Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋 寅泰, Hotei Tomoyasu; born February 1, 1962), also known simply as Hotei ( HOH-tay), is a Japanese…
Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋 寅泰, Hotei Tomoyasu; born February 1, 1962), also known simply as Hotei ( HOH-tay), is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, composer, record producer and actor. With a career spanning more than 40 years, Hotei claims record sales of over 40 million copies and has collaborated with artists from around the world. Hotei first rose to prominence in the 1980s as the guitarist for Boøwy, one of Japan's most popular rock bands, before starting a solo career. In 2003, he was ranked number 70 on HMV's list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. He ranked second in a 2011 poll on who the Japanese people thought was the best guitarist to represent Japan. An iconic artist in his native Japan, he moved to London in 2005 and continues to perform and release music globally. Hotei's song "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" has been featured in numerous films, commercials, video games, and events, including Quentin Tarantino's feature film Kill Bill.
Famous Japanese People: Guitarist
Guitarist: 94 people
Takahiro Matsumoto (松本 孝弘, Matsumoto Takahiro; born March 27, 1961, in Toyonaka, Osaka) is a Japanese musician…
Takahiro Matsumoto (松本 孝弘, Matsumoto Takahiro; born March 27, 1961, in Toyonaka, Osaka) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist and main composer of the rock duo B'z, the best-selling music act in their native Japan by certifications. He also has a successful solo career where, in addition to winning several Japan Gold Disc Awards, he won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Take Your Pick (2010), which he made in collaboration with Larry Carlton. Matsumoto is only the fifth guitarist in the world to have his own Gibson signature model guitar.
Kazuhito Yamashita (山下 和仁, Yamashita Kazuhito) (25 March 1961 – 24 January 2026) was a Japanese classical guitarist and…
Kazuhito Yamashita (山下 和仁, Yamashita Kazuhito) (25 March 1961 – 24 January 2026) was a Japanese classical guitarist and husband of the composer Keiko Fujiie. His technique and expression are highly acclaimed. By the age of 32, Yamashita had already released 52 albums, including repertoires for solo guitar, guitar concertos, chamber music and collaborations with other renowned musicians such as James Galway and Larry Coryell. He released a total of 83 albums.
Ōsama (王様, Ōsama; born Ōsama Jirō (王様 治郎, Ousama Jirou)) is a Japanese musician and guitarist. He is from Nishinomiya…
Ōsama (王様, Ōsama; born Ōsama Jirō (王様 治郎, Ousama Jirou)) is a Japanese musician and guitarist. He is from Nishinomiya in Hyōgo Prefecture.
Yukihiro Fujimura (藤村幸宏, Yukihiro Fujimura; born March 3, 1960, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan), is a Japanese guitarist…
Yukihiro Fujimura (藤村幸宏, Yukihiro Fujimura; born March 3, 1960, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan), is a Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter, arranger and producer. Usually referred to by his stage name Chachamaru, little is known about his early years and personal life. Besides being a member and collaborator with various bands and musical acts in the 1980s and 1990s, he is most known as being the lead guitarist and associate music producer for Gackt.
Hirokazu Ogura (小倉博和, Hirokazu Ogura; born January 28, 1960) musician from Takamatsu. His interest in playing the…
Hirokazu Ogura (小倉博和, Hirokazu Ogura; born January 28, 1960) musician from Takamatsu. His interest in playing the guitar started in High School. He has worked as a professional artist since 1982 as a guitarist and as a sound producer. His list of contacts includes Fujii Fumiya, UA, Rie Eto, Keisuke Kuwata, Taeko Onuki, Hiroshi Matsuda, Misia, Salyu, KinKi Kids, Mr.Children, Shikao Suga, among others In 2006 he was part of a special group called Kokua, formed to sing the theme song to an NHK documentary. In 2016, the members of Kokua reunited to celebrate the release of that original single, Progress, and worked on the official 1st album for the group and a Nationwide tour, both named Progress.
