Career
Kobayashi started his professional career in the late 1970s. After working in the backing bands for singers such as Yosui Inoue, Misato Watanabe, and Anri, he came into prominence as a musical collaborator for the Southern All Stars frontman Keisuke Kuwata"s eponymous 1988 solo album. Although his own leader albums failed to receive public attention, Kobayashi garnered commercial success in collaboration as producer or songwriter with other artists.
In 1992, he undertook the production work with the Japanese popular-rock band Mr.
Children on their debut album entitled Everything. Kobayashi has written several film scores, including Swallowtail (1996) and All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001).
Not only composing music, he also directed the film Bandage (2010). In addition to his career as a musician, Kobayashi has also worked as a social activist and a philanthropist.
Kobayashi and Sakurai have formed the charity supergroup Bank Band since 2004, and have released three albums and two singles to date.