L'Arc-en-Ciel

L'Arc-en-Ciel ("The Rainbow" in French, stylized as L'Arc~en~Ciel) is a Japanese rock band, founded in Osaka in 1991. With a reported 40 million records sold, they were the first Japanese act to headline at Madison Square Garden. In 2003, they were ranked 58 on a list of the top 100 Japanese pop musicians by HMV Japan. While they first got their start as a visual kei band, they have not had any association with the movement since their major label debut in 1994.

History

1991–1996: Early career

In February 1991, bassist tetsuya (then known as TETSU) recruited vocalist hyde (then known as HIDE), guitarist hiro and drummer pero. Together, they formed a band and named themselves L'Arc-en-Ciel. A year later, after gaining popularity in their hometown of Osaka, hiro left the band on June 12, 1992. Tetsuya then convinced his friend ken to quit his university studies and join the band as guitarist. However, pero then left the group on December 30, 1992. The following year, sakura joined as L'Arc-en-Ciel's new drummer.

Arcenciel

Not to be confused with the newspaper Arc-en-Ciel.

Arcenciel, stylized arcenciel and also Arc en Ciel, is a Beirut-based, non-profit, apolitical and non-confessional NGO created in response to the Lebanese civil war in 1985. It participates in sustainable development and was recognized as a public utility in 1995 by the Lebanese Presidential Decree N⁰7541.

Arc en Ciel serves disabled people in Lebanon and also is involved in international sustainable development. It is a sister agency of the NGO Himaya which is supported by UNICEF.

History

Arcenciel was created in 1984-1985 during the Civil War due to the increase in numbers of Lebanese people living with disabilities. With no social or governmental services available in the country at the time, large numbers of disabled people suddenly became confined to their homes. Within this context, Arcenciel was founded to help integrate disabled people and teach them skills to re-build their lives.

Arcenciel was formed at a time when Lebanon was deeply segregated. Going against the grain and norms, arcenciel opened up a small factory that served all people equally, regardless of background or religious and political affiliation. The name arcenciel was chosen in reference to a section in the Bible that highlights the unity of all people equally: "When the rainbow is in the clouds, I see him and I will remember the everlasting covenant that exists between God and all living beings."