Update: Sakuma Masahide passed away on January 16, 2014, three months after his concert in Chicago. His was a remarkable life, and a remarkable death–one that demonstrated that dying is really a part of living. We are honored that he shared some of his time with us in Chicago.
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Sakuma Masahide (佐久間正英) appeared with Hayakawa Yoshio in our concert at 7:30 p.m. on October 18, 2013. A few words about Sakuma’s amazing career are certainly in order. He was a key figure in the history of Japanese popular music in many different guises–most notably, perhaps, as producer for more than 140 different acts that range across the spectrum, including such notable musicians as the Blue Hearts, BOØWY, HY, Judy and Mary, Teresa Teng, Glay, Soul Flower Union, Watanabe Misato, and L’Arc〜en〜Ciel. Continue reading