Photo: SorryArii / CC0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Born on March 27, 1953 in Ōi, Tokyo, Japan, Masayoshi Takanaka is a music arranger, composer and record producer. That puts Masayoshi Takanaka at 73 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes Tokyo city affiliated junior high school · senior high school. Awards on record include Japan Record Awards. Credited works include Jukkai (1984), An Insatiable High and The Rainbow Goblins.
My Take
Masayoshi Takanaka is pure sunshine in guitar form, and I never tire of him. His bright, tropical tone conjures beaches and summer even though he grew up in Tokyo, and that escapist warmth is exactly its charm. Beyond the virtuosity, what impresses me is his ambition: concept records like The Rainbow Goblins show a composer thinking far bigger than a session player would. A Japan Record Award and a career past fifty years, still touring, mark him as a true elder statesman of Japanese fusion. The sheer joy he radiates while playing is what makes him special to me.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Masayoshi Takanaka
- Name (Japanese)
- 高中正義
- Reading
- たかなか まさよし
- Born
- March 27, 1953 (age 73)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Snake
- Origin
- Ōi, Tokyo, Japan
- Occupation
- music arranger / composer / guitarist / record producer / jazz guitarist
2. Background
- High school
- Tokyo city affiliated junior high school · senior high school
Awards & achievements
- Japan Record Awards
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Jukkai (1984) | — | |
| Notable work | An Insatiable High | — | |
| Notable work | The Rainbow Goblins | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://www.takanaka.com/
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/takanaka_official/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masayoshi%20Takanaka
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AB%98%E4%B8%AD%E6%AD%A3%E7%BE%A9
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11668651
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Masayoshi Takanaka born?
Born March 27, 1953 (age 73).
Where is Masayoshi Takanaka from?
Masayoshi Takanaka is from Ōi, Tokyo, Japan.
What does Masayoshi Takanaka do?
Masayoshi Takanaka works as music arranger, composer, guitarist, record producer, jazz guitarist.
What is Masayoshi Takanaka known for?
Notable works include Jukkai (1984), An Insatiable High, The Rainbow Goblins.
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