Yoyoka Soma (Japanese: 相馬世世歌), known mononymously as YOYOKA (よよか), is a Japanese drummer from Ishikari. In 2018, at age…
Yoyoka Soma (Japanese: 相馬世世歌), known mononymously as YOYOKA (よよか), is a Japanese drummer from Ishikari. In 2018, at age 8, she gained international attention for an online video in which she covered Led Zeppelin's "Good Times Bad Times", which was uploaded to Vimeo as her entry for the 2018 Hit Like a Girl contest. As of October 2019, the video has 3.2 million views and David Grohl, Ian Paice, and Robert Plant all praised the video and her drumming capabilities. She has stated that John Bonham, Chris Coleman, and Benny Greb are her favorite drummers and Rage Against the Machine her favorite band.
Famous Japanese People: Drummer
Drummer: 45 people
Sasuke Haraguchi (Japanese: 原口沙輔, Hepburn: Haraguchi Sasuke; born May 21, 2003) is a Japanese music producer, composer…
Sasuke Haraguchi (Japanese: 原口沙輔, Hepburn: Haraguchi Sasuke; born May 21, 2003) is a Japanese music producer, composer and Vocaloid musician best known for his 2023 song "Hito Mania". He began producing music digitally from a young age, and was noticed by the internet at age fourteen when a recording of him playing the Akai MPC on the streets of Harajuku went viral online. In 2018, he signed a deal with Warner Music Japan and would release J-pop singles under the alias Sasuke until his departure from the label in 2021. In 2023, he rebranded to his full name, and began to produce electronic Vocaloid songs influenced by hyperpop, gaining popularity after submitting his work to the semi-annual event The Vocaloid Collection. Since then, he has produced music for several media properties and released three studio albums, "Acetone" (2023), "Screen II" (2023), and "Isan" (2026).
Senri Kawaguchi (川口 千里, Kawaguchi Senri) is a Japanese drummer. In Japan, she is sometimes known as tekazuhime (手数姫)…
Senri Kawaguchi (川口 千里, Kawaguchi Senri) is a Japanese drummer. In Japan, she is sometimes known as tekazuhime (手数姫), ("Princess of Many Strokes"). She has the image of a gecko on the front of her 20-inch bass drum, and on her Zildjian drumsticks. She has won many awards for her drumming.
Shun Ishiwaka (石若駿, born 1992) is a Japanese jazz drummer. He has performed alongside artists such as Hiromi Uehara, Ai…
Shun Ishiwaka (石若駿, born 1992) is a Japanese jazz drummer. He has performed alongside artists such as Hiromi Uehara, Ai Kuwabara, Sakura Fujiwara, Jason Moran, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Scofield, and Chris Potter.
Rina (Japanese: リナ; born August 21, 1991) is a Japanese musician, singer and songwriter. She is best known as drummer…
Rina (Japanese: リナ; born August 21, 1991) is a Japanese musician, singer and songwriter. She is best known as drummer of the all-female rock band Scandal since 2006. Rina occasionally performs lead vocals and guitar in the band. She is also a part of the sporadic supergroup Halloween Junky Orchestra led by Hyde and K.A.Z of Vamps for their October 2012 single "Halloween Party".
Zone (ゾーン) was an all-female rock band started in Sapporo, Japan, in 1997. It started as a dance group and turned into…
Zone (ゾーン) was an all-female rock band started in Sapporo, Japan, in 1997. It started as a dance group and turned into an all-female band. Zone has been categorized in a new genre called "bandol" (a portmanteau of the words "band" and "idol"). The band was started and managed by Studio RunTime and its first single, "Good Days", was released by the major record label Sony Records, on February 7, 2001. The group officially disbanded on April 7, 2013, when the last remaining member, Maiko Sakae, held the band's final event. Zone's most famous song is "Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono)", released on August 8, 2001. It sold about 744,000 copies in Japan.
