MIYAVI is the stage name of Takamasa Ishihara, a Japanese guitarist, singer, and performer born on September 14, 1981 in Osaka, Japan. Known for his unconventional, pickless finger-based “slap style,” he has built a career across rock, visual kei, and J-rock, and his sound often blends guitar-driven arrangements with electro and dance elements. He is also associated with Virgin Music.
Across six successful world tours, MIYAVI has performed more than 250 shows in 30 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In 2013, he entered a new phase with the single “Ahead Of The Light,” and his self-titled album, Miyavi, was released in Japan in June 2013 before later expanding into Asia, Europe, and North America. Beyond solo work, he has produced music for television commercials, with songs featured in campaigns for Uniqlo, Toshiba, Nissan, Lotte Co., and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., and he made his acting debut in Unbroken, a role that aligned with the message of peace he has long pursued. His multidisciplinary presence has also earned him the nickname “Samurai Guitarist.”
