A roundup of instrumental fusion bands active in Japan
Fusion is a music genre that emerged around the 1970s.
Rooted in jazz, it blends elements from other genres such as rock and funk.
Its appeal is hard to sum up in a single sentence: technical guitar solos; groovy bass and drum phrases; expansive, powerful saxophone melodies; and flowing, captivating keyboards, to name just a few.
In this article, we’ll highlight instrumental bands active in Japan among the many fusion groups with such depth and allure.
In fact, Japan is home to a wealth of top-tier players that rival those overseas.
Whether you’re a longtime fusion fan or just getting into the genre, we hope you’ll enjoy this read.
- [2026] Recommended Japanese Fusion Bands Summary
- Masterpieces of Japanese fusion—From nostalgic classics to recent recommendations—
- Masterpieces of Japanese instrumental music. Recommended instrumental tracks.
- [2026] Stylish and Cool Japanese Instrumental Bands You Should Check Out [Enchanting Sounds]
- [Japan] A collection of J-pop with a traditional Japanese (wa) vibe and Japanese-style taste
- Classic fusion music masterpieces. Recommended staple tracks.
- Ranking of popular fusion songs
- [Selected by the pros!] 10 great bassists from the jazz fusion world
- 【2026】A Roundup of Japanese Bassists: From Big Names to Rising Stars
- Band songs that get the crowd going by genre
- Hype to the max! Party songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- A bright, Japanese-style song. A roundup of J-POP with a traditional Japanese flair.
- [Western Music] Classic Jazz Fusion Masterpieces: Recommended Albums You Should Listen to at Least Once [2026]
Summary of instrumental fusion bands active in Japan (1–10)
SEA LINE “RIE”Kadamatsu Toshiki
Toshiki Kadomatsu is a guitarist and singer-songwriter.
He’s an artist whose trilogy—SEA BREEZE (1981), WEEKEND FLY TO THE SUN (1982), and ON THE CITY SHORE (1983)—is highly acclaimed.
His musical style ranges from an open, breezy feel that evokes tropical islands to deep, mature soundscapes that conjure images of adult romance.
Many of his guitar phrases are quite technical, so it’s highly recommended to listen with a focus on that aspect!
PRESENTTRIX
TRIX made their debut in 2004 with their first album, INDEX.
They’re a dream band formed around Norimasa Kumagai, the legendary drummer from the fusion band Casiopea, and Mitsuru Sutoh, the bassist from T-SQUARE.
Their songs are addictive, blending a solid, heavy groove from the drums and bass with Hidenao Sasaki’s catchy guitar.
Keiki Uto’s keyboard playing is also melodious and cool, almost like it’s singing!
BelievinNaniwa Ekisupuresu
Although it may seem like their active period was short—from their major debut in 1982 to their breakup in 1986—Naniwa Express had actually begun performing live around 1977 with a lineup close to the current one.
They gained popularity as a fusion band from Kansai, made up of Kansai-based members.
After disbanding, they resumed activities in 2002, and in 2003 released the album “life of music.” They have continued their activities while overcoming challenges such as members’ illnesses and comebacks.
Summary of instrumental fusion bands active in Japan (11–20)
Alibabasupēsu sākasu
Space Circus is a progressive fusion band known for its circus-like sound, with one of the highlights being bassist Hajime Okano’s transcendent technique.
They released only two albums in 1978 and 1979 before disbanding.
They also scored the 1978 film High School Big Panic.
Their music isn’t major-label mainstream or particularly catchy, but that’s exactly what makes it so cool.
It really makes you want to revisit that era’s sound, doesn’t it?
HERCULESParachute
PARACHUTE is a long-running fusion band that has been active since 1979.
They debuted as a unit with the catchphrase “Music is a sport,” featuring members Tatsuo Hayashi, Nobu Saito, Mike Dunn, Masaki Matsubara, Tsuyoshi Kon, Yoshihiko Ando, and Izumi Kobayashi.
Later, Akira Inoue joined in place of Kobayashi.
Although they proclaim “Music is a sport,” the group gives the impression of a relatively calm and mature ensemble.
In 2016, Matsubara passed away suddenly, which surely came as a shock to many fans.
READY TO FLYSadisutikksu
A band active from 1976 to 1978, featuring a star-studded lineup: Yukihiro Takahashi on drums, Masayoshi Takanaka on guitar, Tsugutoshi Goto on bass, and Hiroshi Imai on keyboards.
After the sudden breakup of Sadistic Mika Band in 1975, these former backing members formed this group.
Since the members were already extremely busy, the band went on hiatus in 1978.
It’s a shame that, with the passing of Yukihiro Takahashi, we will never see this lineup perform again.
Detective Conan Main ThemeŌno Katsuo Bando
When it comes to songs from Taiyo ni Hoero! and Detective Conan, it has to be the Katsuo Ohno Band.
Their distinctive sound makes them instantly recognizable.
Katsuo Ohno, who originally belonged to the Takayuki Inoue Band, formed this band in 1980, taking over after the Inoue Band disbanded.
It was around that time that he also inherited the music for Taiyo ni Hoero!.
Born into a musical family—his father a shakuhachi master and his mother a koto player—Ohno graduated from Horikawa Music School.
I hope he continues to create music that remains in the hearts of the Japanese people forever.