Casiopea
Photo: Yoshiro Kanao and Paddock Music Co., uploaded by Reppop, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

group · 1977–

Casiopea

Japanese jazz fusion band (1977-)

Formed
1977
Tokyo
Country
Japan
Record labels
Polydor Records, Pony Canyon, NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan LLC, Alfa Records
Discography
59 albums

Biography

Casiopea is a jazz group, formed in 1977 in Tokyo. Members include Akira Jimbo, Issei Noro, Takashi Sasaki, Kiyomi Ōtaka, Jun Abe and Masaaki Hiyama. Record labels: Polydor Records, Pony Canyon, NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan LLC and Alfa Records. The discography here lists 59 albums, from “Casiopea” (1979) to “MIRACLE NIGHT LIVE 〜SOUND VERSION〜” (2026).

Casiopea (カシオペア, Kashiopea) is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. After lineup changes the following year that added keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya, Casiopea made their major‑label debut with their self‑titled album in 1979, and drummer Akira Jimbo joined in 1980. During this period, they released more than a dozen albums before Sakurai and Jimbo left the band amid disputes over concurrent band memberships. In 1990, bassist Yoshihro Naruse and drummer Masaaki Hiyama joined, resulting in a second era marked by multiple drummer changes, with Jimbo returning as a supporting member in 1997. Noro suspended all band activities in 2006, leading to a six-year hiatus. In 2012, the band resumed activities with Mukaiya not rejoining and Kiyomi Otaka replacing him on keyboards. Renamed Casiopea 3rd for its third period, the group recorded its first album in eight years.

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Members

Takashi Sasaki, Kiyomi Ōtaka, Jun Abe, Masaaki Hiyama, Yoshihiro Naruse, Minoru Mukaiya, Tetsuo Sakurai, Noriaki Kumagai

Discography

Studio and live albums

Casiopea 1979 · ALFA Super Flight 1979 · ALFA Make Up City 1980 · ALFA Thunder Live 1980 · Live · ALFA Cross Point 1981 · ALFA EYES OF THE MIND 1981 · ALFA 4×4 1982 · ALFA Mint Jams 1982 · Live · ALFA Jive Jive 1983 · ALFA Photographs 1983 · ALFA Down Upbeat 1984 · Sonet
Casiopea Live 1985 · Live
Halle 1985 Sun Sun 1986 · ALFA
Perfect Live II 1987 · Live
Platinum 1987 · Aura Records Euphony 1988 · Aura Records
World Live '88 1988 · Live
The Party 1990 · Pioneer Full Colors 1991 · Pioneer LDC Active 1992 · Pioneer LDC
We Want More 1992 · Live
Dramatic 1993 · ALFA Answers 1994 · ALFA Asian Dreamer 1994 · PONY CANYON Hearty Notes 1994 · ALFA
Made in Melbourne 1994 · Live
Freshness 1995 · PONY CANYON
Live Anthology Fine 2 1995 · Live
Flowers 1996 · PONY CANYON Light and Shadows 1997 · Sampony Records Be 1998 · PONY CANYON Material 1999 · PONY CANYON
20th 2000 · Live
Bitter Sweet 2000 · Pioneer Main Gate 2001 · Pioneer Inspire 2002 · Pioneer LDC Places 2003 · Pioneer
Live 2004 · Live
Marble 2004 · Geneon
The Mint Session 2004 · Live
5 Stars Live 2005 · Live
Signal 2005 · Geneon
Live Liftoff 2012 2013 · Live
TA・MA・TE・BOX 2013 · HATS UNLIMITED
TA・MA・TE・BOX TOUR〜CASIOPEA 35th Aniversary LIVE CD 2014 · Live
A・SO・BO 2015 · HATS UNLIMITED
A・SO・N・DA 2016 · Live
I・BU・KI 2016 · HATS UNLIMITED
4010 (Both Anniversary Gig CD) 2018 · Live
A・KA・RI 2018 · HATS UNLIMITED PANSPERMIA 2019 · HATS UNLIMITED
Celebrate 40th Live 2020 · Live
New Topics 2022 · HATS UNLIMITED
NEW BEGINNING 2023 · Live
Right Now 2024 · HATS UNLIMITED
P4's Finale ~Sound Version~ 2025 · Live
TRUE BLUE 2025 · HATS UNLIMITED MIRACLE NIGHT LIVE 〜SOUND VERSION〜 2026 · Live · HATS UNLIMITED

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Frequently asked questions

What are Casiopea's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Casiopea (1979), Super Flight (1979), Make Up City (1980), Thunder Live (1980) and Cross Point (1981).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.