Tomohiko Kira (吉良 知彦) (December 6, 1959 – July 3, 2016) was a Japanese guitarist who led the band ZABADAK. He also…
Tomohiko Kira (吉良 知彦) (December 6, 1959 – July 3, 2016) was a Japanese guitarist who led the band ZABADAK. He also composed the original music for the 1988 cult horror film Evil Dead Trap, and performed guitar on soundtracks of the role-playing video games Xenogears (1998) and Chrono Cross (1999), playing the opening and ending themes on the latter. He later recorded an album with the singer of the ending theme from Chrono Cross, Noriko Mitose. He also composed the opening theme for the TV anime Spice and Wolf (2008) and provided backing vocals in the chorus. His hobbies included collecting insects and the outdoors. He owned a collection of butterflies and beetles. He died on July 3, 2016, 3 months after playing at a 30th anniversary concert.
Otomo Yoshihide (大友 良英, Ōtomo Yoshihide; born August 1, 1959) is a Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist. He…
Otomo Yoshihide (大友 良英, Ōtomo Yoshihide; born August 1, 1959) is a Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist. He mainly plays guitar, turntables and electronics. He first came to international prominence in the 1990s as the leader of the experimental rock group Ground Zero, and has since worked in a variety of contexts, ranging from free improvisation to noise, jazz, avant-garde and contemporary classical. He is also a pioneering figure in the EAI-scene, and is featured on important records on labels like Erstwhile Records. He has composed music for many films, television dramas, and commercials. In 2017, Otomo became the 2nd Guest Artistic Director of The Sapporo International Art Festival 2017.
Tatsuya Maeda (前田 達也, Maeda Tatsuya; was born 22 August 1958 in Naha, Okinawa, USCAR) is a Japanese musician and singer…
Tatsuya Maeda (前田 達也, Maeda Tatsuya; was born 22 August 1958 in Naha, Okinawa, USCAR) is a Japanese musician and singer from Japan. Maeda is best known as the singer and guitarist of the theme songs of Ultraman Dyna and Blue SWAT.
Tomoki Hasegawa (Japanese: 長谷川 智樹, Hepburn: Hasegawa Tomoki; born 19 July 1957) is a Japanese composer and arranger of…
Tomoki Hasegawa (Japanese: 長谷川 智樹, Hepburn: Hasegawa Tomoki; born 19 July 1957) is a Japanese composer and arranger of music from Osaka Prefecture, Japan, best known for his work on anime soundtracks. He has also done sound production work on albums for Mayumi Iizuka.
Tsuyoshi Ujiki (氏木 毅（うじき つよし）, Ujiki Tsuyoshi; born September 18, 1957, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese…
Tsuyoshi Ujiki (氏木 毅（うじき つよし）, Ujiki Tsuyoshi; born September 18, 1957, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese entertainer, actor, musician, and singer who is represented by the talent agencies Heart Cleaning Company, then Flos. His nicknamed Jick (stylized as JICK) from his surname. Along with Seiji Katsu, he was a member of Kodomo Band.
Issei Noro (野呂 一生, Noro Issei; born 1 January 1957) is a Japanese guitarist, songwriter, producer, and composer, best…
Issei Noro (野呂 一生, Noro Issei; born 1 January 1957) is a Japanese guitarist, songwriter, producer, and composer, best known as a founding member of the jazz fusion band Casiopea. Noro began his musical career in 1976 with Casiopea, serving as the group's guitarist. Casiopea made its recording debut in 1979 with their self-titled album, and Noro remained with his band until 2006, when activities were suspended. He returned when Casiopea restarted in 2012 following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear disaster, and continues to perform with his group. Outside Casiopea, Noro formed the band Inspirits in 2008 and has collaborated with other jazz fusion musicians. He is an endorsed artist of Yamaha, which has provided him with custom-made guitars, and is noted for his guitar-playing techniques.
Kyoji Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 恭司, Hepburn: Yamamoto Kyōji; born March 23, 1956, in Matsue, Shimane, Japan) is a Japanese…
Kyoji Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 恭司, Hepburn: Yamamoto Kyōji; born March 23, 1956, in Matsue, Shimane, Japan) is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer who is the leader of the hard rock/heavy metal bands Bow Wow (known as Vow Wow for a period of time) and Wild Flag. He is known for his skillful guitar playing, with former bandmate Neil Murray calling him one of the top Japanese guitarists, and was one of the first hard rock guitarists to use the tapping technique. Yamamoto often uses 24-fret Yamaha HR guitars.
Hisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人; born on June 16, 1955 in Togoshi, Shinagawa), known professionally as Char, is a Japanese…
Hisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人; born on June 16, 1955 in Togoshi, Shinagawa), known professionally as Char, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is considered one of Japan's greatest guitar players. In 2003, Char was ranked by HMV at number 38 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. Rolling Stone Japan ranked his album Psyche number 36 on their 2007 list of the greatest Japanese rock albums of all time. Char came in third in a 2011 goo poll on who the Japanese people thought was the best guitarist to represent the country. Char was named the greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2017 list by Guitar Magazine, as voted on by professional musicians, and in a 2019 public poll held by goo. His song "A Fair Wind" was named the 34th best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019. Char endorses Fender, with whom he has signature model guitars. He also has signature models with ESP.
Masahiro Andō (安藤 正容, Andō Masahiro; born September 16, 1954) is a Japanese composer and guitarist from Chikusa-ku…
Masahiro Andō (安藤 正容, Andō Masahiro; born September 16, 1954) is a Japanese composer and guitarist from Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. From 1976 to 2021, he was the guitarist and leader of the Japanese jazz-fusion band T-Square. He was also one-third of Ottottrio, a supergroup led by three Japanese guitarists: himself, Hirokuni Korekata of Rocket Jam and Issei Noro of Casiopea. Andō was also commissioned to create the music for Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits and Gran Turismo. He is one of the performers for the band's composition, "Truth", the theme tune for Fuji Television's Formula One World Championship coverage (which started in use in 1987) and the F-1 Grand Prix video game series. On February 1, 2021, Andō announced that he would leave T-Square following the release of their next album and tour.
Take Yokouchi (横内 タケ, Yokouchi Take), born 22 February 1954 in Tokyo, is a musician best known for his work with the…
Take Yokouchi (横内 タケ, Yokouchi Take), born 22 February 1954 in Tokyo, is a musician best known for his work with the Japanese glam rock band Vodka Collins. Take (pronounced Ta-kay, real name Takehiro) was originally a live touring guitar player for the popular teen idol band The Four Leaves. When he was approached to join the new band Vodka Collins in 1971, it was on bass guitar. Yokouchi played bass on the 1973 Vodka Collins singles "Sands Of Time" and "Automatic Pilot" from the "Tokyo - New York" album released on the Toshiba-EMI Express label in November 1973.
Kazumi Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺 香津美, Hepburn: Watanabe Kazumi; born October 14, 1953 in Tokyo) is a Japanese guitarist.…
Kazumi Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺 香津美, Hepburn: Watanabe Kazumi; born October 14, 1953 in Tokyo) is a Japanese guitarist. Other guitarists such as Luke Takamura and Sugizo have cited him as an influence.
June Yamagishi (山岸 潤史, born Junshi Yamagishi, June 6, 1953) is a Japanese guitarist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He…
June Yamagishi (山岸 潤史, born Junshi Yamagishi, June 6, 1953) is a Japanese guitarist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the guitarist for bands Papa Grows Funk and the Wild Magnolias.
Masayoshi Takanaka (born March 27, 1953) is a Japanese musician and record producer. Known for his virtuosic guitar…
Masayoshi Takanaka (born March 27, 1953) is a Japanese musician and record producer. Known for his virtuosic guitar playing and skilled musicianship, Takanaka rose to fame and achieved commercial success during the 1970s and 1980s. He composes and performs across various different music genres. In a career spanning over 50 years, Takanaka has released more than 20 albums and continues to perform.
Kisaburō Suzuki (鈴木 キサブロー, Suzuki Kisaburō; born 14 February 1953) is a Japanese J-pop songwriter and guitarist.
Yoshiaki Miyanoue (born October 7, 1953 in Tokyo, Japan) is a jazz guitarist. Like Wes Montgomery, who exercised strong…
Yoshiaki Miyanoue (born October 7, 1953 in Tokyo, Japan) is a jazz guitarist. Like Wes Montgomery, who exercised strong influence on Miyanoue, he plucks the strings with his thumb, not using a pick. He worked with organist Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, drummer Philly Joe Jones, and bassist Andrew Simpkins among others.
