Meet Satoshi Takeishi | Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Satoshi Takeishi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Satoshi, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
The most important value for me is to give every task my full attention and care. I believe in treating each task as if it’s the most important one, even the smallest and most mundane, even when it feels like I’m overqualified. I often remind myself of a saying in Japan: ‘Even in the color of the tea you serve, it manifests your soul.’ The sound one creates is a direct reflection of one’s soul, and music deserves nothing less than our full attention and care.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began as a percussionist in a junior high school band in a small town in Japan. While it wasn’t a particularly advanced musical education, I developed a deep love for music, and by high school, I was determined to become a professional musician. My first challenge was to seek out better musical education and find opportunities to perform with skilled musicians. The idea of studying in the USA had crossed my mind, but it terrified me at the time—and no one in my town knew how to help me pursue it. Growing up, the general sentiment among Japanese musicians was that we weren’t good enough to compete with American musicians. I once traveled to Tokyo to speak with a professional studio musician for advice, and he suggested I move to the capital to build a career instead of going to the USA. It was certainly the safer path, and for a while, I almost convinced myself to take it. But when I shared my decision with my father, he said, ‘If you’re going to do something you love, then do it all the way.’ His encouragement, combined with my love for music, helped me overcome my fears. Since then, across my 40-year career, I’ve still faced fears and doubts, but my passion for music has always kept me going. I love what I do, and I intend to pursue it fully.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I will, of course, respect what my guests want to see in the city and help them get to the places they’d like to visit. However, I also enjoy finding spots that only locals know about. For food, I’ll take them to try something unique that they can’t find where they’re from. And for hanging out, I’ll bring them to neighborhoods popular with locals for an authentic experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, to my parents, who supported me even though I chose a path they didn’t understand, and to everyone along the way who offered encouragement and inspiration.