Shinsei Kamattechan (神聖かまってちゃん) is a Japanese rock band from Chiba, formed in 2007. The band consists of Noko (lead…
Shinsei Kamattechan (神聖かまってちゃん) is a Japanese rock band from Chiba, formed in 2007. The band consists of Noko (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming, composition), Mono (leader, keyboards, programming, tambourine), Misako (drums) and Yūnosuke (bass, chorus). They describe themselves as an "Internet Pop Rock Band", which reflects the blend of pop melodies and piano with dark lyrics and punk rock sensibilities found within their music, as well as the band's long history of broadcasting both live performances and aspects of their daily lives on the Internet.
Yuna Shishido (宍戸佑名, Shishido Yūna; born June 23, 1985), known as a solo artist by the stage name Kavka Shishido…
Yuna Shishido (宍戸佑名, Shishido Yūna; born June 23, 1985), known as a solo artist by the stage name Kavka Shishido (シシド・カフカ, Shishido Kafuka; stylized in Japan as SHISHIDO KAVKA) is a Mexican-born Japanese drummer and vocalist. Originally a member of the rock band The News, she debuted as a solo musician in 2012 and released her debut album Kavkanize in 2013. She prominently plays the drums in all of her promotions. Shishido was given the name "Kavka" for her stage name by copy editor Junpei Watanabe. Shishido always wore black, reminiscent of a crow. The Czech word kavka refers to the daurian jackdaw.
Tadayoshi Okura (大倉 忠義, Ōkura Tadayoshi; born May 16, 1985) is a Japanese singer, actor, voice actor and radio host. He…
Tadayoshi Okura (大倉 忠義, Ōkura Tadayoshi; born May 16, 1985) is a Japanese singer, actor, voice actor and radio host. He is also a member and the drummer of Japanese male idol group Super Eight (previously known as Kanjani Eight), which was under the management of Johnny & Associates and now is under Starto Entertainment. His image color in the group is green.
Manabu Yamaguchi (山口 学, Yamaguchi Manabu; born August 29, 1984), better known by his alias Mabanua (stylized in…
Manabu Yamaguchi (山口 学, Yamaguchi Manabu; born August 29, 1984), better known by his alias Mabanua (stylized in lowercase; Japanese pronunciation: [mabaꜜnɯa]), is a Japanese music producer, drummer, and singer. He released his first album Done Already in November 2008 and has participated in production for artists including Kenshi Yonezu, Gen Hoshino, Imase, and Official Hige Dandism. He is also member of the three-person band Ovall.
Snarky Puppy is an American jazz fusion band led by bassist Michael League. Founded in 2004, Snarky Puppy combines a…
Snarky Puppy is an American jazz fusion band led by bassist Michael League. Founded in 2004, Snarky Puppy combines a variety of jazz idioms, rock, world music, and funk and has won five Grammy Awards. Although the band has worked with vocalists, League described Snarky Puppy as "a pop band that improvises a lot, without vocals".
Naoki Kawano (川野 直輝, Kawano Naoki; born February 22, 1982) is a Japanese actor and musician from Mobara, Chiba…
Naoki Kawano (川野 直輝, Kawano Naoki; born February 22, 1982) is a Japanese actor and musician from Mobara, Chiba Prefecture. He is a former Johnny's Jr. member and is no longer represented by Johnny & Associates. While a Johnny's Jr., he was part of Kaidan Trio, TOKYO, and Kawano Band. He was also formerly the drummer of the rock band Dustz, fronted by fellow actor Ray Fujita. His debut role as an actor was as the antagonist Long in the Super Sentai series Juken Sentai Gekiranger.
