Tiger Onitsuka
Japanese jazz drummer and youngest professional jazz drummer.
Tiger Onitsuka (鬼束 大我, Onitsuka Taiga; born 9 July 1997) is a Japanese jazz drummer. He holds a Guinness World Record as the youngest professional jazz drummer, having released his debut album *Tiger!* on the Columbia/Savoy label in April 2008 at age ten.
Onitsuka began playing drums at age five. At six, he released his first DVD, *I Got Jazz*, and soon after started performing live. At age seven, in 2005, he played concerts in Harlem and Manhattan, New York. In October 2007, he performed at Kamigamo Shrine, a national treasure and World Heritage Site in Kyoto, and also appeared at the Yokohama Jazz Promenade. In November 2007, his band "Tiger, Burning Bright" played at the 3rd Ginza International Jazz Festival.
In 2008, Onitsuka performed with trumpeter Eddie Henderson in New York City and with trumpeter Marlon Jordan in New Orleans, followed by concerts in Korea, Singapore, and Spain. Back in Japan, after shows at Blue Note Nagoya, Tokyo Midtown, and the premiere of Tokyo Jazz, he performed with pianist Hank Jones. At the time, Jones was 88 and Onitsuka was 9, an age gap of 79 years that drew significant media attention as the largest age difference between musicians in a single band. In October 2008, he released his third album, *A Time in New York*, recorded at Clinton Recording Studio in New York with bassist Buster Williams and pianist Benny Green, both of whom praised his musical ability.
In 2013, Onitsuka recorded two albums in New Orleans with pianist Ellis Marsalis, trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, and trombonist Corey Henry. Marsalis and Ruffins were impressed by his talent and invited him to perform on their stages at the Satchmo Summer Festival the following week. In 2014, after six months of classical percussion lessons with Hiroshi Sakagami, he passed the audition for The Juilliard School Pre-college, having learned snare drum, tympani, and four-mallet marimba techniques.
Since 2009, he has been the youngest jazz drum instructor at Music Labo, a private music school in Kyoto, where he leads experimental courses for young children.
Onitsuka has performed with numerous musicians, including Hank Jones, Eddie Henderson, Buster Williams, Benny Green, Lou Donaldson, Evelyn Blakey, Mitsuru "Nishi" Nishiyama, Terumasa Hino, Toshiko A
- born
- 9 July 1997
- field
- Jazz drummer
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- World's Youngest Professional Jazz Drummer (Guinness World Record)
Lore & Background
Onitsuka started playing drums at age 5 and released his first DVD, I Got Jazz, at age 6. He performed at a concert in Harlem and Manhattan, New York in 2005 at age 7, followed by a concert at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto on 7 October 2007, and later at the Yokohama Jazz Promenade. In November 2007, he performed at the 3rd Ginza International Jazz Festival with his band 'Tiger, Burning Bright'.
In 2008, Onitsuka performed with Eddie Henderson in New York City and with Marlon Jordan in New Orleans, followed by concerts in Korea, Singapore, and Spain. Back in Japan, after performances at Blue Note Nagoya, Tokyo Midtown, and the premiere of Tokyo Jazz, he had a concert with Hank Jones. At the time, Jones being 88 and Onitsuka 9, their age difference of 79 years drew great media interest. In October 2008, he released his third album, A Time in New York, recorded at Clinton Recording Studio in New York with bassist Buster Williams and pianist Benny Green, both of whom praised his musical ability.
Reader's Guide
Tiger Onitsuka's significance lies in his early achievement of a Guinness World Record as the youngest professional jazz drummer, demonstrating prodigious talent from age 5. His career includes performances with renowned musicians such as Hank Jones, Eddie Henderson, Buster Williams, Benny Green, and Ellis Marsalis, as well as concerts in the United States, Korea, Singapore, and Spain. His discography includes albums like Tiger!, A Time in New York, and The Land of Dreams, recorded with top jazz figures. Onitsuka's legacy extends to education, as he became the youngest jazz drum instructor at Music Labo in Kyoto in 2009, teaching young children. His acceptance into The Juilliard School Pre-college in 2014 after rapid classical percussion training further underscores his versatility. The media attention around his age gap with Hank Jones highlights his unique place in jazz history, while his endorsement by Onitsuka Tiger of ASICS due to name similarity adds a cultural footnote. His work continues to inspire young musicians, though his later career trajectory is not detailed in the source.
Did You Know?
- He holds the Guinness World Record for being 'The World's Youngest Professional Jazz Drummer' after releasing his first album at age 9.
- He performed with Hank Jones when Jones was 88 and Onitsuka was 8, an age difference of 80 years that drew great media interest.
- He passed the audition for The Juilliard School Pre-college in 2014 after learning classical percussion techniques in 6 months.
- He has been endorsed by Onitsuka Tiger of ASICS since 2006 due to the similarity in names.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tiger Onitsuka?
Tiger Onitsuka (born 9 July 1997) is a Japanese jazz drummer who earned a Guinness World Record as the youngest professional jazz drummer in history. He picked up a drumstick at five and was already performing live by the time he was six.
What is Tiger Onitsuka's Guinness World Record?
He is listed as the world's youngest professional jazz drummer, a distinction he secured when his debut album Tiger! was released on the Columbia/Savoy label in April 2008 at the age of ten.
What was Tiger Onitsuka's first major release?
His debut studio album, simply titled Tiger!, came out on Columbia/Savoy in April 2008. A year or so before that, at six, he had already put out a DVD called I Got Jazz.
Where did Tiger Onitsuka perform as a child?
At seven he played live shows in Harlem and Manhattan, New York, and in October 2007 he took the stage at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto, a designated national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Why is Tiger Onitsuka significant to jazz fans?
His trajectory—from grabbing a drumstick at five to holding a Guinness record and playing at historically important venues before his teens—makes him a go-to example whenever child prodigies in jazz are discussed.
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