Watch Tetsuo Sakurai Tear Through Casiopea’s Legendary 1985 Tokyo Concert

Casiopea’s 1985 concert film is a showcase of the band at their best and Tetsuo Sakurai is absolutely relentless throughout the set.

Sakurai is playing a heavily modified Yamaha five string that was never officially released as a signature model. The bass was converted to a headless design and features extensive body modifications, giving it a look as distinctive as the sound coming from it.  Sakurai was one of the early pioneers of slap bass, and his playing here is full of sharp pops, fast rhythmic figures, and melodic fills. There is a definite Marcus Miller style edge to the tone and phrasing, but Sakurai’s feel and attack are unmistakably his own.

The bass solo begins at 31:45, but the entire performance is worth watching for the way Sakurai locks in with drummer Akira Jimbo.