Kitaro ( 喜多郎 )

Masanori Takahashi better known as Kitarō, (February 4, 1953) is an award winning Japanese musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist who is regarded as one of the pioneers of new age music. Kitaro moved to Tokyo to experience and become a part of the music scene, and it was there that he discovered the synthesizer. His first synthesizer was analog, and he recalls having “just loved the analog sound that it made compared to today's digital sound”. His parents were first opposed to the idea of their son having a musical career. Indeed, in an effort to maneuver him towards their vision, they made arrangements for him to take a job at a local company. In return, he left home without telling them. He supported himself by taking on several part time jobs such as cooking and civil service work, while composing songs at night. In the early 1970s, he changed completely to keyboards. He joined the Japanese music group "Far East Family Band" which formed in 1965 and toured with them around the world. While in Europe,he met the German synthesizer musician and former Tangerine Dream member Klaus Schulze. Schulze produced two albums for the band and gave Kitaro some tips for the use of synthesizers. In 1976, Kitaro left "Far East Family Band" and travelled through Asia (China, Laos, Thailand, India).

Description

Native name : 喜多郎
Birth name : Masanori Takahashi
Born : February 4, 1953 (age 61), Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
Genres : Instrumental, electronica, new-age, folk
Occupation(s) : Musician, composer, record producer, arranger
Instruments : Keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, Japanese flutes, drums, percussion
Years active : 1975–present
Labels : Geffen/Warner Bros. Records (US), Geffen/MCA Records (US), Domo Records,
Nippon Columbia, Vertigo Records
Associated acts : Far East Family Band

Back in Japan, Kitaro started his solo career in 1977. The first two albums Ten Kai and From the Full Moon Story became cult favorites of fans of the nascent New Age movement. He performed his first symphonic concert at the 'Small Hall' of the Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Shinjuku, Tokyo. But it was his famous soundtrack for the NHK series "Silk Road" that brought him international attention.

He struck a worldwide distribution arrangement with Geffen Records in 1986. This included a re-releasing of six prior albums -- Astral Voyage, Full Moon Story, Millennia, India, Silver Cloud and Asia, each handsomely packaged with Japanesque obi strips -- and a new album, the aptly titled, Towards the West. In 1987 he collaborated with Micky Hart (Grateful Dead) and in 1992 with Jon Anderson (Yes). In 1988 his record sales soared to 10 million worldwide. He was nominated twice for a Grammy award and his soundtrack for the movie "Heaven & Earth" won the Golden Globe® award for best original score.

When asked about his music, he said, "I never had education in music, I just learned to trust my ears and my feelings." He credits ‘powers beyond himself’ for his music, saying, "This music is not from my mind. It is from heaven, going through my body and out my fingers through composing. Sometimes I wonder. I never practice. I don't read or write music, but my fingers move. I wonder, 'Whose song is this?' I write my songs, but they are not my songs."

Since his 1995 début for Domo Records—the Grammy-nominated Mandala, featuring bold use of electric guitar—Kitaro has released no less than thirteen albums. Among them, the live An Enchanted Evening (1995), the deeply spiritual Gaia Onbashira (1998) and Ancient (2001), were all Grammy nominated. The 1999 Thinking of You, which allmusic.com calls a “journey to ecstasy” and “one of the most beautiful CDs of all time,”Template:Http://allmusic.com/album/thinking-of-you-r442666 won the Grammy for Best New Age Album.

Kitaro’s music has long been recognized for its messages of peace and spirituality. In the wake of 9/11, the artist began recording Sacred Journey Of Ku-kai, an intended series of peace-themed albums (Vol. 1 released in 2003; Vol. 2 in 2005, Vol. 3 in 2007, Vol. 4 in 2011), inspired by the Shikoku Pilgrimage. The events of September 11, 2001 occurred while he was en route from Japan to Los Angeles. Kitaro's jet liner was diverted to Honolulu for five days, during which time the conceptual endeavor—which he envisioned as an artistic means to help unify people globally—took shape. Every track on Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai 1 to 4 contains samples from ancient Japanese temple bells (Peace Bells) from 88 sacred temples and is intended to inspire spiritual awakening and a profound sense of peace in its listeners. This is Kitaro's life work to compose 88 songs with 88 temple bells.

