Masami Tsuchiya | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1952-08-22)August 22, 1952 (age 73) Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan |
| Genres | Avant-garde,pop,rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | Epic/Sony,Polydor K.K., Mazzy Bunny |
| Formerly of | Ippu-Do |
| Website | Official website |
Masami Tsuchiya (Japanese:土屋 昌巳,Hepburn:Tsuchiya Masami) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock bandIppu-Do. Following their disbandment in 1984, Tsuchiya focused on his solo career and formed several short-lived bands with well-known musicians. He has also participated in various collaborations and produced recordings for acts such asGlay,Blankey Jet City, andThe Willard.
Masami Tsuchiya grew up in a strict household in Japan, where rock music was discouraged and seen as a form of rebellion. Despite this, he developed a deep, inner urge to express himself through music, often in secret. His fascination began during elementary and junior high school, when he first heard The Beatles—a moment he describes as a cultural revelation. “It wasn’t just their rock’n’roll sound—it was something more. It was the way they harmonized, the way they layered their vocals in such an intricate, beautiful way,” Tsuchiya recalled in an interview with Visual Music Japan (VMJ), conducted by Mandah Frénot.[1] Drawn first to the emotional complexity of the Beatles and later to the raw energy of The Rolling Stones, he soon immersed himself in the world of guitar icons like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix. By high school, Tsuchiya was deeply influenced by the sound, spirit, and cultural impact of Western rock, laying the foundation for his distinct and genre-blending musical identity.
Tsuchiya's career in music started with a brief stint aged 17 in 1969 as a roadie and stand-in guitarist withThe Golden Cups. However, it was discovered that he had lied about his age when his family tracked him down so he was forced to leave the band.[2]
In 1972, Tsuchiya was recruited by Nobu Saito to work as a session guitarist, going on to record and tour with Lily and the Bye Bye session band (one of the other members wasRyuichi Sakamoto) and became a regular member ofJunko Ohashi and Minoya Central Station, leaving in 1978 with the formation ofIppu-Do. Since 1982, Tsuchiya has worked with artists as diverse as Englishnew wave rockersJapan andBill Nelson, Japaneseelectronica composerRyuichi Sakamoto,Duran Duran side-projectArcadia, and Japanese rock singerAtsushi Sakurai.
In 2001, Tsuchiya formed the short-lived group The d.e.p withVivian Hsu,Mick Karn, Masahide Sakuma andGota Yashiki (both formerly of thePlastics).[3] They released the albumShinkei Stop that year.[4]
In March 2008, Tsuchiya formed another short-lived rock band, Vitamin-Q with Yashiki,Kazuhiko Katō, Rei Ohara andAnza. It ended after Kato's suicide on October 17, 2009.
In June 2010, following news of former collaborator Mick Karn's cancer diagnosis, Tsuchiya reunited with The d.e.p and recorded two songs for a proposed September 2010 release to raise funds for Karn and his family.[5]
In early 2013, Tsuchiya formed the supergroup KA.F.KA with Issay (Der Zibet), KenKen (Rize),Motokatsu Miyagami (The Mad Capsule Markets), andKen Morioka (Soft Ballet).[6] Koji Ueno (Thee Michelle Gun Elephant) later replaced KenKen on bass. Tsuchiya's record label, Mazzy Bunny Records, releasedSwan Dive in November 2013, his first solo album in 15 years.[7]
