Alternately musician, actor and model philanthropist, Miyavi stands out as a complete artist. The uniquely styled Japanese guitarist will perform at the Rickshaw Theater on November 2.
Before becoming Miyavi, Takamasa Ishihara lived in Osaka and dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. Following an accident and a lack of goal, he takes a guitar from a friend and begins to “play”: it’s love at first sight, he will be a guitarist.
Miyavi then went to Tokyo at the age of 17, where he got involved in various groups before embarking on a solo career. His unique style of guitar playing, the “slap style”, led him to make eight world tours in more than thirty countries and release thirteen albums. This particular style appeared in 2013 when the artist entered a new phase with the album Ahead Of The Light with electro/dance accents, revealing his specific guitar playing. His fans then nicknamed him the “samurai guitarist”. From visual kei to J-rock, the artist evolves in different styles but always keeps his own dough.
In December 2018, Miyavi released the breakthrough collaborations album Samurai Sessions Vol. 3: Worlds Collide on Universal Music Group. Each track on the album features a different artist who lays their voice over Miyavi’s signature guitar sound. The list of US-based collaborators includes Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, R&B artist Gallant and pop artist Mikky Ekko. Japanese artists are not left out with Shishido Kavka or pop artist Daichi Miura.
Miyavi returned to releasing solo albums with No Sleep Till Tokyo in 2019, followed by Holy Nights in 2020. The artist also has his own label J-glam.
His latest project, the first part of the project MIYAVI 20th & Beyond 20th anniversary, includes the release of her debut album of anime music covers Miyaviverse – Anima – , which will be released on November 23.
A dazzling film career
Alternately musician, actor and model philanthropist, Miyavi makes his big screen debut in the film Oresamaproduced by Marumo in 2004. His film career took a turn in 2014 with the film Unbroken by Oscar-nominated Angelina Jolie. He has since appeared in the 2017 blockbuster KNGO: Skull Island and in the big screen adaptation of the popular manga Bleach in 2018. Miyavi also landed roles for stray by Joe Sill in 2019 and Maleficent 2 by Angelina Jolie in 2020.
The actor plays Jojima in Kate by Cédric Nicolas-Troyan in 2021. Broadcast exclusively on Netflix, the American film follows a hitman in Osaka and Tokyo.
Miyavi appears in the film Hell Dogsreleased in September 2022, as a yakuza appointed by the president of Kanto’s largest yakuza organization.
Star of the fashion catwalk
As a brand ambassador, Miyavi appeared in Japan as the face of a well-known headphone brand and on billboards around the world in the campaign. Beyond of a great sartorial signature for men. Miyavi is the ambassador of prestigious brands of American airlines or German luxury cars. In 2020, he was selected to participate in a campaign by a major American musical instrument company. He was chosen for a campaign by a major Italian luxury house. He paraded at the Fashion Week 2018 from Paris, posing for a collection of a famous Japanese designer.
His music is also used in advertising campaigns for major Japanese clothing brands and popular Japanese car dealerships around the world.
The artist takes advantage of his fame to get involved in humanitarian causes. As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, he visits refugee camps in Lebanon, Thailand, Colombia and Bangladesh. He also performs at the United Nations in New York, spreading the message of the refugee crisis around the world.
As part of her North American tour, Miyavi will perform for a single date at the Rickshaw Theater on November 2 at 8 p.m.
For more information: www.rickshawtheatre.com
