Live Nation has announced the next chapter of City Pop Waves, a headline show series spotlighting iconic Japanese City Pop artists, with legendary guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka bringing his first-ever world tour, SUPER TAKANAKA WORLD LIVE 2026, to Australia and New Zealand this April.
Following the sold-out success of his Los Angeles performances earlier this year, Takanaka will bring his vibrant, surf-inspired fusion sound to local audiences, marking a rare opportunity to see one of Japan’s most influential guitarists live in intimate, historic venues.
The run will kick off on Friday April 24 at Darling Harbour Theatre (ICC Sydney), followed by Northcote Theatre, Melbourne on Monday April 27, before concluding at Town Hall, Auckland on Wednesday April 29.
Among the tour’s most anticipated highlights is the return of Takanaka’s famed surfboard guitar; a full-size guitar crafted from a real surfboard and performed with only a handful of times before spending over a decade on display. Fully restored for SUPER TAKANAKA WORLD LIVE 2026, the instrument will appear on stage again for the first time since its original showcase period, offering fans a rare glimpse of musical history reborn.
A Mastercard pre-sale will commence on Monday December 8 at 1pm local, running until Wednesday December 10 at 1pm local.
An Artist pre-sale will run concurrently from Monday December 8 at 1pm.
The Live Nation pre-sale begins Wednesday December 10 at 2pm local, closing Thursday December 11 at 1pm local.
General On Sale begins Thursday December 11 at 2pm local at livenation.com.au and livenation.co.nz.
As Japanese City Pop continues its remarkable global resurgence; drawing new listeners through its nostalgic yet timeless sound; Live Nation remains committed to expanding the reach of these genre-defining artists across the world through the City Pop Waves series.
City Pop Waves will also present Taeko Onuki’s first-ever show outside Japan at The Wiltern, Los Angeles on February 7, 2026, and ANRI’s debut U.S. tour, with performances at Brooklyn Paramount on May 17 and The Wiltern on May 20, 2026.
CITY POP WAVES: MASAYOSHI TAKANAKA
SUPER TAKANAKA WORLD LIVE 2026
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR
DARLING HARBOUR THEATRE (ICC SYDNEY), SYDNEY
FRIDAY APRIL 24
NORTHCOTE THEATRE, MELBOURNE
MONDAY APRIL 27
TOWN HALL, AUCKLAND
WEDNESDAY APRIL 29
TICKETS ON SALE DECEMBER 11 AT 2PM LOCAL
Mastercard Presale: Mon Dec 8, 1pm – Wed Dec 10, 1pm
Artist Presale: Mon Dec 8, 1pm – Wed Dec 10, 1pm
Live Nation Presale: Wed Dec 10, 2pm – Thu Dec 11, 1pm
All times are local.
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: www.livenation.com.au and www.livenation.co.nz
ABOUT MASAYOSHI TAKANAKA:
Masayoshi Takanaka, born in Tokyo in 1953, is a legendary Japanese guitarist, composer, and producer whose career spans over five decades. He began his professional journey in 1971 as a bassist for the progressive rock band Flied Egg , formed with Hiro Tsunoda and the late Shigeru Narumo.
In 1972, he joined the groundbreaking group The Sadistic Mika Band as a guitarist, and following the band’s dissolution, continued to perform as a member of The Sadistics , formed by the remaining core members.
Takanaka made his solo debut in 1976 with the album Seychelles . He soon established himself as a leading figure in Japan’s fusion and instrumental music scene, releasing a succession of acclaimed works including Ready To Fly, Blue Lagoon, and the iconic 1981 concept album The Rainbow Goblins, widely regarded as a milestone in Japanese instrumental music.
Throughout his career, Takanaka has collaborated with many internationally renowned artists such as Lee Ritenour, Carlos Santana, Narada Michael Walden, and Sheila E., contributing to both studio recordings and live performances. His artistry has earned him a reputation for technical brilliance, vibrant musicality, and a distinctive, colorful style.
He released music under Kitty Records and later Toshiba EMI before founding his own label, Lagoon Records , in 2000. Under this imprint, he has maintained full creative independence and continues to tour annually across Japan with unwavering enthusiasm.
In 2021, Takanaka marked the 50th anniversary of his debut with a nationwide tour and a commemorative concert, 50th Anniversary – Rainbow Goblins Final , held at the historic Nippon Budokan on November 20.
In 2023, he celebrated his 70th birthday with an All Time Best tour, captivating audiences from Hokkaido to Okinawa with timeless selections from his extensive catalogue.
From 2024 to early 2025, Takanaka launched a special tour centered on Kurofune —a landmark album by The Sadistic Mika Band —paying homage to his early years. This period also saw a major international milestone: his first-ever performances in Los Angeles, both of which were completely sold out.
As of 2025, Masayoshi Takanaka continues to perform and produce with undiminished passion, embodying the spirit of artistic innovation and excellence that has defined his career.
Official Website: www.takanaka.com