Nobuaki Kaneko (金子 ノブアキ, 金子 信昭, Kaneko Nobuaki; born 5 June 1981) is a Japanese drummer and actor. He is nicknamed…
Nobuaki Kaneko (金子 ノブアキ, 金子 信昭, Kaneko Nobuaki; born 5 June 1981) is a Japanese drummer and actor. He is nicknamed Akkun (あっくん) and N.K. He is a member of the rock band Rize. He is represented with Itoh Company and his label is Illchill. He graduated from Horikoshi High School. Kaneko's father was Johnny Yoshinaga who was also a drummer, and his mother is singer Mari Kaneko. His younger brother is Kensuke Kaneko (known as KenKen) who is the bassist of Rize, and the brothers formed a rhythm section. In November 2013, Kaneko married a non-celebrity woman who is a former model.
Daichi Itō is a Japanese drummer, singer, and whistler who was one of the founders of the band SAKEROCK.
Kenji Roa (ロア健治, Roa Kenji; born January 25, 1979) is a Japanese voice actor and singer who is a vocalist in the…
Kenji Roa (ロア健治, Roa Kenji; born January 25, 1979) is a Japanese voice actor and singer who is a vocalist in the Japanese rock band Virgil. He also voices Tobi in Blood Lad.
Masahiro Matsuoka (松岡 昌宏, Matsuoka Masahiro; born January 11, 1977) is a Japanese drummer, actor and YouTuber. Former…
Masahiro Matsuoka (松岡 昌宏, Matsuoka Masahiro; born January 11, 1977) is a Japanese drummer, actor and YouTuber. Former member of Tokio, a musical group under Starto Entertainment, formerly of Johnny & Associates. His nicknames are Mabo and Maa-kun. He starred as Shinichi Ozaki in Godzilla: Final Wars, and comedy series Yasuko to Kenji.
Kazutoyo Koyabu (小籔 千豊, Koyabu Kazutoyo; born September 11, 1973 in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka) is a Japanese TV comedian…
Kazutoyo Koyabu (小籔 千豊, Koyabu Kazutoyo; born September 11, 1973 in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka) is a Japanese TV comedian, presenter, tarento, and musician, represented by Yoshimoto Kogyo. He was the chairman of the comedy troupe Yoshimoto Shinkigeki from 2006 to 2022 and drummer for the band Genie High. Koyabu graduated as the 12th generation class from Yoshimoto NSC Osaka and speaks with an Osaka dialect.
Casiopea (カシオペア, Kashiopea) is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo…
Casiopea (カシオペア, Kashiopea) is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. After lineup changes the following year that added keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya, Casiopea made their major‑label debut with their self‑titled album in 1979, and drummer Akira Jimbo joined in 1980. During this period, they released more than a dozen albums before Sakurai and Jimbo left the band amid disputes over concurrent band memberships. In 1990, bassist Yoshihro Naruse and drummer Masaaki Hiyama joined, resulting in a second era marked by multiple drummer changes, with Jimbo returning as a supporting member in 1997. Noro suspended all band activities in 2006, leading to a six-year hiatus. In 2012, the band resumed activities with Mukaiya not rejoining and Kiyomi Otaka replacing him on keyboards. Renamed Casiopea 3rd for its third period, the group recorded its first album in eight years. After Jimbo left again in 2022, he was replaced by drummer Yoshinori Imai and the band entered its fourth period as Casiopea‑P4. Otaka left in 2025 and was replaced by keyboardist Jun Abe, and the band reverted to its original name.
Hideya Suzuki (鈴木 英哉, Suzuki Hideya) is a Japanese musician. He plays drums in the band Mr. Children.
Yukihiro (born November 24, 1968, in Ichikawa, Chiba) is a Japanese musician, best known as drummer of the rock band…
Yukihiro (born November 24, 1968, in Ichikawa, Chiba) is a Japanese musician, best known as drummer of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel since 1998. He also sings and plays bass for his solo project Acid Android, and drums for the supergroup Petit Brabancon. Before joining L'Arc-en-Ciel he was in the popular visual kei bands Zi:Kill and Die in Cries.
