Hi-Fi Set was a Japanese folk-pop band formed in 1974 by vocalist-guitarist Junko Yamamoto, guitarist Toshihiko Yamamoto, and bassist Shigeru Okawa, reuniting after the dissolution of the folk group Red Bird to blend vocal harmonies with sophisticated arrangements. Their 1975 debut single "Graduation Photo", a Yumi Arai composition, released alongside the album Graduation Photo, established their presence in the Japanese music scene. The group built momentum re-recording Arai songs such as "Cold Rain" and "Smile in the Morning Sun", the latter later covered by Arai herself. In 1977, their cover of Morris Albert's "Feelings" became an instant hit, and the band appeared on NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen that same year. Through the late 1970s and early 1980s, they released a steady stream of singles and albums, including My Beautiful Music and Sky Restaurant — later sampled by American rapper J. Cole. Their discography grew to 19 albums and 26 singles, including the 1984 hit "I Want to Be Honest". After a brief 1980 hiatus, they returned in 1981, becoming the first Japanese act to perform 4-beat jazz compositions. Hi-Fi Set disbanded in 1994, with their legacy later honored through compilations like CD & DVD THE BEST Hi-Fi Set (2020) and COLLECTION: THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY (1996).
