Biography-English

Born in 1985 in Tomakomai City in Hokkaido. Takasaki was born and raised in a Minyo (Japanese folk song) family, and started at the age of 3 learning the Minyo and Japanese drums from his grandfather.

From the age of 10, Takasaki studied for 8 years under the late Toshihiko Sato, a professional Tsugaru shamisen player and the Sato-ryu Iemoto (head of the Sato school). Takasaki continued playing the Tsugaru-shamisen and Minyo-shamisen, while experiencing various stage performances, such as professional singer stages and local performances, and accompanying performances at Minyo conventions. At the age of 14, Takasaki was crowned as a junior champion at the Tsugaru-shamisen National Convention (present Tsugaru-shamisen International Convention). Takasaki also became several times No. 1 for group performance in Japan.

Not only in Japan, but also internationally, Takasaki has performed at international stages, such as the New York Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Takasaki also performs in school educational videos by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and lectures as a special lecturer on Tsugaru-shamisen performance.

In 2018, Takasaki was awarded the gold prize in the category of accompanying the song at the Tsugaru-shamisen International Convention. Also, Takasaki and his younger brother, Tetsuomi, were awarded for wining the first place in the duo section of All Japan Tsugaru-shamisen Contest (in Nagoya).

In 2020, THE DRUMS OF JAPAN "KOKUBU" INTO THE LIGHT TOUR 2020 in Germany.