Sadistic Mika Band

Sadistic Mika Band

Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	November 1971 (1971-11)
Founder	Kazuhiko Katō, Mika
Defunct	November 1975 (1975-11)
Headquarters	Osaka , Japan
Products	Music albums, singles, live performances

The was a Japanese rock ensemble established in November 1971 by the married couple Kazuhiko Katō and . During an era when female rock vocalists were uncommon in Japan, their partnership and glam rock aesthetic challenged prevailing gender conventions. After producing three studio albums and becoming the first Japanese rock group to tour the United Kingdom, they dissolved the band in November 1975 following the Katōs' separation.

In 2003, HMV Japan placed them at number 94 on their list of the "Top 100 Japanese Pops Artists". Later, in September 2007, Rolling Stone Japan ranked their 1974 release Kurofune ninth among the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".

History

Mika Fukui, of the folk duo Mika & Tonko, began dating Kazuhiko Katō after receiving guitar instruction from him. The couple wed in Vancouver in July 1970. Already a well-known figure, Katō attracted media attention, including an interview with An An. Motivated by the glam rock movement in the UK led by T. Rex and David Bowie, Katō sought to form a Japanese band that mirrored this style. Consequently, The Sadistic Mika Band was created in November 1971, featuring Katō on guitar and vocals, Mika as vocalist, and Hiro Tsunoda on drums. Their name was a playful nod to John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band, with "sadistic" inspired by Mika's use of a kitchen knife.

The single "Cycling Boogie" debuted on June 21, 1972, under Doughnut Records—Japan’s first independent label founded by Katō—and distributed by Toshiba EMI. After Tsunoda left in September, drummer Yukihiro Takahashi joined alongside lead guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka and bassist Ray Ohara. This lineup completed their self-titled debut album released on May 5, 1973; it was also issued in the UK by Harvest Records. Katō shared the album with Malcolm McLaren, who subsequently passed it to Bryan Ferry. Additionally, members contributed to Shigeru Izumiya’s 1973 album Hikari to Kage.

Their sophomore album Kurofune was recorded in England and launched on November 5, 1974. Producer Chris Thomas became interested after hearing their debut and worked closely with them. During production of Badfinger’s Wish You Were Here, Mika provided Japanese vocals on the track "Know One Knows". Keyboardist Yu Imai was elevated from a supporting role to full membership. Although initial sales were modest, Kurofune is now regarded as a landmark album in Japanese rock history. In 2007, Rolling Stone Japan placed it ninth among top Japanese rock albums. Critic Naoto Kawasaki highlighted the band’s international competitiveness and influence on emerging artists while acknowledging Kazuhiko’s visionary leadership despite some criticism of Mika’s distinctive vocal style.

Following Ohara’s departure, bassist Tsugutoshi Gotō joined the group. Their last performance in Japan took place on September 21, 1975, at Kyoritsu Kodo. In October, they toured the UK supporting Roxy Music during their Siren Tour, including a show at Wembley Arena—marking the first UK tour by a Japanese rock band. The group received favorable reviews from local media and appeared on British television programs such as Old Grey Whistle Test and Pebble Mill at One. On Old Grey Whistle Test, the program’s title was humorously misspelled as The Old Gley Whistle Test. Photographs from this era were published in Masayoshi Sukita’s book S/M/B/2 (2006).

Behind the scenes, Kazuhiko and Mika’s marriage deteriorated due to her relationship with producer Chris Thomas beginning in mid-1974. Despite intentions for a homecoming concert and releasing their third album, Mika declined to return to Japan. The Thomas-produced Hot! Menu was released on November 5, 1975, and featured on BBC Radio 3’s program Sounds Interesting. The band dissolved that same month following the Katōs’ divorce. Live recordings from their Roxy Music tour were later issued as Live in London in July 1976. Takahashi, Takanaka, Imai, and Gotō continued performing as The Sadistics until around 1979 before embarking on solo careers. Throughout the late ’70s and ’80s, all members collaborated with Katō on his solo endeavors.

Post-disbandment

Following the dissolution of Sadistic Mika Band, Kazuhiko Katō pursued a flourishing career in radio and television as a solo artist. His musical explorations extended into ska and European avant-garde sounds, frequently collaborating with former bandmates and prominent musicians such as Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono, and Akiko Yano. Between 2007 and 2009, Katō partnered with Kōnosuke Sakazaki of The Alfee under the name Kazukoh to release two acoustic albums. In 2008, he established Vitamin-Q, which produced a single album featuring vocalist Anza.

Drummer Yukihiro Takahashi joined the influential synthpop group Yellow Magic Orchestra. In the early 2000s, he collaborated with Haruomi Hosono to form the duo Sketch Show, later founding the supergroup Metafive in 2014. Takahashi also ventured into acting, appearing predominantly in comedic roles on television and in films.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Ray Ohara regularly performed as part of Takahashi's ensemble. In 2019, Ohara reunited with Shigeru Suzuki and Tatsuo Hayashi to revive their high school band, Skye.

