Masayoshi Takanaka

Masayoshi Takanaka (born March 27, 1953, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese guitarist, composer, and producer whose work significantly influenced the city pop genre of the late 1970s and 1980s. Takanaka began his music career at the age of 17, playing guitar for the band The Evil, making his professional debut as a guitarist and bassist for the prog rock band Flied Egg in 1971, joining the Sadistic Mika Band in 1972. Following the band’s disbandment in 1975, he formed the Sadistics with remaining members Yukihiro Takahashi, Tsugutoshi Goto, and Yutaka Imai. The group released several albums before parting ways in 1978. Takanaka launched his solo career in 1976 with the release of critically acclaimed album Seychelles, pioneering Japan's burgeoning rock-fusion scene. Over the next two decades, he released more than 20 albums and singles, including notable works such as An Insatiable High (1977), Saudade (1982), Ballade (1991), and Bahama (1998). In 2000, Takanaka founded his own label, Lagoon Records, where he continued to release popular albums, including Guitar Dream (2001), Natsudo (Summer Road) (2009), and Ukulele Seychelles (2011). Known for his flamboyant stage presence, Takanaka often played his iconic gold-colored Fender Stratocaster and a "lagoon-blue" Yamaha SG guitar, collaborating with various artists, including Santana and Roxy Music. His 1981 track “Penguin Dancer” was sampled by Grimes in her 2015 song “Butterfly”, and his 1979 hit “Blue Lagoon” was named the 14th best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019. In 2022, Takanaka released the compilation album Takanaka All Time Superbest and in 2024, his debut album Seychelles experienced a resurgence, re-entering the Top 100 Album chart at number 73.