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a…
Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer. He is best known as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, for which he is the drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. Time labeled Yoshiki as "an absolute force" and "one of Japan's most celebrated musicians". Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, the Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and Kiss, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Brightman, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Diana Ross, and Josh Groban. In 1999, at the request of the Japanese Imperial family, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. Yoshiki also composed the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards as well as for several anime and film soundtracks including Attack on Titan and Saw IV. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Yoshiki the best drummer and the best keyboardist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". In 2023, he was selected as the first Japanese artist to be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in nearly 100 years. In 2024, Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree. Time named Yoshiki one of the most influential people of 2025 in their Time 100 list.
Tatsuya Nakamura (中村 達也, Nakamura Tatsuya; born January 4, 1965, in Toyama) is a Japanese musician, drummer and actor.…
Tatsuya Nakamura (中村 達也, Nakamura Tatsuya; born January 4, 1965, in Toyama) is a Japanese musician, drummer and actor. After performing with several prominent punk rock bands, Nakamura rose to fame as drummer of Blankey Jet City from 1987 to 2000. In 1996, he founded his solo project Losalios, where he performs every instrument. He is also a member of Friction, Mannish Boys with Kazuyoshi Saito, and Gokumontō Ikka.
Hiroyuki Noritake (則竹裕之, Noritake Hiroyuki; born August 27, 1964) is a Japanese jazz fusion drummer and a lecturer at…
Hiroyuki Noritake (則竹裕之, Noritake Hiroyuki; born August 27, 1964) is a Japanese jazz fusion drummer and a lecturer at the Showa Academia Musicae.
The Pillows (Japanese: ザ・ピロウズ, Hepburn: Za Pirōzu) were a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Hokkaido in 1989.…
The Pillows (Japanese: ザ・ピロウズ, Hepburn: Za Pirōzu) were a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Hokkaido in 1989. Originally a quartet, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sawao Yamanaka, lead guitarist Yoshiaki Manabe and drummer Shinichiro Sato continued the band as a trio for another 33 years, following the departure of bassist Kenji Ueda in 1992. They are best known in the West for providing the soundtrack for the anime series FLCL. The Pillows announced their disbandment at the end of January 2025, and Sato died from cancer in March 2026.
Tetsuya Kajiwara (梶原 徹也, Kajiwara Tetsuya; born September 26, 1963) is a Japanese drummer who has performed with The…
Tetsuya Kajiwara (梶原 徹也, Kajiwara Tetsuya; born September 26, 1963) is a Japanese drummer who has performed with The Blue Hearts and The 3Peace.
Gota Yashiki (屋敷 豪太, Yashiki Gōta), born 26 February 1962, is a Japanese musician. He performs an independent acid jazz…
Gota Yashiki (屋敷 豪太, Yashiki Gōta), born 26 February 1962, is a Japanese musician. He performs an independent acid jazz artist and drum/bass player, and was a member of English band Simply Red.
Tatsuya Yoshida (吉田達也, Yoshida Tatsuya) (born 9 January 1961) is a Japanese musician, drummer and composer who is the…
Tatsuya Yoshida (吉田達也, Yoshida Tatsuya) (born 9 January 1961) is a Japanese musician, drummer and composer who is the only consistent member of the renowned progressive rock duo Ruins, as well as of Koenji Hyakkei. He is also a member of the progressive rock trios Korekyojinn and Daimonji. Outside his own groups, Yoshida is renowned for his tenure as drummer in the indie progressive group YBO2, a band also featuring guitarist KK Null, whom he also joins in the current line-up of Zeni Geva and he has played drums in a late edition of Samla Mammas Manna. Since 2001, he and bass guitarist Takeharu Hayakawa have worked with jazz pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura in the Satoko Fujii Quartet. He has been cited as "[the] indisputable master drummer of the Japanese underground". Along with his participation in bands, he has also released several solo recordings.