Masami Tsuchiya (Japanese: 土屋 昌巳, Hepburn: Tsuchiya Masami) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record…
Masami Tsuchiya (Japanese: 土屋 昌巳, Hepburn: Tsuchiya Masami) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Ippu-Do. Following their disbandment in 1984, Tsuchiya focused on his solo career and formed several short-lived bands with well-known musicians. He has also participated in various collaborations and produced recordings for acts such as Glay, Blankey Jet City, and The Willard.
Akio Sasajima (笹島 明夫, Sasajima Akio) (born 1952) is a jazz guitarist born in Japan and currently based in Sapporo…
Akio Sasajima (笹島 明夫, Sasajima Akio) (born 1952) is a jazz guitarist born in Japan and currently based in Sapporo, Japan. His playing style incorporates bebop, hard bop, and jazz fusion. He recorded several albums as a leader for Muse and Enja in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Shigeru Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 茂, Hepburn: Suzuki Shigeru; born December 20, 1951) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and…
Shigeru Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 茂, Hepburn: Suzuki Shigeru; born December 20, 1951) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and guitarist. He first became known as a member of the influential rock band Happy End in the early 1970s, before starting a solo career and becoming a prolific session musician. As of 2006, Suzuki had contributed to 588 recordings. In 2019, Suzuki's high school band Skye reunited and released their first album.
Hideaki Katō (Japanese: 加藤秀明, Hepburn: Katō Hideaki; born October 9, 1950), known professionally as Reichi Nakaido…
Hideaki Katō (Japanese: 加藤秀明, Hepburn: Katō Hideaki; born October 9, 1950), known professionally as Reichi Nakaido (仲井戸麗市, Nakaido Reichi) and nicknamed Chabo, is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as one of the guitarists and vocalists of the rock band RC Succession. Nakaido was voted the third greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2019 poll held by goo.
Takao Ogawa (小川隆夫, born August 7, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese novelist, music journalist, music producer…
Takao Ogawa (小川隆夫, born August 7, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese novelist, music journalist, music producer, composer, guitarist, and orthopedic surgeon. He is known for his work in various music fields, particularly jazz, and as a complete collector of Blue Note. Ogawa learned classical guitar at a young age and formed a band in high school. He later pursued a career in medicine while playing jazz guitar in a band. Over the next forty years, Ogawa has written liner notes for more than 3,000 records and CDs of American/European/Japanese jazz musicians and produced CDs. He interviewed more than 1,000 musicians and related people among whom Miles Davis (1985-1990), Art Blakey (1982-1991), Sonny Rollins (1986-2001), Oscar Peterson (1987), Dexter Gordon (1982-1984), Herbie Hancock (1985-2019), Keith Jarrett (2001), Charlie Watts (1989,1990), Toshiko Akiyoshi (1984-2016), Sadao Watanabe (1985-2021), Terumasa Hino(1983-2021), Alfred Lion (1985,1986), Bob Weinstock (1999), Orrin Keepnews (2000), and Creed Taylor. (2009) Ogawa befriended Miles Davis in 1985 and wrote seven books about him. He has written many articles and books mainly about jazz and formed Selim Slive Elementz, an electric free jazz rock band in 2016, in homage to Miles Davis. In 1992, Ogawa produced albums by Kenny Werner, Dennis Chambers, Marc Copland, the keyboardist Adam Holzman who played with Miles Davis, Bob Mintzer, Curtis Fuller, and other artists at Flatout productions. Ogawa is Director of Orthopedics at Central Clinic in Tokyo, Japan.