In 2007, Kitaro has composed the music for West Lake Impressions, a large-scale opera, directed by renowned Chinese film director Zhang Yimou. The opera reflects the city’s history and culture through music and dance. Using modern technology, the stage is 75 centimeters below the lake’s surface during the day so as not to affect the landscape and boating activities. In the evening, the stage is some few centimeters below the lake’s surface so actors can walk and perform freely over a surprisinly water mirror that compose with the lights and colors. The one-hour event had its opening night in March 2007. In 2009, Kitaro released its original soundtrack album "Impressions Of The West Lake" which was nominated for 52nd Grammy Award.

In 2007-2009 he launched the ‘Love and Peace World Tour,’ an international tour with which Kitaro hoped to inspire his message of world peace with his music. Kitaro toured Southeast Asia in 2007, Greece in 2008 and Hong Kong, Japan, Southeast Asia in 2009. During his visit to Greece, Kitaro met Greek musician and composer Vangelis, and exchanged musical experience and creative ideas. Kitaro has also reunited with drummer Mickey Hart. In 2010, Kitaro performed in Singapore in March, in Mexico for the Zacatecas Cultural Festival in April, in Xian China for the opening event of Daming Palace National Heritage Park in September, in Aichi Japan for the Thousand Drums Event at COP10 for the Convention on Biological Diversity in October. While tour, he released the Grammy Nominated (Compilation Album),442 Original Soundtrack, 442 Kitaro's Story Scape (Soundtrack Albums), and his 53rd Grammy Nominated Album Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Volume 4.

In March - April 2011, Kitaro toured Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. He donated part of the CD sales and concert profits to Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami Relief.

From 1983 until 1990 Kitaro was married to Yuki Taoka. Yuki is a daughter of Kazuo Taoka, godfather of Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest Yakuza syndicate. Kitaro and Yuki had a son, Ryunosuke, who lives in Japan. They reportedly separated because Kitaro worked mostly in the United States while Yuki lived and worked in Japan. In the mid-1990s, Kitaro married Keiko Matsubara, a musician who played on several of his albums. Along with Keiko's son, the couple lived in Ward, Colorado on a 180 acre (72.85 hectare) spread and composed in his 2500 square foot (230 m²) home studio "Mochi House" (it is large enough to hold a 70 piece orchestra). Kitaro and Keiko recently relocated to Sebastopol, California.

In 1989, he wrote the "Japanese" Theme for the film "Return From The River Kwai".

He has worked with guitarist Marty Friedman, formerly of Megadeth, on the "Scenes" album. He has also worked with Hong Kong Cantopop singer Anita Mui on the song "Years Flowing Like Water".