Koichi Kawanishi (川西 幸一, Kawanishi Kōichi; born October 20, 1959, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese drummer who…
Koichi Kawanishi (川西 幸一, Kawanishi Kōichi; born October 20, 1959, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese drummer who is a member of the Japanese band Unicorn.
Akira Jimbo, also transliterated as Akira Jinbo (神保 彰, Jinbo Akira; born February 27, 1959), is a Japanese jazz fusion…
Akira Jimbo, also transliterated as Akira Jinbo (神保 彰, Jinbo Akira; born February 27, 1959), is a Japanese jazz fusion drummer, best known as the drummer for the Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea in 3 separate stints (1980-1989, 1997-2006 and 2012-2022). Aside from his work with Casiopea, Jimbo has also participated in side projects with Keiko Matsui, Shambara, and Brian Bromberg.
Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (Japanese: 芳垣安洋; born 1959) is a Japanese drummer and percussionist, noted for his command of rhythm…
Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (Japanese: 芳垣安洋; born 1959) is a Japanese drummer and percussionist, noted for his command of rhythm in jazz and ensemble settings. He is also highly regarded in free improvisation and has collaborated with musicians in Japan and abroad, including Otomo Yoshihide and John Zorn. He is one of the twin drummers of the post-rock band Rovo and the leader of Vincent Atmicus, an ensemble distinguished by twin drums, strings, brass, and layered percussion to create dense, polyrhythmic textures. He has also led long-running projects as a bandleader, including Orquesta Libre and Orquesta Nudge! Nudge!.
Munetaka Higuchi (樋口 宗孝, Higuchi Munetaka) (December 24, 1958 – November 30, 2008) was a Japanese musician and record…
Munetaka Higuchi (樋口 宗孝, Higuchi Munetaka) (December 24, 1958 – November 30, 2008) was a Japanese musician and record producer. He is best known as the original drummer of the heavy metal band Loudness, but first rose to prominence as a member of Lazy in the 1970s. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Higuchi the second best drummer in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election".
Junichi Inagaki (Japanese: 稲垣 潤一, Hepburn: Inagaki Jun'ichi; born July 9, 1953) is a Japanese popular music singer.
Yukihiro Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 幸宏, Hepburn: Takahashi Yukihiro; June 6, 1952 – January 11, 2023) was a Japanese…
Yukihiro Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 幸宏, Hepburn: Takahashi Yukihiro; June 6, 1952 – January 11, 2023) was a Japanese musician, singer, record producer, fashion designer, and actor, who was best known internationally as the drummer, lead vocalist, & co-composer of Yellow Magic Orchestra, as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band, and as the drummer and backing vocalist of the Sadistics. He was also a member of the groups: the Beatniks (with Keiichi Suzuki), Sketch Show (with Haruomi Hosono), & Metafive (with Towa Tei etc.).
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai…
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai Takano (アイ高野, Ai Takano) and nicknamed Motchin, was a Japanese singer. He is best known for his performances of the theme songs for the anime Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger, Pettonton, and Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion. Takano also sung the songs in Ai Shite Knight for the fictional in-story band, Bee Hive, even though the singer character, Gou, is voiced by singer Isao Sasaki. Before starting his anisong career, Takano was drummer of The Golden Cups and a vocalist of Creation.
Hiroshi Oguchi (大口 広司, Ōguchi Hiroshi; sometimes spelled as Ohguchi) was born in Kawaguchi, Japan, on November 28…
Hiroshi Oguchi (大口 広司, Ōguchi Hiroshi; sometimes spelled as Ohguchi) was born in Kawaguchi, Japan, on November 28, 1950. He died on January 25, 2009, in Tokyo, Japan, of cancer. A Tokyo-based conceptual artist, musician and scene maker, Hiroshi Oguchi had for decades been influential in the changing attitudes of Japan's youth. As a drummer, he was in the bands The Tempters, Pyg, and Vodka Collins, recording many albums. He also owned and ran his own fashion company, Practice of Silence. Oguchi was also an actor in a number of films, including Strange Circus (2006), Freesia :Icy Tears (2006),The Sinking Of Japan (2006) and Silk (2007). He was married to the popular actress Kimie Shingyoji; they had one son, Gento Oguchi, who is a musician and artist.