Yasunori Shimura (志村 康徳, Shimura Yasunori; February 20, 1950 – March 29, 2020), known professionally as Ken Shimura (志村…
Yasunori Shimura (志村 康徳, Shimura Yasunori; February 20, 1950 – March 29, 2020), known professionally as Ken Shimura (志村 けん, Shimura Ken), was a Japanese comedian. He was born in Higashimurayama, Tokyo. He started his career as an assistant to the comedy band The Drifters, led by Chōsuke Ikariya. In 1974, He joined the group, replacing Chū Arai. He appeared as members of the group on popular comedy shows that gained massive popularity from the 1970s to the 1980s. Hachiji-dayo! Zen'in-shūgō achieved the highest viewership rating of 50.5%, and The Drifters Daibakushō (ドリフ大爆笑) reached 40.4% viewership. These shows made him nationally popular. After the end of Hachiji-dayo! in 1985, he began to work independently as well. He appeared on shows like Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen TV (加トちゃんケンちゃんごきげんテレビ), with Cha Katō, a fellow member of the group, Shimura Ken no Daijōbu-dā (志村けんのだいじょうぶだぁ)," and Shimura Ken no Baka Tono-sama (志村けんのバカ殿様), portraying characters like Baka Tono-sama (バカ殿様, Stupid Lord) and Hen na Oji-san (変なおじさん, Strange Older Man). These characters became highly popular. Shimura's comedic work was inspired in part by that of Jerry Lewis.
Masayoshi Kabe (加部 正義, Kabe Masayoshi) (5 November 1948 – 26 September 2020) often known by his stage names Louis or…
Masayoshi Kabe (加部 正義, Kabe Masayoshi) (5 November 1948 – 26 September 2020) often known by his stage names Louis or Louise Louis, was a Japanese bassist and guitarist from Yokohama, Japan. Numerous online sources present him as half-French and half-Japanese, but this was actually a marketing creation from the producers of the Golden Cups; Kabe was half-American and half-Japanese. He began his career in 1966 as a member of The Golden Cups. He was a studio musician throughout the 1970s and also a member of various bands such as Speed, Glue & Shinki until he joined the group Johnny, Louis & Char (later renamed Pink Cloud) in 1978. After they disbanded in 1994 he formed the instrumental side-project ZokuZokuKazoku (ZZK) while providing support to other musicians as a bassist. He also recorded three albums as bass player for a reunion version of the 1970s band Vodka Collins from 1995 to 1998. He died on 26 September 2020, of multiple organ failure.
Daiko Nagato (長戸 大幸, Nagato Daikō; born 6 April 1948) is a Japanese musical producer, musical arranger, writer and…
Daiko Nagato (長戸 大幸, Nagato Daikō; born 6 April 1948) is a Japanese musical producer, musical arranger, writer and composer. He's mostly known as the founder of music company B Zone (formerly known as Being Inc.), which provided million-seller hits during the 1990s and provided more than 80 theme songs for anime television series Detective Conan. He was the recording producer for artists such as Boøwy, Loudness, TUBE, B'z, ZARD, WANDS, Maki Ohguro, DEEN, T-BOLAN, Mai Kuraki, Garnet Crow, Rina Aiuchi and Sard Underground. His brother, Shuusuke Nagato (長戸秀介) is also musical producer, guitarist, writer and founder of the music company Rey's in.
Ryo Kawasaki (川崎 燎, Kawasaki Ryō; February 25, 1947 – April 13, 2020) was a Japanese jazz fusion guitarist, composer…
Ryo Kawasaki (川崎 燎, Kawasaki Ryō; February 25, 1947 – April 13, 2020) was a Japanese jazz fusion guitarist, composer and band leader, best known as one of the first musicians to develop and popularise the fusion genre and for helping to develop the guitar synthesizer in collaboration with Roland Corporation and Korg. His album Ryo Kawasaki and the Golden Dragon Live was one of the first all-digital recordings and he created the Kawasaki Synthesizer for the Commodore 64. During the 1960s, he played with various Japanese jazz groups and also formed his own bands. In the early 1970s, he moved to New York City, where he settled and worked with Gil Evans, Elvin Jones, Chico Hamilton, Ted Curson, Joanne Brackeen amongst others. In the mid-1980s, Kawasaki drifted out of performing music in favour of writing music software for computers. He also produced several techno dance singles, formed his own record company called Satellites Records, and later returned to jazz-fusion in 1991.
