Famed for their ability in both dancing and singing, Da Pump's debut came in 1997, with the song "Feelin Good - It's Paradise" and breaking through with "Rhapsody in Blue" (and using the song as their entry on the "white" team during the 1998
Kōhaku Uta Gassen). The band originally came from
Okinawa Actors School but are now part of the
Avex Network and are produced by
Akio Togashi. Their songs tend to have a quick tempo and often include elements of
rap. Da Pump often appears in
TV shows,
movies, and
magazines throughout Japan. Issa has stated that he is a fan of the long-running
Kamen Rider Series tokusatsu programs, and has contributed to the soundtracks of
Kamen Rider 555 with its opening theme "Justiφ's" and its film's theme "Justiφ's -Accel Mix-" as well as the theme for the film
Kamen Rider: The Next, "Chosen Soldier". As a band, Da Pump had performed the theme to the film
Kamen Rider: The First, "Bright! our Future", and Issa played the role of a Shocker commander in the film. In 2018, he and Japanese singer
Shuta Sueyoshi of
AAA fame collaborated on the single
Over "Quartzer", the opening theme for the 20th anniversary series of the Kamen Rider franchise,
Kamen Rider Zi-O. Following a
DUI arrest in 2005, Shinobu temporarily suspended all activities from the band. However, on 7 April 2006, he officially announced that he left the group. The remaining members of Da Pump continued with three members. On December 18, 2008, it was announced that Yukinari was leaving the band and that Ken and Issa were actively looking for his replacement. Later the same day, the Kansai University of Social Welfare posted a music video, in collaboration with DA PUMP, for a song titled "Believe in your dream", co-written by Issa and m.c.A·T. ==Members==