Famous Japanese saxophonists
How familiar are you with saxophone players active in Japan?
While overseas saxophonists often get most of the attention, Japan also has a wealth of outstanding musicians!
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of players—from superstars who have led the scene for many years to younger musicians who’ve been attracting attention in recent years.
We’re highlighting artists not only from the jazz and fusion worlds, but also those active in classical and pop scenes.
You might even discover the sax player who performed on one of your favorite songs.
- The Profound Allure of the Saxophone: Iconic Songs Featuring Saxophone [2026]
- [2026] Summary of popular saxophonists abroad. Recommended saxophonists.
- [BTS] A Saxophone Virtuoso Too! V’s Most Popular Songs Ranked
- [2026] A Collection of Classic Japanese Ballads with a Jazz Flavor
- [Saxophone] Recommended practice songs for saxophone beginners: Famous tunes you’ll want to try playing
- Famous Clarinetists of the World — From Classical to Jazz
- Famous Japanese saxophonists
- Gen Z listeners, take note! Great songs that color the J-pop scene
- 【2026】A Roundup of Japanese Bassists: From Big Names to Rising Stars
- Today's Jazz: Tunes for today! A selection of timeless classics and contemporary jazz
- Trumpet Masterpieces | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! A Curated Selection of Striking Pieces
- Songs with cool trumpet. Introducing famous pieces from wind ensemble and jazz.
- A Collection of Moving Shakuhachi Masterpieces | Beautiful Japanese Melodies That Stir the Heart
Famous Japanese saxophonists (61–70)
They Say It’s WonderfulAkamatsu Jirō
Having been involved in saxophone performance and instruction across both classical and jazz genres, he can be considered a towering figure in the postwar saxophone world.
He is also known for launching Japan’s first specialized jazz education curriculum at the Osaka College of Music Junior College, and countless saxophonists who trained under him are now active on today’s music scene.
His superb, mature playing never fails to impress.
Super Mario BrosTakeda Kazuhiro
He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays various saxophones and the flute, and he is also active as a baritone saxophone player and arranger: Mr.
Kazuhiro Takeda.
In the video, he performs a variety of arrangements with the four-sax band “Quadra.”
Furuya Mitsuru
Mr.
Mitsuru Furutani passed away in September 2020, but up until just before his death he remained at the forefront as an active saxophone player and also as a singer.
In fact, he studied violin at a music high school and later learned clarinet, showcasing his versatility from a young age.
In addition to forming and performing with his own big bands and combos, he dedicated himself to nurturing young talent, and many artists launched their careers under his guidance.
His performances were outstanding, of course, and his MC work was also captivating—he was the very embodiment of an entertainer.
LIFEKayukawa Natsuki
The video is a promotional clip for the album “LIFE,” so you can hear a digest of the tracks included.
She’s a female alto sax player known for her smooth, translucent tone, and many of the pieces have a gentle, soothing atmosphere throughout!
In a dreamshimizu yasuyuki
Yasuaki Shimizu is a saxophonist who has been active since the late 1970s.
A versatile musician, he not only plays the saxophone but also sometimes showcases his singing as a vocalist.
Unbound by genre, he has taken on a wide range of musical styles and produced numerous works.
In addition to his role as a performer, he has been energetically involved in songwriting and production for other artists, contributing to many projects both in Japan and abroad.