Hideki Ishima (Japanese: 石間 秀機, Hepburn: Ishima Hideki; born March 21, 1944 in Sapporo, Hokkaido) is a Japanese…
Hideki Ishima (Japanese: 石間 秀機, Hepburn: Ishima Hideki; born March 21, 1944 in Sapporo, Hokkaido) is a Japanese musician, known primarily for his work with Flower Travellin' Band and for creating the sitarla instrument. A guitarist and sitar player for nearly forty years, he now exclusively plays the sitarla, an instrument he invented in 2000 that combines aspects of a sitar with an electric guitar. Guitarists Kazuo Takeda, Akira Takasaki, Rolly, and Mikael Åkerfeldt have cited him as an influence.
Kōji Nakamoto (仲本 工事, Nakamoto Kōji; July 5, 1941 – October 19, 2022) was a Japanese comedian. His real name is Kōki…
Kōji Nakamoto (仲本 工事, Nakamoto Kōji; July 5, 1941 – October 19, 2022) was a Japanese comedian. His real name is Kōki Nakamoto (仲本 興喜). He was one of the members of The Drifters. Nakamoto graduated from Gakushuin University. He occasionally appeared in the dramas and films as an actor. On the 19 October 2022, Nakamoto died after being hit by a car at an intersection in Yokohama City, suffering a severe head injury. He was 81.
Takeshi Terauchi (寺内タケシ, Terauchi Takeshi; 17 January 1939 – 18 June 2021), also known as Terry, was a Japanese…
Takeshi Terauchi (寺内タケシ, Terauchi Takeshi; 17 January 1939 – 18 June 2021), also known as Terry, was a Japanese instrumental rock guitarist. His preferred guitar was a black Mosrite with a white pickguard. His guitar sound was characterized by frenetic picking, heavy use of tremolo picking and frequent use of his guitar's vibrato arm. Terauchi started his career playing rhythm guitar at American military bases with ensembles like the Honshu Cowboys, and the country and Western act "Jimmie Tokita & His Mountain Playboys", which had bassist Chosuke Ikariya. In 1962 he formed his first group, The Blue Jeans, which released a debut album "Surfing" in 1963. In 1966 he left the group, citing exhaustion, and missed opening for the Beatles during their tour. In December 1966 he formed a new band, "The Bunnys", and released "Lets Go Terry!". In May 1967, he also established his own company named "Teraon". He won the "arrangement award" with the song "Let's Go Unmei" at the 9th Japan Record Awards in 1967. He left the Bunnys in 1968. He reformed the Blue Jeans in 1969 and the band was active until 2021. On November 26, 2008, Takeshi Terauchi and the Blue Jeans released the album Mr. Legend from King Records.
Yūzō Kayama (加山 雄三, Kayama Yūzō; born April 11, 1937) is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and actor.
Boo Takagi (高木 ブー, Takagi Bū) (born 8 March 1933, Toshima, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian and musician (guitarist and…
Boo Takagi (高木 ブー, Takagi Bū) (born 8 March 1933, Toshima, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian and musician (guitarist and ukulele player). His real name is Tomonosuke Takagi (高木 友之助). Takagi is one of the members of The Drifters.
Shungo Sawada (born Tokyo, February 10, 1930 - died August 28, 2006) was a Japanese jazz guitarist. Sawada began…
Shungo Sawada (born Tokyo, February 10, 1930 - died August 28, 2006) was a Japanese jazz guitarist. Sawada began playing guitar at twelve years old, and played in his early twenties on US military installations. He founded his own group, Double Beats, in 1954, and led a five-piece band in the mid-1960s. His Japanese sidemen included Shotaro Moriyasu, Norio Maeda, Akitoshi Igarashi, and Motohiko Hino; he also played with visiting American musicians such as Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Thad Jones, Helen Merrill, Oscar Peterson, and Sonny Stitt. He was the founder of the label Elec in 1972, and later taught at Roots College of Music in Tokyo.
