This Japanese Guitarist Disappeared for Decades. Gen Z Brought Him Back.
Masayoshi Takanaka was planning to retire. Then millions of young fans who weren’t alive during his heyday discovered his music through algorithms — and everything changed.
Masayoshi Takanaka’s Journey From Tokyo to TikTok
Takanaka, born in Tokyo in 1953, picked up the guitar in middle school, inspired by Western acts including Cream, The Beatles and Ten Years After. By 1972, he was performing with Sadistic Mika Band, which became the first Japanese rock band to tour the UK after being invited to support Roxy Music. The band appeared on The Old Grey Whistle Test, where their performance was praised by Jeff Beck.
That was roughly 50 years ago. Takanaka hadn’t returned to the UK since.
His solo career in Japan was massive. His 1976 album Seychelles helped pioneer Japan’s rock fusion scene. Brasilian Skies (1978), recorded in Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles, featured contributions from Ryuichi Sakamoto and members of Toto. His instrumental track “Blue Lagoon” (1979) was a hit in Japan, and the album Saudade (1982) reached No. 1 on Japanese charts. He performed a joint concert with Santana and collaborated with Tina Turner and Little Richard.
But outside Japan, Takanaka remained largely unknown — until the algorithms caught up.
How YouTube and Instagram Changed Everything for Masayoshi Takanaka
Interest in Takanaka’s music surged globally in recent years as 1970s and 1980s Japanese jazz and pop gained traction on YouTube through algorithmic recommendations. In 2019, Light in the Attic Records licensed his 1979 track “Bamboo Vender” for its Pacific Breeze compilation series.
“It was a time when Japan was a kind of dreamland, where’s everybody’s got work and money. And you can feel it reflected in the music being produced at the time, and even in the artwork,” said Greg Gouty of Light in the Attic Records in an interview with The Guardian.
A fan-run Instagram account, Takanaka Vibes, created in 2023, has gained over 138,000 followers. Its creator cited discovering Takanaka through a 1981 performance at Tokyo’s Budokan. His music has also appeared in the soundtrack of The Smashing Machine.
Sold-Out Shows and a Surfboard Guitar Going Viral
Takanaka performed in Los Angeles for the first time in nearly 40 years — and was stunned by who showed up.
“In Japan, most of the people at my shows are in their 50s, 60s or 70s,” Takanaka told The Guardian. “But in LA, most people were in their 20s. You could really feel their energy, and hear the audience cheering so loud. It got me really emotional.”
In a viral TikTok from one of his US performances posted in April 2026, a user recorded Takanaka performing on his iconic surfboard guitar, writing “Takanaka’s Iconic Surfboard Guitar Makes Its First Debut In America!” One commenter wrote, “The way the arena cheering like it’s the Super Bowl like it IS this serious 😭” and another joked “I’ve finally found it, the boogie board.”
In November 2025, Takanaka announced his first UK solo performance, initially scheduled at Shepherd’s Bush Empire and later expanded to two nights at Brixton Academy due to demand. He is also scheduled to headline a festival in London’s Crystal Palace Park. His current world tour includes the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand, with most dates sold out.
Masayoshi Takanaka Says It’s His ‘Second Coming’
For a musician who thought his career was winding down, the global embrace has been overwhelming.
“I was actually planning to fade out [my career],” Takanaka told The Guardian. “But now I feel like this might be my second coming. My life has changed so much in the last few years.”
“It’s hard to grasp and understand,” he added. “It doesn’t feel real.”
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
