Yukihiro Takahashi
Encyclopedia
Yukihiro Takahashi is a Japanese musician
, who is best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra
, and as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band
.
, and became known to western audiences after this band (led by Kazuhiko Kato
, formerly of The Folk Crusaders
) toured and recorded in the United Kingdom. After the Sadistic Mika Band
disbanded, some of the members (including Takahashi) formed another band called The Sadistics, who released several albums. Finally Takahashi recorded his first solo album Saravah in 1977. In 1978, Takahashi joined Ryuichi Sakamoto
and Haruomi Hosono
to form the Yellow Magic Orchestra
.
After the Yellow Magic Orchestra disbanded in the mid 80s, Takahashi went solo and released a large number of solo albums, primarily intended for the Japanese market. Takahashi has collaborated extensively with other musicians, including Bill Nelson
, Iva Davies
of Icehouse
, Keiichi Suzuki of the Moonriders (often as a duo dubbed "The Beatniks
", although Suzuki essentially functioned as a member of Takahashi's backing band during the Moonriders' brief hiatus) and in particular Steve Jansen
. Takahashi has released a single Stay Close and an EP Pulse as a duo with Jansen.
Takahashi helped compose the soundtrack to the anime
series Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water in 1989, including the song "Families". Takahashi participated in temporary reunions of both the Sadistic Mika Band
(missing the lead vocalist Mika who was replaced by Kaela Kimura
), and The Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). Both of these reunions included tours of Japan, and an album of new material.
In the early 2000s, Takahashi became a member of the duo Sketch Show, with Haruomi Hosono
. Sketch Show has released two albums, one of which, Loophole, has been released in the UK. Both Takahashi and Hosono have recently reunited with Sakamoto as HASYMO - a combination of Human Audio Sponge and Yellow Magic Orchestra. This collaboration produced a new single "Rescue" in 2007 and a new album looks to be in the pipeline in the near future. Takahashi's latest solo album Page By Page was released in March 2009 in Japan.
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
, who is best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
, and as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band
Sadistic Mika Band
was a Japanese rock group formed in 1972. Its name is a parody of the "Plastic Ono Band". Produced by Masatoshi Hashiba on Toshiba-EMI Records , the band was led by the then husband and wife team of guitarist Kazuhiko Kato, and his wife, singer Mika Fukui...
.
Biography
Yukihiro Takahashi first came to prominence as the drummer of the Sadistic Mika BandSadistic Mika Band
was a Japanese rock group formed in 1972. Its name is a parody of the "Plastic Ono Band". Produced by Masatoshi Hashiba on Toshiba-EMI Records , the band was led by the then husband and wife team of guitarist Kazuhiko Kato, and his wife, singer Mika Fukui...
, and became known to western audiences after this band (led by Kazuhiko Kato
Kazuhiko Kato (musician)
, nicknamed , was a Japanese record producer, songwriter, and singer. He sometimes used the spelling of "Kazuhiko Katoh".As a member of the Folk Crusaders, Kato launched his recording career in the mid 1960s...
, formerly of The Folk Crusaders
The Folk Crusaders
The Folk Crusaders was a Japanese pop music group, popular in Japan in the later half of the 1960s.The band was formed in 1965 by the five university students Kazuhiko Katō, Osamu Kitayama, Yoshio Hiranuma , Mikio Inomura and Maki Ashida , but Ashida and Inomura left the band at an early stage...
) toured and recorded in the United Kingdom. After the Sadistic Mika Band
Sadistic Mika Band
was a Japanese rock group formed in 1972. Its name is a parody of the "Plastic Ono Band". Produced by Masatoshi Hashiba on Toshiba-EMI Records , the band was led by the then husband and wife team of guitarist Kazuhiko Kato, and his wife, singer Mika Fukui...
disbanded, some of the members (including Takahashi) formed another band called The Sadistics, who released several albums. Finally Takahashi recorded his first solo album Saravah in 1977. In 1978, Takahashi joined Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
and Haruomi Hosono
Haruomi Hosono
, also known as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese popular musician, best known internationally as a key member of the rock band Happy End and the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra.-Biography:...
to form the Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
.
After the Yellow Magic Orchestra disbanded in the mid 80s, Takahashi went solo and released a large number of solo albums, primarily intended for the Japanese market. Takahashi has collaborated extensively with other musicians, including Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson (musician)
Bill Nelson is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter and experimental musician...
