Ryoff Karma

Ryoff Karma
呂布カルマ
Ryoff Karma performing at Sasa Folk Jamboree 2021
Ryoff Karma performing at Sasa Folk Jamboree 2021
Background information
Born
Yuya Mishima

(1983-01-07) January 7, 1983
OriginJapan
Genres
OccupationRapper
Years active2007-present
LabelJet City People

Ryoff Karma (呂布カルマ; born January 7, 1983) is a Japanese rapper known for performing in MC battles and televised competitions. He has also worked as a cultural critic, actor, and voice actor.[1]

Early life

Ryoff Karma was born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, in 1983 and spent much of his childhood in Higashiyodogawa-ku, Osaka.[2] His family moved to Nagoya during his junior high school years. After graduating, he worked various jobs, including positions at a karaoke chain, a pest control company, and later as a pharmaceutical delivery worker and cram school manager.[3]

Rap career

Rap production

Ryoff Karma began performing in clubs and gradually focused on live rap performances. He lamented the state of the hip-hop scene at the time, feeling that both the underground artists around him and the established artists before him had fallen out of touch. After receiving hip-hop tracks from online, Ryoff Karma was able to publish his first album 13shit in 2009 through the hip-hop group BB9's indie label Meikou Recordings. After this, Ryoff Karma and fellow college attendee Takanome (鷹の目) formed the label Jet City People to support other artists in the area.[4]

He has composed and performed music for commercial campaigns for brands such as Yanmar and Central Japan Railway Company, as well as public campaigns by Ad Council Japan.[5][6][7] He has also worked on projects for local governments and awareness campaigns.[8]

He has collaborated with Japanese rappers DJ Krush, Hannya (般若), Shinpeita, Gaki Ranger (餓鬼RANGER), Kan a.k.a. GAMI, and DOTAMA.[9]

Ryoff Karma has also collaborated with artists outside of hip-hop, including the rock band ANABANTFULLS in 2023.[10] In 2024, he collaborated with idol group LINKL PLANET.[11]

Battle rap

Ryoff Karma is best known in Japan for his work in battle rap, which he has won many championships in.[12]

Television

Ryoff Karma became a television personality in 2023, appearing 156 times and ranking 8th in the "Breakout Talents of 2023" list.[13] He has appeared in televised debates and hosted radio shows discussing cultural topics.[14][15]

Reception

Japanese rappers such as R-Shitei, Shinpeita, and FORK have praised Ryoff Karma's rhyming and style.[16][17]

Controversies

As a result of his frequent brutal honesty and his affinity for softcore pornography (referred to as "gravure" in Japanese)[18], Ryoff Karma has become the subject of controversy many times in Japanese media.

In 2013, the unmanned Koi-Yamagata Station was painted pink in following the theme of its name. After stopping at this station in September of 2024, Ryoff Karma made a post on X (formerly Twitter) criticizing the station.[19] This post quickly made headlines across Japan, with many criticizing his wanton judgement of a small Japanese community.[20][21] Ryoff Karma's judgement was largely derived from the moe styled anime character on the station, echoing his frequent judgement of lolicon and Otaku cultures in Japan.[22]

Musical style

Ryoff Karma's early work aligned with Japanese hip-hop conventions; later, he focused on social commentary, satire, and philosophical themes.[23]

Personal life

Ryoff Karma graduated from Nagoya University of the Arts in 2005.[24] He is married with two children.[25]

Discography

Albums

Title Release date Record label Notes
13shit 7 January 2009[26] Meikou Recordings (DQC-187) Catalog number via Boundee distribution[27]
Yojigen Hip-hop 18 August 2010 Jet City People (JCP-1001)
Strong 17 August 2011 Jet City People (JCP-1101)
The Cool Core 9 May 2014 Jet City People (JCP-1402)
A New Misunderstanding 23 November 2016 Jet City People (JCP-1605) With producer p1 a.k.a. 2g[28]
Supersalt 9 May 2018 Jet City People (JCP-1801)
Be kenja 23 June 2021 Jet City People (JCP-2101)
bokeh 10 November 2021 Jet City People (JCP-2102) As part of the group nue[29]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesReference
2017–2019Freestyle DungeonMonster[30]
2021Red Eyes: Surveillance Investigation TeamShigeo MinatogawaEpisode 3[31]
2022–presentWide ShowHimself[32]
2022–presentSidewalk/Driveway Variety: Encounter with the RoadHimselfSegment: "Want to Fall for Ryoff Karma on the Night Streets of Nagoya"[33]
2022–presentGogoSuma – GO GO! Smile!Himself[34]

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesReference
2022The Alien Painter––[35]
2023Wolf of the Blood 2––[36]

