Remembering Yukihiro Takahashi, From Drummer to Revolutionizing Japanese Music

January 11th, 2023 was a day of grief and celebration for the life of the musical genius Yukihiro Takahashi.

Making waves since the 1970s, Takahashi was an important figure in the history of contemporary Japanese music, who will be missed as much as honored for his wit, creativity, and reverent passion for his artistry. 

Born in 1952, Yukihiro Takahashi was absolutely destined for music. At the age of 16, Takahashi was already a professional musician, specially skilled in drums, and worked for band gigs and TV advertisements. His older brother was of great inspiration growing up as he introduced him to music as a career. 

He’s undoubtedly one of the most dedicated musicians: Takahashi has his name on plenty of albums, bands, and film scores, and that’s all thanks to his innovative ideas and incomparable talent. His career began with a bang when he was appointed drummer for Sadistic Mika Band in the 1970s and found success early on, especially in Japan and in the UK. A few years after the disbandment, Takahashi teamed up with the equally-legendary pianist and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto as well as the man who shaped Japanese pop music, Haruomi Hosono, and these three were total trailblazers. The trio created the eclectic band Yellow Magic Orchestra, and electronic music was changed forever. 

Yukihiro Takahashi’s take on the drums influenced the course that techno music would take for good. Thanks to his genius, as well as his peers, Yellow Magic Orchestra became somewhat of the Japanese 80s version of Kraftwerk - a German techno group born a decade earlier. Synths and samples overlapped the rhythmic beats of his instrument and it was a symphonic revolution. 

Beyond his prolific career, Takahashi was a hardworking and generous man with many talents and a honeydew voice. He was a beacon to many and will be remembered as one the most influential artists of Japanese techno, pop, and electro music, and his impact still resonates in the young club scenes of the evergreen nightlife of Tokyo. 

About the Author:

Mizuki Khoury

Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.