Takahiro Nishikawa (西川隆宏, Nishikawa Takahiro, born 26 May 1964) is a Japanese keyboardist, music producer, and businessman. He was a member of Dreams Come True from 1988 to 2002. While with the band, they released eleven studio albums and thirty-three singles. Nine of those albums and ten of the singles debuted at #1 on the Oricon charts.
While Nishikawa was a member of the band, Dreams Come True won two The Television Drama Academy Awards for theme songs, once in 1995 and again in 1999. After he left the band, he was arrested and convicted twice for possession of illegal stimulants, once in October 2002 and again in February 2006. He opened a bar in Sapporo in 2009, where he regularly holds events themed around his former band, including after-concert parties.
Nishikawa is also known by the nickname Nihya (ニーヒャ, Nīhya). His younger sister, Ayumi, is a model.
Takahiro Nishikawa was born 26 May 1964.[1] He attended and graduated from Hokkaido Otofuke High School in Otofuke, Hokkaido.[1]
In 1988, Nishikawa became a founding member of the band Dreams Come True as their keyboardist.[1] Their first single, "Anata ni Aitakute" (あなたに会いたくて, "I Miss You"), was released in March 1989.[2] Their first album, Dreams Come True, sold over one million copies.[3] While with the band, they released eleven studio albums, nine of which debuted at #1 on the Oricon charts.[4] In that same time period, they released 33 singles, and 10 of them debuted at #1 on the Oricon singles charts.[5] As a band member, he acquired the nickname Nihya (ニーヒャ, Nīhya).[6]
Nishikawa left the band in March 2002 due to differences in musical direction.[7] He was arrested in October that year on suspicion of assaulting his sister-in-law (the charges were later dropped), and a urine test resulted in an additional charge for using illegal stimulants.[7][8][9] He stated that he began using them due to a lack of sleep, purchasing them after being approached by a dealer at a club in Tokyo.[1] He was sentenced to 1 year 6 months, but the sentence was suspended for three years.[7] He was arrested a second time, in February 2006 following a traffic stop in which police found stimulants in his vehicle.[7][8][9] He was convicted and sentenced to 1 year 6 months, and he was released from prison in 2007.[9]
In 2009, Nishikawa opened a bar in Sapporo, where he regularly hosts "Dre Night" (ドリナイト, Dori Naito) during which songs by Dreams Come True are played.[6][7] He puts up posters in the bar each time a new Dreams Come True album is released.[7] When concerts are held in Sapporo, the band often have an after party at the bar, and admission is a ticket from seeing the band perform.[7] These events draw not only locals but also tourists.[7] Nishikawa sometimes works as a DJ in Sapporo, and participates in LGBT events.[7]
Nishikawa has stated that he has no intention of re-entering the public stage.[1] Historical footage and images of Dreams Come True while he was a member are often manipulated to not show him.[7] However, he remains close with the members of Dreams Come True, and band member Masato Nakamura is supportive of Nishikawa returning to the band.[6][7][10] He made an appearance and performed with Nakamura in July 2019 as part of the band's 30th anniversary celebration, though Miwa Yoshida did not appear at this event.[6]
Nishikawa has never been married.[1] His younger sister, Ayumi, is a model.[11]
^ abcdef元ドリカム西川隆宏の現在！脱退理由・交通事故や薬逮捕・結婚や嫁の噂まとめ [Former Dreams Come True member Takahiro Nishikawa now! Reasons for leaving include a car accident and a drug arrest, rumors of marriage and settling with wife.] (in Japanese). Matomedia. 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
^あなたに会いたくて [I Miss You] (in Japanese). MusicBrainz. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^Dreams Come Trueのランキング情報 アルバム [Dreams Come True Ranking Information: Albums] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^Dreams Come Trueのランキング情報 シングル [Dreams Come True Ranking Information: Singles] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ abcd〝古巣愛〟衰えぬ西川隆宏…「3人のドリカム」復活の日は来るか [Takahiro Nishikawa's 'love for his old home' continues... Will the day of the 'three member Dreams Come True' return?] (in Japanese). Tokyo Sports. 9 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ abcdefghijkLivedoor News Editorial Board (1 March 2020). 覚せい剤で2度の逮捕歴がある、元ドリカムの西川隆宏 現在は札幌でドリカム愛に溢れたバーの店長に？ [With two convictions for stimulants, former Dreams Come True member Takahiro Nishikawa now manages a Sapporo bar full of Dreams Come True lovers?] (in Japanese). Livedoor News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ ab伊勢谷友介もおしまいか、逮捕歴のある芸能人が復帰できなくなった背景 [Is it the end for Yusuke Iseya? The reason why celebrities with arrest records are unable to return] (in Japanese). 週刊女性Prime. 11 September 2020. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
^ abc『紅白』出場歌手“転落”の黒歴史！ 殺人、強姦、薬物絡みの犯罪者まで [The dark history of the "fall" of a Kohaku contestant singer! From murder to rape to drug-related criminals] (in Japanese). Cyzo Woman. 18 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
^元ドリカム西川隆宏さんが中村正人の誕生日祝福 [Former Dreams Come True member Takahiro Nishikawa wishes Masato Nakamura a happy birthday] (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2 October 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^西川隆宏 [Takahiro Nishikawa] (in Japanese). Ameba News. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
^ザテレビジョンドラマアカデミー賞受賞履歴 - 1995 [The Television Drama Academy Award Winners History - 1995] (in Japanese). The Television Drama Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
^ザテレビジョンドラマアカデミー賞受賞履歴 - 1999 [The Television Drama Academy Award Winners History - 1999] (in Japanese). The Television Drama Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