, Iva Davies
Iva Davies
Iva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
of Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
, Keiichi Suzuki of the Moonriders (often as a duo dubbed "The Beatniks
The Beatniks
The Beatniks are a duo formed by Yellow Magic Orchestra drummer/singer Yukihiro Takahashi and Keiichi Suzuki. The duo's debut album featured vocals mostly in English, with the rest in French.-Albums:* Exitentialism Vap...
", although Suzuki essentially functioned as a member of Takahashi's backing band during the Moonriders' brief hiatus) and in particular Steve Jansen
Steve Jansen
Steve Jansen is an English drummer, percussionist, singer and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London, where he failed academically, leaving at 16....
. Takahashi has released a single Stay Close and an EP Pulse as a duo with Jansen.
Takahashi helped compose the soundtrack to the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water in 1989, including the song "Families". Takahashi participated in temporary reunions of both the Sadistic Mika Band
Sadistic Mika Band
was a Japanese rock group formed in 1972. Its name is a parody of the "Plastic Ono Band". Produced by Masatoshi Hashiba on Toshiba-EMI Records , the band was led by the then husband and wife team of guitarist Kazuhiko Kato, and his wife, singer Mika Fukui...
(missing the lead vocalist Mika who was replaced by Kaela Kimura
Kaela Kimura
, born , is a Japanese pop rock singer, songwriter, model, and TV presenter.- Career :Born in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan to a British father and Japanese mother, Kaela started working as a model in 2002 for the Japanese magazine Seventeen...
), and The Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). Both of these reunions included tours of Japan, and an album of new material.
In the early 2000s, Takahashi became a member of the duo Sketch Show, with Haruomi Hosono
Haruomi Hosono
, also known as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese popular musician, best known internationally as a key member of the rock band Happy End and the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra.-Biography:...
. Sketch Show has released two albums, one of which, Loophole, has been released in the UK. Both Takahashi and Hosono have recently reunited with Sakamoto as HASYMO - a combination of Human Audio Sponge and Yellow Magic Orchestra. This collaboration produced a new single "Rescue" in 2007 and a new album looks to be in the pipeline in the near future. Takahashi's latest solo album Page By Page was released in March 2009 in Japan.
Solo albums
- Saravah (1978)
- Murdered by the Music (1980)
- NeuromanticNeuromantic (album)Neuromantic is Yukihiro Takahashi's self-produced 1981 album and featured his YMO colleagues Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto on keyboards. Tony Mansfield and Phil Manzanera also played on the album.The title of William Gibson's novel "Neuromancer" is inspired by this album's title.-Track...
(1981) - What? Me Worry? (1982)
- Tomorrow's Just Another Day (1983)
- Time and Place (1984) (Live Album)
- Wild and Moody (1984)
- Poisson d'Avril (1985)
- The Brand New Day (1985) (Best of)
- Once a Fool (1985)
- Only When I Laugh (1986)
- La Pensee (1987) - with Yohji Yamamoto
- Ego (1988)
- Broadcast from Heaven (1990)
- A Day in the Next Life (1991)
- The Adventures of Gaku (1991)
- Umi Sora Sango no Iitsutae (1992)
- Life Time Happy Time (1992)
- Heart of Hurt (1992) (Unplugged best of)
- Ahiru no Uta ga Kikoete Kuru yo (1993)
- Mr YT (1994)
- I'm Not In Love (1995) (Best of)
- Fate of Gold (1995)
- Portrait with no Name (1996)
- A Sigh of Ghost (1997)
- Pulse:Pulse (with Steve Jansen) (1997)
- A Ray of Hope (1998)
- Yukihiro Takahashi Collection - Singles and More 1988-1996 (1998)
- "Run After You" (1998) (Live Album)
- The Dearest Fool (1999)
- "Fool On Earth" (2000) - remixes
- Blue Moon BlueBlue Moon BlueBlue Moon Blue is a 2006 album by drummer Yukihiro Takahashi, current member of YMO.-Track listing:# "Something New" # "Blue Moon Blue" # "A Star Is Born" # "In Cold Queue" # "Lay My Love"...