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.
Hiroshi Murakami (村上 寛, Murakami Hiroshi; born March 14, 1948, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz drummer. Murakami began…
Hiroshi Murakami (村上 寛, Murakami Hiroshi; born March 14, 1948, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz drummer. Murakami began playing percussion as a teenager, and was playing in a group with Takehiro Honda at age 19. He would go on to play with Masabumi Kikuchi, Kosuke Mine, and Sadao Watanabe in the 1970s, in addition to drumming for the group Native Son. In 1981 he started working as a leader, and has continued playing as a sideman for, among others, Nobuyoshi Ino, Manabu Oishi, and Hidefumi Toki.
Takeo Moriyama (森山 威男, Moriyama Takeo; born January 27, 1945 in Katsunuma (present Kōshū) in Yamanashi Prefecture) is a…
Takeo Moriyama (森山 威男, Moriyama Takeo; born January 27, 1945 in Katsunuma (present Kōshū) in Yamanashi Prefecture) is a Japanese jazz drummer. Moriyama played piano as a child before switching to drums in his late teens. He then attended the Tokyo University of the Arts, taking a degree in percussion performance. He joined Yosuke Yamashita's small group in 1967, and went on several international tours with the group until leaving it in 1975. He moved to Nagoya in 1977 and began leading his own groups. In addition to Yamashita he has performed or recorded with Aki Takase, Akira Miyazawa, Fumio Itabashi, Masahiko Satoh, Peter Brötzmann, Nobuyoshi Ino, Takehiro Honda, and Manfred Schoof.
Cha Katō (加藤 茶, Katō Cha; born 1 March 1943), also known as Kato-chan, is a Japanese comedian and actor. His real name…
Cha Katō (加藤 茶, Katō Cha; born 1 March 1943), also known as Kato-chan, is a Japanese comedian and actor. His real name is Hideyuki Katō (加藤英文). Cha is one of the members of The Drifters and plays drums. His work with Ken Shimura, another Drifter, is well known in Japan.
Takeshi Inomata (jap. 猪俣 猛, Inomata Takeshi; February 6, 1936, Takarazuka – October 4, 2024) was a Japanese jazz…
Takeshi Inomata (jap. 猪俣 猛, Inomata Takeshi; February 6, 1936, Takarazuka – October 4, 2024) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader. Inomata moved to Tokyo in 1956 and there played in the Six Joses and the West Liners. He worked as a leader regularly from the late 1950s. He and Norio Maeda worked together repeatedly, both as part of the We 3 trio (with Yasuo Arakawa) and with other combinations which at times included Tatsuro Takimoto and Sadanori Nakamure. He moved to the United States early in the 1960s, where he studied with Alan Dawson; following his return he founded a jazz education program called Rhythm Clinic Center. In the 1990s, he toured the United States with a group called the Japan Jazz All Stars. Inomata appeared on over 300 recordings over the course of his career. He died on October 4, 2024, at the age of 88.
