Jimsaku
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Akira Jimbo, Tetsuo Sakurai |
| Defunct | 1998 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 1998; reunited in 2020 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
Area served | Japan |
| Products | Studio albums, live recordings, compilation albums |
Number of employees | 2 |
Jimsaku is a Japanese drum and bass duo created by Akira Jimbo and Tetsuo Sakurai in 1990 after their departure from the jazz fusion ensemble Casiopea. Over their initial active years, they produced ten studio albums along with a compilation of their greatest hits before disbanding in 1998. The band's name is derived by merging parts of the members' surnames: Jimbo and Sakurai.
Formation and Early Years of Jimsaku
In 1989, Sakurai and Jimbo chose to leave Casiopea after declining Issei Noro's request to end their side project Shambara, which consequently led to the original band's dissolution. Their focus shifted entirely to establishing Jimsaku, aiming to revisit instrumental music. With the priority given to Jimsaku, Shambara was disbanded.
The initial albums by Jimsaku showcased strong Latin and Samba influences, drawing inspiration from Sakurai’s travels in Brazil during the early 1980s. Although their style diverged from conventional fusion trends, Jimsaku sustained a solid fan base. The duo maintained a rigorous release schedule of two albums per year, which eventually impacted the depth of their compositions and caused a gradual move away from Latin elements by the mid-1990s. To enhance creative concentration, all supporting musicians were dismissed, leaving only Sakurai and Jimbo as core members who occasionally collaborated with guest artists on specific tracks.
Later Period and Dissolution of Jimsaku
In 1997, Jimsaku participated in the "Mint Sessions," where they reflected on Casiopea’s beginnings alongside former bandmates. Both musicians also served as supporting artists during the Casiopea 20th Anniversary Concert.
After discontinuing support members, live shows featured solely Sakurai and Jimbo. Albums such as "MEGA db" highlighted stronger drum and bass components. In February 1998, performing under an alternate name, they announced the official end of Jimsaku.
Aftermath, Reunion, and Formation of Katsushika Trio
Post-breakup, Jimbo embarked on solo projects including his "One Man Orchestra" performances and contributed as a drummer for Casiopea Second. Meanwhile, Sakurai toured within Japan alongside Issei Noro as the acoustic duo Pegasus. The two reunited under the Jimsaku name to celebrate Akira Jimbo’s 60th birthday.
Throughout their career, Jimsaku has been affiliated with four record labels: Polydor, BMG, Fun House, and King Records—the latter overseeing their 30th anniversary reunion and the release of a new album in 2021.
Following this milestone, Jimsaku began collaborating with former Casiopea member Minoru Mukaiya, who was not part of Casiopea’s 2012 reunion lineup. Together they formed Katsushika Trio in 2022, initially concentrating on reinterpretations of 1980s Casiopea material and producing four singles, an EP, and two full-length albums.
Studio albums
- Jimsaku (1990)
- 45°C (1991)
- Jade (1992)
- Wind Loves Us (1993)
- Navel (1994)
- Blaze of Passion (1995)
- Dispensation (1996)
- Mega db (1997)
- Jimsaku Beyond (2021)
Live recordings
- Viva! (1992)
- 100% (1993)
Compilation
- Best Selection (1995)
External links
- 1990 establishments in Japan
- 1998 disestablishments in Japan
- 2020 establishments in Japan
- Drum and bass music groups
- Japanese jazz ensembles
- Japanese musical duos
- Japanese rock music groups
- Japanese jazz fusion ensembles
- Musical groups disestablished in 1998
- Musical groups established in 1990
- Musical groups reestablished in 2020