(2006) - Page by Page (2009)
Singles
- "C'est si bon"/"La Rosa" (Seven Seas, Japan 1978)
- "Murdered By The Music"/"Bijin Kiyoshi at the Swimming School" (Seven Seas Japan 1980, Statik UK 1982, Lyrics by Chris MosdellChris MosdellChris Mosdell is a British lyricist, poet, author, composer, vocalist and illustrator, based in Tokyo, Japan, and Boulder, Colorado, USA.He has worked with a wide range of Japanese musicians and artists—the documentary Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist bills him as the...
) - "Blue Colour Worker" (with Sandii, Lyrics by Chris MosdellChris MosdellChris Mosdell is a British lyricist, poet, author, composer, vocalist and illustrator, based in Tokyo, Japan, and Boulder, Colorado, USA.He has worked with a wide range of Japanese musicians and artists—the documentary Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist bills him as the...
)/"Mirrormanic" (Seven Seas Japan 1980) - "Drip Dry Eyes (single version)"/"Charge" (single version)" (Alfa UK 1981, Lyrics by Chris MosdellChris MosdellChris Mosdell is a British lyricist, poet, author, composer, vocalist and illustrator, based in Tokyo, Japan, and Boulder, Colorado, USA.He has worked with a wide range of Japanese musicians and artists—the documentary Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist bills him as the...
) - "Drip Dry Eyes (album version)"/"New Red Roses" (Alfa Spain 1981, Lyrics by Chris Mosdell)
- "Disposable Love"/"Flashback (single version)" (Alfa UK 1982)
- "School Of Thought"/"Stop In The Name Of Love" (Statik, UK 1982, Lyrics by Chris Mosdell) - plus remixed 12 inch version
- "Are You Receiving Me?"/"And I Love You" (Yen Japan 1982)
- "Maebure"/"Another Door" (Yen Japan 1983)
- "Stranger Things Have Happened (single version)"/"Kill The Thermostat" (Pick-Up/Warners Germany 1984)
- "Stranger Things Have Happened"/"Bounds Of Reason"/"Metaphysical Jerks" (with Mick Karn and Bill Nelson) (Cocteau UK 1985)
- "Poisson D'Avril (single version)"/"Kimi ni Surprise!" (Yen Japan 1985)
- "Weekend"/? (Pony Canyon 1986)
- "Stay Close" 12 inch EP with Steve Jansen (Pony Canyon Japan, Rime Records UK 1986)
- "Look Of Love"/? (Toshiba EMI Japan 1988)
- "Fait Accompli" (promotional single, Japan 1989) - with Steve JansenSteve JansenSteve Jansen is an English drummer, percussionist, singer and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London, where he failed academically, leaving at 16....
- "1 percent no Kankei" (Toshiba-EMI 1990)
- "Stronger Than Iron" (Toshiba-EMI 1991)
- "Xmas Day In The Next Life" EP of Christmas songs (Toshiba-EMIToshiba-EMI(formerly , is one of Japan's leading music companies. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of British music company EMI Group Ltd. in June 30, 2007 after Toshiba sold off its previous 45% stake. The current CEO and president is San-e Ichii. When EMI Music Japan was trading as Toshiba-EMI, it was...
1991) - "Genki Nara Ureshiine" (Toshiba-EMI 1993)
- "Seppai No Hohemi" (Toshiba-EMI 1994)
- "Watermelon" (with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra) (Toshiba-EMI 1995)
Filmography
- A Y.M.O. FILM PROPAGANDA （1984）
- Tenkoku ni ichiban chikai shima （1984）: Katsuki Jirô
- Shigatsu no sakana （1986）: Nemoto Shôhei
- The DiscarnatesThe Discarnatesis a 1988 Japanese film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi.-Awards:31st Blue Ribbon Awards* Won: Best Supporting Actor - Tsurutarō Kataoka* Won: Best Supporting Actress - Kumiko Akiyoshi13th Hochi Film Award...
（1988） - Otoko wa sore gaman dekinai (2006)
- 20th century boys: Chapter 3-Our flag (2009): Billy
- Norwegian Wood (film)Norwegian Wood (film)is a Japanese drama film directed by Tran Anh Hung, based on Haruki Murakami's novel of the same name. The film was released in Japan on 11 December 2010.- Plot :...
(2010): Gatekeeper