Radio

YearTitleStationRoleReference
2019-present Flying Bed Zip-FM Navigator [37]
2021–presentRyoff Karma's Rap HourFM NagoyaHost[38]
2022–presentScholar MealsAudible JapanHost[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Ryoff Karma Interview: "There Are No Taboos in My Lyrics"". Good Book Good Day. Asahi Shimbun Publishing. 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  2. ↑ "Ryofu Karma: An unpopular underachiever at school who was fired from companies, yet says he 'never felt any inferiority'". 婦人公論.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  3. ↑ "Ryofu Karma quits his day job at 33 after working as a manga artist, company employee, and cram school manager". 婦人公論.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  4. ↑ "【SPECIAL INTERVIEW｜呂布カルマ＆鷹の目／JET CITY PEOPLE】「俺がB-BOYだったときなんて1秒もない」孤高の天才ラッパー・呂布カルマと、トラックメイカー・鷹の目が突き立てる矛先。". LIVERARY (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  5. ↑ "Ryoff Karma Interview: "There Are No Taboos in My Lyrics"". Good Book Good Day. Asahi Shimbun Publishing. 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  6. ↑ "Ryoff Karma × Yanmar Construction Equipment: New collaboration track focuses on the theme of "challenge"". Kensetsutsushin Shimbun. 2024-10-21. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  7. ↑ "Ryoff Karma collaborates with JR Central on radio ad music". Chunichi BIZ Navi. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  8. ↑ "Rapper Ryoff Karma calls for safe driving through rap". CBC News. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  9. ↑ "Legendary DJ KRUSH commemorates 30 years with a nationwide tour featuring Ryoff Karma". LIVERARY. 2022-06-18. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  10. ↑ "ANABANTFULLS releases 'Gure' MV featuring Ryoff Karma". skream!. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  11. ↑ "Performance Video: LINKL PLANET feat. Ryoff Karma 'On the Earth'". LINKL PLANET Official Channel. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  12. ↑ 戦極MCBATTLE (2020-01-19). がーどまんvs呂布カルマ（３本目） /戦極BATTLE TOWERⅡ FINAL STAGE #24. Retrieved 2026-07-10 – via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "Akira Kawashima becomes the first annual champion! Breakout star is Aika Kanda! ～ Nihon Monitor 2023 Talent <Kanto/Kansai> Program Appearance Ranking ～". Nihon Monitor. 2023-12-06.
  14. ↑ "Ryoff Karma, the No. 1 breakout candidate for the first half of 2023: "His unique character is a big appeal". Nikkan Cyzo. Cyzo Inc. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  15. 1 2 "Scholar Meals". Audible. Audible, Inc. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  16. ↑ "DJ Matsunaga Reflects on Meeting Ryoff Karma: "Going to the Club in Sandals and DJing Barefoot"". Creepy Nuts' All Night Nippon 0 (Broadcast on December 14). Nippon Broadcasting. 2021-12-21.
  17. ↑ "Ryoff Karma VS Shinpeita: Philosophical debate on rap styles". ABEMA TIMES. 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  18. ↑ "呂布カルマが選ぶ注目のグラドル6人「透明感と清潔感を残しつつも暴力的な肉体を誇り、手がつけられない」（週プレNEWS）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  19. ↑ "呂布カルマ (@Yakamashiwa) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  20. ↑ "呂布カルマさんのX投稿「何だこの駅...気持ちわりぃ...」で物議 ピンクの駅舎、鉄道会社の受け止めは？ | BSSニュース | BSS山陰放送 (1ページ)". ニュース／山陰放送 (in Japanese). 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  21. ↑ "【騒動】呂布カルマ「気持ちわりぃ」"ピンク色"の恋山形駅をXに投稿 鳥取知事「まんまと引っかかったな」 | めざましmedia | "好き"でつながる". めざましmedia. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  22. ↑ ＨＥＷ. "呂布カルマ、日本の萌えアニメ文化をバッサリ「二次元ロリコン趣味のアニメまで調子こいて…」 - 芸能 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  23. ↑ Karma, Ryoff (June 12, 2023). ブレん人 [The Man Who Doesn't Waver] (in Japanese). Cosmic Publishing. ISBN 978-4774792873.
  24. ↑ "Ryoff Karma". NUA-OB/OG. Nagoya University of Arts. 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  25. ↑ "Ryoff Karma: Manga Artist, Company Employee, Class Manager, then Quit at 33 to Focus on Rap". Fujin Koron.jp. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  26. ↑ "『2009ライブ初め。』". BB9/名港Recordings blog (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  27. ↑ 呂布カルマ - 13 Shit, 2009-01-07, retrieved 2026-07-10
  28. ↑ "p1 a.k.a.2g×呂布カルマ / A New Misunderstanding [デジパック仕様] - CDJournal.com" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  29. ↑ "Bokeh, by nue". nue. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  30. ↑ "Next villain is Ryoff Karma! Playing a violent husband". Music Natalie. 2021-01-31.
  31. ↑ "Next villain is Ryoff Karma! Playing a violent husband". Music Natalie. 2021-01-31.
  32. ↑ "Wide Show appearance". TV Nagoya. 2022-01-01.
  33. ↑ "Rofu Karma watches over the gravure idol's drive". Music Natalie. 2022-09-29.
  34. ↑ "Rofu Karma blasts Prime Minister Kishida". Tokyo Sports. 2022-10-25.
  35. ↑ "Neo-SF suspense film "The Alien Painter" starring Ryoff Karma". Eiga.com. 2022-05-13.
  36. ↑ "Wolf of the Blood 2 featuring Ryoff Karma". Cinema Today. 2023-06-15.
  37. ↑ "ZIP-FM77.8". zip-fm.co.jp. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  38. ↑ "Ryoff Karma starts radio show on FM Nagoya". Chunichi Sports. 2021-09-01.

Further reading

  • Ryoff Karma『The Man who doesn't waver(ブレん人)』2023.Cosmic Publishing ISBN 978-4774792873
  • 『Ryoff Karma 1st Photobook』2023.One Publishing ISBN 978-4651204123
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.