Mika married Chris Thomas, the band's producer, and relocated to the United Kingdom. She contributed vocals to Yellow Magic Orchestra's 1980 album X∞Multiplies before training professionally as a pastry chef. Mika authored autobiographies published in 1988 and 1996, released a self-composed solo album titled Jaran Jaran in 1994, and returned to Japan in the late 1990s to dedicate herself to culinary research.

Tsugutoshi Gotō has issued numerous solo projects while also participating in various music groups.

Yu Imai founded Imitation and collaborated with members from Sandii & the Sunsetz as well as Talking Heads. He maintained a close working relationship with English lyricist Chris Mosdell, producing three solo albums together: Equasian (a collaboration with Kazuhiko Katō), The Oracles of Distraction, and Fingerprints of the Gods, inspired by Graham Hancock’s book.

Masayoshi Takanaka established himself as one of Japan’s premier guitarists, continuing to release studio albums and perform internationally.

Reunions

The group came together on three separate occasions under varying names, consistently featuring Kazuhiko Katō, Yukihiro Takahashi, and Masayoshi Takanaka, alongside different female lead singers and supporting musicians.

In 1985, they appeared as Sadistic Yuming Band during the International Youth Anniversary All Together Now concert held on June 15. The lineup included Tsugutoshi Gotō returning on bass, Yumi Matsutoya (Yuming) providing vocals, and Ryuichi Sakamoto on keyboards.

The Sadistic Mica Band reunited in 1989 with Ray Ohara on bass and Karen Kirishima handling vocals. They produced an album of new material titled Appare, released on April 8, 1989. The single "Boys & Girls" from this album reached number 13 on the Oricon Singles Chart. Later that year, on July 12, they issued a live album called Seiten, recorded at Tokyo Bay NK Hall.

In 2006, the core trio joined forces again with Ohara and pop singer Kaela Kimura to create Sadistic Mica Band Revisited for a commercial campaign by Kirin Beer. This ensemble was later renamed Sadistic Mikaela Band and released the album Narkissos on October 25. The album sold 92,568 copies and secured the position of number 147 on that year's best-selling chart. They performed a one-night-only concert at Tokyo’s NHK Hall on March 8, 2007. This performance was recorded and subsequently released as the live album Live in Tokyo on May 23. Additionally, a documentary film chronicling this reunion premiered in theaters on October 13, 2007, followed by a DVD release on March 7, 2008.

Kazuhiko Katō tragically died by suicide on October 17, 2009, in Karuizawa, Japan. Later, Yukihiro Takahashi passed away from aspiration pneumonia on January 11, 2023, also in Karuizawa.

Members

• Kazuhiko Katō – guitar, vocals (1971–1975, 1985, 1989, 2006–2007)
• Mika – vocals (1971–1975)
• Hiro Tsunoda – drums (1971–1972)
• Yukihiro Takahashi – drums (1972–1975, 1985, 1989, 2006–2007)
• Ray Ohara – bass guitar (1972–1975, 1989, 2006–2007)
• Masayoshi Takanaka – guitar (1972–1975, 1985, 1989, 2006–2007)
• Yu Imai – keyboards (1974–1975)
• Tsugutoshi Gotō – bass (1985; also support in 1975)
• Yumi Matsutoya – vocals (1985)
• Karen Kirishima – vocals (1989)
• Kaela Kimura – vocals (2006–2007)

Discography

Studio albums

• Sadistic Mika Band (Released May 5, 1973)
• Kurofune (Released November 5, 1974)
• Hot! Menu (Released November 5, 1975)
• Appare (Released April 8, 1989)
• Narkissos (Released October 25, 2006)

Singles

• "Cycling Boogie" (June 21, 1972)
• "Hi Baby" (1973)
• "Time Machine ni Onegai" (October 5, 1974)
• "Suki Suki Suki (Hei Made hi Tottobi)" (1974)
• "Mada Mada Sanba" (November 20, 1975)
• "Boys & Girls" (March 1, 1989)

Live albums

• Live in London (July 5, 1976)
• Seiten: Sadistic Mica Band Live in Tokyo 1989 (July 12, 1989)
• Live in Tokyo (May 23, 2007)
• 1974 One Step Festival (November 21, 2018)

Compilation albums

• Best Menu! (August 1, 1977)
• 20 Songs to 21st Century (1989)
• Makunouchi (S.M.B. Super Best) (December 6, 1989)
• Beppin (September 3, 1992)
• Golden☆Best (June 19, 2002)
• New Best 1500 (August 24, 2005)
• Cho-Beppin (May 24, 2006)
• Essential Best (March 21, 2018)

Home videos

• Seiten: Sadistic Mica Band Live in Tokyo 1989 (December 16, 2009)