Akira Ishikawa (石川 晶, Ishikawa Akira; November 10, 1934 - February 10, 2002) was a Japanese jazz drummer and…
Akira Ishikawa (石川 晶, Ishikawa Akira; November 10, 1934 - February 10, 2002) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader. Ishikawa began his music career with Shin Matsumoto and New Pacific. In the following years he toured with his own formations like Akira Miyazawa Modern Allstars and Toshio Hosaka. In later years he played with Toshiyuki Miyama and his band New Herd; in 1964/65 he recordEd with Miyamas Modern Jazz Highlights and Modern Jukebox. From the late '60s, he recorded under his own name, releasing Soul Session (1969) and The Gentures in Beat Pops (1970), with, among others, Hiromasa Suzuki, Kiyoshi Sugimoto and Masaoki Terakawa. With his band Count Buffaloes, the jazz-rock oriented album Electrum was out in 1970, followed by Drums Concerto (1971), African Rock (1972), Uganda (1972) and Get Up! (1975). He also worked with Yoshiko Goto, Koichi Oki, Kiyoshi Sugimoto (Our Time, 1974) and Akio Sasaki (Berklee Connection, 1980) in the 1970s. In the field of jazz he was involved between 1964 and 1980 in 14 recording sessions.
Hideo Shiraki (白木秀雄; 1 January 1933 in Tokyo – 31 August 1972) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader, best known…
Hideo Shiraki (白木秀雄; 1 January 1933 in Tokyo – 31 August 1972) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader, best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s. Famed earlier on for hard bop, he later explored world music and became a pioneer of fusing traditional music forms with jazz structuring. He emerged in the new Japanese jazz scene of the 1950s that grew out of the influence of the US occupying forces. He studied percussion at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and, during this period, played with Masashi Nagao's Blue Coats. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, his quintet was popular in Japan and was associated with the "funky boom" craze for hard bop. Hidehiko "Sleepy" Matsumoto, Terumasa Hino and Yuzuru Sera all passed through his quintet. Notable albums include 1961's In Fiesta (Teichiku Japan), which included a version of Benny Golson's "Five Spot After Dark". Performers on the album included Hidehiko Matsumoto on tenor and flute and Yuzuru Sera on piano. 1965's Sakura Sakura united the quintet (including Terumasa Hino on trumpet) with three female koto players as Shiraki moved into a world jazz approach. An invited November 1965 performance at the Berlin Jazz Festival, organised by Joachim-Ernst Berendt, saw the quintet work with a koto quartet and was feted for mixing jazz with traditional Japanese music. He also played with Toshiko Akiyoshi, including two tracks on her 1961 album Toshiko Meets Her Old Pals. On July 22, 1966, he played with the John Coltrane quintet in Tokyo while the group was touring Japan.
Hajime Hana (Japanese: ハナ肇, Hepburn: Hana Hajime; February 9, 1930 – September 10, 1993) was a Japanese actor. He was…
Hajime Hana (Japanese: ハナ肇, Hepburn: Hana Hajime; February 9, 1930 – September 10, 1993) was a Japanese actor. He was the leader of the comic jazz band The Crazy Cats, which featured such talent as Hitoshi Ueki and Kei Tani, and which starred in a series of film comedies (such as the "Irresponsible" (Musekinin) series at Toho) and in TV variety shows such as "Shabondama Holiday." He won the award for best actor at the 31st Blue Ribbon Awards for Kaisha monogatari: Memories of You.
Frankie Sakai (フランキー堺, Furankī Sakai) (13 February 1929 – 10 June 1996) was a Japanese comedian, actor, and musician.
Tappi Iwase (岩瀬 立飛, Iwase Tappi), sometimes credited professionally as TAPPY, is a Japanese musical composer. He is…
Tappi Iwase (岩瀬 立飛, Iwase Tappi), sometimes credited professionally as TAPPY, is a Japanese musical composer. He is best known for his contributions to the Metal Gear and Suikoden franchises. Iwase studied music with Dick Grove at the Grove School of Music prior to its closure in 1991. Iwase is credited with composing all of the music for Metal Gear Solid, with the exception of the ending theme "The Best Is Yet to Come", whereas the music for the cinematic scenes was composed by Gigi Meroni. This includes the well-known main theme to Metal Gear Solid, arrangements of which were subsequently used in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The use of his theme song was discontinued from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots onward due to allegations that its melodies were plagiarized from a classical piece by Russian composer Georgy Sviridov.