BIOGRAPHY
Bossa Nova artist, ukulele master, singer-songwriter artist, painter e-mail: sakepump@gmail.com official website: https://www.sakaiartnewyork.com/
Growing up at the foot of Mt. Fuji, he loved to draw from an early age. He wrote in his elementary school graduation book that he wanted to be a cartoonist or a painter. As an elementary school student, he won prizes at municipal and prefectural sketch competitions and other art exhibitions. In junior high school, he was taught poetry, wildflower painting, and nature observation through fieldwork as part of the school's educational system, and this gave him the joy of drawing pictures. In 1995, he came to New York City to serve on the music director's staff of his then music teacher, who had performed at Carnegie Hall. After arriving in New York, he became interested in modern and contemporary art. Around that time, he met MR GOTO (Katsuyoshi Goto) (deceased), a pop artist from Yamagata who was working on Super Realism. Around that time, he began to interact with artists who were active in New York. In 1997, he participated in a group exhibition organized by Mr. Goto, and presented a collage work in "Cats Like Tuna, Too" and an objet d'art in "Nude Rhythm" in 1998. However, he later devoted himself to music, performing blues and jazz, and working as a Bossa Nova artist and ukulele player. In 2014, she began working as a concert organizer and ukulele instructor at Ukehut, the only ukulele specialty store in New York City, and is currently the Music Director. In 2021, after a long hiatus, he picked up a paintbrush and began painting with acrylics. In 2022, he held his first painting exhibition, SAKAI ART Show, which was a great success, selling 11 paintings. Currently, he holds painting classes every Sunday morning, and plans to hold his second painting exhibition and live concert show, SAKAI ART Show, from January 1 to 31, 2023.
1966
SAKAI was born in Shizuoka Japan .
1988
Began playing guitar as Professional
guitarist at Tokyo.
Had been playing various music around
Tokyo until in 1995.
SAKAI Was performing at ”Blue Bird” that was
one of famous cabaret in Kawasaki city
in Japan.
1995 Moved to Live in New York .
1997 Started to Play Blues
as SAKAI & HEAVY CLOUD
at The Wreck Room as Monthly Band.
1999 Started to teach
as SAKAI’s GUITAR LESSON.
2000 Performed Improvisation opera
with Nina at Washington Square Park.
Theam was Global warming isue.
2001 Started Duo Project with nice bassist
Toshi Someya also, Hiromasa Mizokguchi
and guitarist Eiji obata at Café Alyss
in Village.
(Lary colyel joined as a guest guitarist. )
2002 SAKAI Conducted band and play guitar
and composed songs for Peace concert
at Martin Luther king Jr high school.
(as SGI -USA )
(Sunzo Ono ,Buster Wiliams, Lary Coryell,
Taro koyama etc)
2002 Played with Joe funato、 Eiji obata、
Toshi someya、Clarence、
Takamichi Haru、 Yoriko Hasaegawa、
Yoko Kawaguch etc.
2002 Produced MIKI OJI Debut Concert
at café Del artiste
2003 Recorded SAKAI’s First Leader Mini Album
“STEP”
2003 Harem JAZZ BAND was broadcast
on "Zoom In Super"on TV NIIPON
which is famous Japanese TV channel.
2004 Performed with Joan Bender
at Hirokos Place
2004 Performed With Rio Tashima
2005 Started to Perform as Bossa Nova Artist
at KITAYA
Released Bossa Nova CD
" The Good Life "in May
Performed Bossa Nova
at Wacoal Sport Party in June
Performed at CHOUX FACTORY in Village
Recorded Japanese Pops Singer
Yuka’s CD I’m so Happy in December
2006 Released Second Bossa Nova CD
'MEDITATION 'in June.
Released CD MERIENDA
*Sound Track of "Merienda" that played
as theater HARUKOBA's show
at Manhattan.
2006 Sakai was on Ny local Japanease News paper
(Japaion,DalySun,Ny-Seikatsu ,,
Yomitaimu ,Pop-in.etc)
Became Guitarist that member of AMICA BAND
Vocal ＆Keyboard amica,
Bass Danny Zanker,
Drums Billy ficca (Television)
AMICA BAND performed Xmas Concert
at ARUBA in December
2007 AMICA Performed At Pianos in February
SAKAI succeed Solo Concert
at QCC in Feburury.
SAKAI&MIKI succeed Concert
at QCC in March.