Hitoshi Ueki (植木 等, Ueki Hitoshi; February 25, 1927 – March 27, 2007) was a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, and…
Hitoshi Ueki (植木 等, Ueki Hitoshi; February 25, 1927 – March 27, 2007) was a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, and guitarist. He won six awards for acting. His film credits stretch from 1960 to 1995. Ueki came to fame through the comic jazz-band The Crazy Cats led by Hajime Hana. His major appearances were in the Musekinin Otoko film series, the comedy variety show Shabondama Holiday, the prime-time television series The Hangman, and the ten 2-hour television shows in the Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari franchise. He appeared in the Akira Kurosawa epic jidaigeki film Ran in 1985, receiving a nomination for the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, and earned the Japanese Academy, Kinema Junpo, and Mainichi film awards for best supporting actor for his role as the eccentric grandfather in Big Joys, Small Sorrows in 1987. On stage, he portrayed Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago, voiced the Roddy McDowall role in the Japanese market release of Planet of the Apes, and served as the narrator in the Japanese version of Tom and Jerry. His hit song with Hana Hajime and the Crazy Cats, Sūdara-bushi, placed in the Oricon top ten, and landed him an appearance on the NHK annual music spectacular Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Ueki received the Purple Ribbon Medal of Honour in 1993 and the 4th Class Order of the Rising Sun in 1999. In 2011, new technology was used to create a Vocaloid voicebank using his voice.
Yoshio Tabata (田端義夫, Tabata Yoshio; January 1, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a Japanese ryūkōka and enka singer…
Yoshio Tabata (田端義夫, Tabata Yoshio; January 1, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a Japanese ryūkōka and enka singer, songwriter, and electric guitarist. His debut song "Shima no Funauta" (島の舟唄, literally "Island Ship Song") was released in 1939. Along with enka-shi Haruo Oka's 1939 debut, his debut had a big impact on Japanese popular music because Japanese popular ryūkōka music of that time was mainly sung by classical music singers such as Ichiro Fujiyama and Noriko Awaya. He was born in Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
Shichirō Fukazawa (深沢 七郎, Fukazawa Shichirō; January 29, 1914 – August 18, 1987) was a Japanese author and guitarist…
Shichirō Fukazawa (深沢 七郎, Fukazawa Shichirō; January 29, 1914 – August 18, 1987) was a Japanese author and guitarist whose 1960 short story Fūryū mutan ("Tale of an Elegant Dream") caused a nationwide uproar and prompted an assassination attempt of the president of the magazine that published it.
Dick Mine (ディック・ミネ, Dikku Mine; Japanese pronunciation: [dikku͍ mine]) October 10, 1908 – June 10, 1991 was a Japanese…
Dick Mine (ディック・ミネ, Dikku Mine; Japanese pronunciation: [dikku͍ mine]) October 10, 1908 – June 10, 1991 was a Japanese singer. His recording career spanned nearly the entire Shōwa era.
Masao Koga (古賀政男, Koga Masao; November 18, 1904 – July 25, 1978) was a Japanese composer, mandolinist, and guitarist of…
Masao Koga (古賀政男, Koga Masao; November 18, 1904 – July 25, 1978) was a Japanese composer, mandolinist, and guitarist of the Shōwa era who was dubbed "Japan's Irving Berlin" by Universal Press Syndicate. His melancholy style, based upon Nakayama Shimpei's yonanuki scale, was popularly known in Japan as "Koga melody" (古賀メロディー, Koga merodī). He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Fourth Class) and the People's Honor Award for his contributions to Japanese music.
Hitoshi Okamoto (岡本 仁志) is a Japanese guitarist, composer, arranger and the former member of the J-pop band Garnet Crow…
Hitoshi Okamoto (岡本 仁志) is a Japanese guitarist, composer, arranger and the former member of the J-pop band Garnet Crow in years 1999 to 2013, as well as some of his own solo releases.
Kaori Muraji (村治佳織, Muraji Kaori; born 14 April 1978) is a Japanese classical guitarist. She is the first Japanese…
Kaori Muraji (村治佳織, Muraji Kaori; born 14 April 1978) is a Japanese classical guitarist. She is the first Japanese artist to have signed an exclusive international contract with Decca Music Group.
Makoto Miyoshi (三好誠, Miyoshi Makoto) is a Japanese musical composer and arranger. In 1999, he became a member of a rock…
Makoto Miyoshi (三好誠, Miyoshi Makoto) is a Japanese musical composer and arranger. In 1999, he became a member of a rock band Rumania Montevideo. Afterwards, he regularly provided music for other artists from the same recording company, Giza Studio, until 2007. In 2019, through social network, he announced resumption of music activities along with Rumania Montevideo. In 2020, he formed an alternative rock band "Morphing people".