Osamu Kitajima (喜多嶋修) " Benzaiten"1974 Japan, Psychedelic Folk/Progressive Folk.

His first solo album in 1974, Benzaiten, was a mix of modern pop and traditional Japanese music, and was well received in Japan and later released abroad (Antilles label in U.S.) where it received some underground radio airplay and sold moderately. Also in 1974 Kitajima relocated to the Los Angeles area and later opened East Quest Studios; the late 70’s and 80’s saw the establishment of its career, with more than a dozen Lp’s, he has become one of Japan’s biggest selling artist internationally!

During the decades, Osamu Kitajima expanded his work to include commercial and soundtrack work, he provided part of the music to the blockbuster mini-series Shogun and contributed to the soundtrack of Sharkey’s Machine. He also arranged the scores for PBS documentaries on Japan, Chinese/Japanese film Mandala and produced a number of artists. Nowadays, inside East Quest Records, he continues to release his own albums (new and re-issues), as well as works by countless artists.

Personnel:
– Osamu Kitajima – acoustic guitar, synthesizer, percussion, electric guitar, koto, biwa, drums, electronic drums
– Dennis Belfield – bass
– John Harris – bass
– Masako Hirayama – biwa
– Kinji Yoshino – African drums
– Kisaku Katada – Tsuzumi drums, percussion
– Haruomi Hosono – bass
– George Marinelli – guitar
– Haruyoshi Hosei – flute
– Brian Whitcomb – keyboards
– Tatsuya Sano – shakuhachi
– Yosei Sato – sho
– Kinji Yoshino, Osamu Kitajima – producer