Discography

1978 - Ten Kai/Astral Voyage/Astral Voyager/Astral Trip
1979 - From the Full Moon Story/Daichi
1979 - Oasis
1980 - Silk Road (a.k.a. The Soghdian Merchants on VHS)
1980 - Silk Road II
1980 - In Person/In Person Digital (Live)
1980 - Silk Road Suite (conducted by Paul Buckmaster with The London Symphony Orchestra)
1981 - Silk Road III: Tunhuang/Tonko/Dunhuang
1981 - Best of Kitaro vol 1
1982 - World of Kitaro (conducted by Jeremy Lubbock with London Philharmonic Orchestra)
1981 - Radio House Ginga
1981 - Ki
1982 - Utopia (Maxi 45rmp Picture Disc - Same Music as Radio House ginga)
1982 - Millennia/Queen Millennia
1982 - Live at Budokan
1982 - Angel Queen (Ending song from the Queen Millenia Movie - Vocals By Dara Sedaka)
1983 - Silk Road IV: Tenjiku/India
1983 - Portopia '81/Portpier Matsushita Kan (Single included in Noah's Ark)
1983 - Aura No Saiten
1984 - Four Seasons of Qulity (promo EP 4 tracks)
1984 - Silver Cloud/Cloud
1984 - Caravan (Single - Vocals by Pages)
1984 - Live in Asia/Asia Super Tour Live/Asia (Live)
1986 - Towards the West/Endless Journey/Saihou: Journey of Silk Road
1986 - Tenku
1987 - The Light of the Spirit
1988 - Ten Years/Best of Ten Years
1990 - Kojiki (released also on SACD)
1991 - Live in America
1992 - Lady of Dreams (with Jon Anderson)
1992 - Dream (with Jon Anderson)
1993 - Heaven and Earth (original soundtrack)
1994 - Mandala
1994 - Tokusen II (CD 1 Best Of, CD 2 Live in Osaka)
1995 - An Enchanted Evening (Live)
1996 - Peace On Earth
1996 - Kitaro World of Music (Yu-Xiao Guang plays Kitaro's music )
1997 - Cirque Ingenieux (with additional CD-ROM)
1998 - Gaia-Onbashira
1998 - Noah´s Ark (compilation - released only in Japan)
1998 - Six Musical Portraits (best of)
1998 - Romantic Ballads
1999 - Best of Kitaro vol 2
1999 - Thinking of You
2000 - The Soong Sisters (original soundtrack)
2000 - The Essential Collection (Japan only)
2000 - Nile (Single included in Ancient)
2001 - Ancient
2001 - Endless Journey (best of)
2001 - Healing Forest (best of)
2002 - An Ancient Journey
2002 - Daylight, Moonlight - Live in Yakushiji/Yakushi-Ji (Live) (SACD)
2002 - Mizu Ni Inorite
2002 - Asian Cafe/Ashu Chakan (best of)
2003 - Best of Silk Road
2003 - Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai
2004 - Shikoku 88 Places
2005 - Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Volume 2
2006 - Spiritual Garden
2006 - Essential Kitaro (best of with a bonus live DVD)
2007 - Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai 3
2008 - The Definitive Collection (best of)
2008 - Toyo's Camera (best of - soundtrack)
2009 - Impressions of the West Lake
2010 - 442 - Live With Honor, Die With Dignity (soundtrack)
2010 - Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Volume 4

Other albums

All Roads Lead To Rome
Across The Karakum Desert
Across The Pamir
Deep Forest
In Silent
In Search Of Wisdom
Mu Land
Morning Light
Tento Chi
Vertigo
Sleep Vol. 1
Sleep Vol. 2

Kitaro with Others

1973 - Far East Family Band - Far Out
1975 - Far East Family Band - Tenkujin
1975 - Far East Family Band - Parallel World
1975 - Far East Family Band - Nipponjin
1976 - Far East Family Band - The Cave Down To Earth (1976)
Yamasaki Hako - Akane (Two songs with kitaro, also edited in a promo single)
Motoyoshi Iwasaki - Aoi Kaze (Single with Kitaro)
Gyuto Monks - Gyuto Monks
1988 - Gyuto Monks - Freedom Chants From The Roof Of The World (with Philip Glass & Mickey Hart)
1992 - Marty Friedman - Scenes, produced by Kitaro
1995 - Nawang Khechog - Karuna (Kitaro's World Of Music), produced by Kitaro
2003 - Peter McEvilley & Rachel Leslie - Ninja Scroll (soundtrack)
2006 - Ryuta Yoshimura - Hayazaki No Hana (soundtrack)
1986 - My Best - Kitaro ( Kitaro in Compilations )
1998 - Music For The Spirit Vol. 1, collection of New Age music
1999 - Music For The Spirit Vol. 2 (1999)
2001 - Music For The Spirit Vol. 3
Music For The Spirit Vol. 4
2002 - Journey To The Heart I, collection of New Age music
2002 - Journey To The Heart II
2002 - Journey To The Heart III
2002 - Journey To The Heart IV