AMICA BAND at Pianos in May
Perform Cabaret show as Debuted Actor.
at MAXIM LOUNGE & KITAYA I in June
Played as Actor in Japanese Movie
in June
Performed Reception MIEKO"s Party
at SOHO.
Perform as Naturamica LIVE
at Aruba in August
Naturamica Perform
At Side Walk Café in August
SAKAI Performed Bossa Nova
with Pete Luwis at Aruba
All Nite Jazz Festival
at Saint Pete’s Church
with Suzan Ruel in October
( Billy Talor,Benny Powell also attend
this Festival)
Pwerformed Bossa Nova With Prtrv Luwis
at Maxim in November
Performed SAKAI’s NEW Oiginal Songs
at Think Coffee in November
Performed at Party 'The Empty Bowl'
at Ozzi's Coffee & tea In December
Perform ed Bossa Nova at Port Authority
in December
2008.
Sakai’s Original Songs&Bossa Nova
@Think Coffee in February
April Evellyn& Frienda Bossa nova Free Concert
＠QCC
Susan Rule Concert in May
by Fllashing Town Hall
＠The Pomonok Senior Center
＠The Flushing House
Performed with Flutist Rodorig every Saturday
at Lua de Juares inApril
SAKAI& THE BOSSA NOVA BREEZE in June
Yuri Yamashita, Percussion & Vocal
Rodrigo Bermudez , Flute
Evellyn Santos Bracy , Vocal
Live With Yuri@Luna de Juares in September
September starts
Gradation~Bossa Nova no kaze Recording
＠ODA RECRDING STUDIO
2009
Every Monday Night performed
at Raobata Bar Qoo until
Performed until November 2011
Performed as Grand finale artist
at International peace concert
at Central Park By UN
2010
LIVE＠Caffe Cielo in June
LIVE at ORTINE In July
2011
JAPAN BENEFIT LIVE＠GIZZIS CAFFE inApril
Since March ,Performed with Keiji Yoshino
at Greenwichi Villege Bistro
Performed with R&B singer TOMOKO In June
Original Album Gradation ~bossa Nova Nokaze released
on i-tunes,Amazon,Cdbaby on October 1st
Concert with Yoichiro Oda who is Sakai,s producer
at TomiJazz as CD release concert
Perfomed at Orchanrd House Cafe in October 17th
Fm Radio station start to play SAKAI,s music on WDIY.881 in October
Since that day Sakai,s music is always playing on that radio program Jazz Factory.
Performed regularly ＠Tomi Jazz in November
sakai was introduced on Jazzcorner.com.
http://www.jazzcorner.com/news/display.php? news=2396
Sakai introduces at All About Jazz
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php? id=90604
Sakai,s music directed play “Akizakura” at Tokyo ShinjyukuTainy Arise Thater Harukoba onDecember 7 to 11
Akizakura http://www.harukoba.co.jp/
X,mas Concert＠Tommijazz on1 7th
2012
New Years Live With Keiji yoshino&Ippei ichimaru ＠Ido Sushi
New Years Live at Tomi Jazz
New Years concert at Orchard House Cafe
Sakai on air in Japan Fm radio station.
Hiroko no heya
Performed at WAH Center (Williamsburg Art & Historical Center) in March
Start to Performed at Greenwich village Bistro monthly every Friday Live music to 2014
performed at Ortine in May
Become NEW YORK CITY RECORDS artist in May
NY Ukulele festival performed at New York Society for Ethical Culture in June
2013
Perform at Udon west start in May (Ever Tuesday)
Performed and gave workshop New York Ukulele Festival 2013 in June
Lina&Sakai Concert at Willowby Plaza Downtowm Brooklyn by MMN inJune
Sakai&The bossa nova breeze
Ippei Ichimaru Percussion8 Bass ,Sanshin,Ukulele..
Keiji Yoshino Bass& Guitar&Ukulele
Rozanna weinberg Viola&Violin at NYCC July 19th
It was 25years anniversary of music life ..
First time performed as Kaz&Sakai's Duo Live at Any way Cafe In October 28
UKE HUT Presents special Showcase
Special guest by SAKAI at sage theater at Times Square November 11th.
