Osaka-born musician Takamasa Ishihara, better known as the samurai guitarist Miyavi, says there’s one moment that stands out in his two-decade career. It was when he played the U.S. national anthem at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last year.
Even though he has performed his unique style of “slapping” the guitar in more than 350 live shows in 30 different countries across five continents, and has done eight world tours, being asked to play “The Star-Spangled Banner” in his adoptive home was special.
“That was a great opportunity,” says Miyavi, 39. “As a Japanese (person), I wanted to play Japan’s national anthem, but they already had a local Japanese traditional choir for that, so they asked me to play the American national anthem.