Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Nomo assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY 2.5 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
I'll be honest, the first time Cornelius really clicked for me was hearing how he treats sound like a sculptor rather than a songwriter. Keigo Oyamada came up out of that Shibuya-kei scene in Tokyo, and instead of staying cute and crate-diggy he kept drifting toward something stranger and more precise. Records like Fantasma and Point feel almost obsessive, every little click, pan, and silence placed on purpose, and somehow it never sounds cold to me, it sounds curious. He's not a belt-it-out frontman, he's the quiet guy in the corner rearranging the air, and that restraint is exactly what hooks me. Born in 1969, an Aquarius, he carries that unbothered, hard-to-pin-down vibe. Mostly I just respect the patience. He makes me believe pop can still be a science experiment you can dance to.
Overview
Keigo Oyamada, known professionally as Cornelius, is a Japanese musician, producer, and composer born on January 27, 1969, in Setagaya, Tokyo. Emerging from the Shibuya-kei scene, he built a career as a solo artist under the Cornelius moniker, crafting intricately layered, experimental pop and electronic music. His meticulous approach to sound design and studio production has earned him recognition as one of Japan's most inventive musical artists. He maintains an official website at cornelius-sound.com and is active on social media under the handle corneliusjapan.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada)
- Name (Japanese)
- 小山田圭吾
- Reading
- おやまだ けいご
- Born
- January 27, 1969 (age 57)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Rooster (酉)
- Origin
- Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
- Occupation
- DJ / Singer-songwriter / DJ Producer / Composer
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada) born?
Born January 27, 1969 (age 57).
Where is Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada) from?
Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada) is from Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
What does Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada) do?
Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada) works as DJ, Singer-songwriter, DJ Producer, Composer.
Singer-songwriter — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.