Start every Tuesday night SAKAI's Bossa Nova Night@Kuboya 12/1
Performed at ChoGa in December
2014
Performed Every Tuesday Kubota
Saturday Anywaycafe
Lina&Sakai Recording 16 March starts
Concert with YUICHIRO ODA & SATOSHI OSAWA LIVE at The Cutting Room,June 18
Bossa Nova live at The Tokyo Tapas Cafe start July
Hiroshima Peace memorial day performing with ippei at Union square in Augunst
Ukulele shop Ukehut grand opening party 10/31
Lina&Sakai Special Live at The Fifth Estate Bar November 13
Start work at ukehut Every Tuesday since November 11
X,mas special concert with Lina&Sakai Cd relese concert December 11at Ukehut.
X,was special concert with Eishin Nose December 17 ukehut.
2015
Ukehut Concert series produce by SAKAI starts on January.
Morio Agata Concert with Eishin&Sakai at Ukehut 1/5 ay Ukehut
Eishin&Sakai duo Concert at Ukehut 1/14 at Ukehut
Kaz&Sakai performed at Tapeira other Fridays on February.
Lina&Saki FM radio debut on at Wdiy.881.1
Duo with Nobuki Takkamen 2/2 at ukehut
Kaz&Sakai 2/21 at Ukehut
Duo With Haruna Fukazawa 2/25 au ukehut
Starts Performed with Bret Roberts on February 23rd at Anyway cafe.
Duo with Ippei Ichimaru 3/11 at Ukehut.
Duo withMina Harada
Formed Sakai Super Trio in April
Starts Saturday Night Showcase by Sakai in May (still happen now 2020 February)
My musician who performed with my concerts.
at Ukehut.
Miki Yokoyama
Nabuko Jazz
Mina Harada
Eva Kano
Ms Marie
Lina Villegas
Rina Komai
Aya Morita
Kazmogroove
Aki Saijyo
Eiko Rikuhashi
Akemi Yamada
Eishin Nose
Perform with Ayumi Takita at Strawberry Fialds at Central Park as Hiroshima 70,s anniversary peace event. 8/5
2016
Ever Saturday nigh,Every 2,3rd Wednesday Concert at Ukehut.
Regular Musician and singers
Kaz&Sakai(Kazmogroove), Haruna Fukazawa,Nobuki Takamen(Sakai Super Trio),Eiko Rikuhashi,Eishin Nose. Shu Odamura.Chie Monoe.
Lina Villegas,Miki Yokoyama,Ms marie,Akemi Yamada, Eva Kano,Aya Morita,Meg Bless.
Performed with Shu Odamura 1/30
Performed with Chie Monoe 6/18
Performed with Meg Bless 7/30
s
Every Saturday Night showcase at 8:08pm at Ukehut
2017
2018
2019
New artist sakai perform with:
Toshie Kimura,
Tania Chanti
Rino Kono
Officially Become Astoria Character
2019 November
The High-water Gig starts
2020
Every Wednesday night 7:30pm to 10pm The High-water
Ukehut Saturday night Showcase continue!!!
Since March~August
No Live Music
On air at
Japanese TV BS1 special
Ukulele documental program on June.
2021
Every Satutday 7:30pm~
Online Live from Ukehut.
April , Re-start Live at Ukehut.
Kaz&Sakai,Sakai Super Trio,
New Project :Pink Lagoon
with Rino Aise(Sanshin &Vocal)
perform at Brooklin Botanical Garden on April.
Sakai Super Trio at Nomad at East village.
2022
January 1st to 5th
SAKAI ART SHOW
(Exhibition and Musin live)
S
Venue &Event Place/
Chicago Blues ,Mannys Car Wash, Smalls
Cleopatra's Needle, The Elbow Room ,
The Wreck room,Café Alyss, The Corner ,
Café del artista,Caravan of Dream, NAMA,
C-note ,Crudo Bar .Maxim lounge, Kitaya, Ortine.
Cielo,NYCC, NYQ, Hiroko's Place ,Pianos, ARUBA,
Think Coffee, Luna de Juares,Carnegie Hall, CHoga,Ido Sushi,G
Madison Square garden , cafearise
Sage theater,Coffed,Tapaira,Anyway cafe,UdonWest,
Ukehut,Grenwchi Village Bistro,Kuboya,Tapas Bar. La Flor.
Win bar.Ethical Curtual Center.The Highwater.Beans&Lager.
Astoria Brock Party,Kafuman Art district Fes.
,Union Square Park, Washington Square Park,
Central Park, Battery Park, Prospect Park ,
Side Walk Cafe,
Radio Startion
JAZZ FACTORY at WDIY.org
EVERY OTHER THURSDAY9PM~11PM