say that they were one of the most influential, labeled by some as the 'spearhead of visual kei.' SHAZNA and its extremely charismatic leader, in particular, were amongst those artists of the late 90s who paved way for thousands of bands to come later. The band's music - a mix of pop, rock and electronic sounds, almost exclusively love songs, appealed to the hearts of daughters as well as mothers, and so did IZAM's pretty face and colourful clothes.
Soon after his band went major and gained incredible success, IZAM engaged in a side project called IZAM with ASTRAL LOVE, releasing a single entitled sunao mama de in 1998. Later that same year he debuted as a solo artist with a single he mixed and produced himself, hitomi tojite, which was featured in an NHK samurai drama series, "shin ude ni oboe ari. Following this was more releases, tours and generally good days for SHAZNA; then things started to get bad. Some say that SHAZNA broke up because the band's success depended so greatly on IZAM's effeminate stage image, which was definitely undermined by his 1998 marriage to nineteen year old model/actress Yoshikawa Hinano. The pair parted ways only ten months later, followed by another break up, that of SHAZNA.
IZAM played his first solo live in November 2001 at Harajuku Astro Hall. A month later, his official fanclub, "DOLIS," opened.
Having spent a great part of his life in a band, IZAM decided to try his luck in other fields. 2002 witnessed the release of IZAM's autobiographical novel, Mirror Boy. He also debuted as a photographer - in 2004 his works were published in the first edition of Heavenly Pictures image DVD series. What he really seemed to enjoy the most those days, however, was acting. He appeared in a couple of television dramas and, in 2000, debuted on the big screen. So far, he's appeared in a number of movies: "CHINESE DINNER," "oboreru sakana," "G@ME," "pika**nchi," a full length movie based on the popular anime series, "bishoujo senshi Sailor Moon," "LoveDeath" and "Tantei monogatari." In 2001 he was awarded the Japanese movie critics Grand Prix for best newcomer of the year. Since 2005 he has also starred in two musicals, including a Fuji TV production of the Broadway show "The Boy from OZ." As it's accurately written on his website, IZAM is not merely a vocalist, but an artist of many faces.
But he did not quit music entirely, because in 2003 he returned with two solo singles and an album. While they didn't measure up to the success of SHAZNA, they at least proved that IZAM was very much alive and kicking. In 2004 he released another album, following it by concentrating on acting. On August 27, 2005, eight years after SHAZNA's major debut single, Melty Love, was release, he performed at a commemorative live, IZAM ～Music Life 12th Anniversary Show～vol.3 GLAMOUR of UNISEX 200508270828 ～, at Shibuya Club ASIA.
In March 2006, he performed at the Tokyo GLOBE theater in a play entitled "Kabuku ~toranomaki~," which he also wrote the music for. The play later continued, touring all over Japan. Unfortunately, he hasn't released any new music in the last four years.
However, IZAM has filled his time well with television, movie and stage roles. He made his film directoral debut with "Caonne," a movie which stars Yoshioka Miho, his wife since 2006. He has also taken on the role of father, as the couple had their first child, a son, in April of 2007. Some time following SHAZNA's reunion, he also formed a side project, alcali-5, with fellow SHAZNA member AOI. They've released one mini-album.
As far as 2008 goes, IZAM took on his first stage producing and directing gig for a show called "7@dash."
Though his solo music career has slowed down over the years, IZAM has kept up a steady schedule between SHAZNA's renewed activities, stage and screen work and his role as husband and father. Whether he returns to the life of a solo artist or not, fans can be sure that IZAM will be using his multitude of talents in many other ways.
