IZPON

IZPON

Percussionist / Music Producer

Profile

IZPON

IZPON debuted in the '90s as the bassist and producer of the garage punk band The Flamenco A Go Go. The band topped the indie charts for 10 consecutive weeks and drew attention abroad, where bootleg releases appeared.

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After a little over three years, the band broke up and he switched to percussion. He joined numerous groups and units, including AOA, the psychedelic jam band led by Hira of Boredoms, and NXS, led by Juzu a.k.a. Moochy, performing and recording extensively.

After appearing at FUJI ROCK as a member of AOA, and a final run of live shows and recording in Australia, he stepped away from the Japanese scene and moved to Cuba in 2001.

In Cuba, he studied under Ángel Bolaños, one of the five great batá masters, learning batá drumming, rumba and other Afro-Cuban music and dance traditions. For about two years, he worked in Cuba as a batá drummer, playing in the ceremonies of Santería, a religion of African origin.

He returned to Japan in 2006. Since then, he has been active as a percussionist in a wide range of groups and sessions, while also working in production, composition and music for TV commercials.

He is also active as a DJ, known for his original selections.

Collaborators

BAND
BANDERAS, KINGDOM☆AFROCKS, 鎮座DOPENESS & Doping Band, 犬式 a.k.a. Doggystyle, Panorama Steel Orchestra, Orquesta Nudge! Nudge!, シシド・カフカ directs el Tempo, 田我流BAND, AOA, NXS, Copa Salvo, Ododo Afrobeat
Supporting / Recording
HIFANA, cro-magnon, Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, SUPERCAR, UA, keyco, ill, ヒトミトイ, COMA-CHI, Metal Chicks, NakamuraEmi, 在日ファンク, PES from RIP SLYME, Naoito, Kuniyuki Takahashi, TOGITO, 加護亜依, 矢沢永吉

Works

Percussion

Has played on more than 50 recordings to date

  • Kuroisi Yosare Bushi / HI☆STEADY feat. Midori TakenokoKuroisi Yosare Bushi / HI☆STEADY feat. Midori Takenoko2026

    RolePercussion

  • SON SON / HI☆STEADY feat. IZPONSON SON / HI☆STEADY feat. IZPON2024

    RolePercussion

    ClientMusica Graphica

  • NHK Taiga Drama『Idaten』Original Soundtrack, Part 1 / Part 2NHK Taiga Drama『Idaten』Original Soundtrack, Part 1 / Part 22019

    RolePerformer

    ClientNHK

    Played on the theme song and music used in the drama (as a performer)

  • Senko / Haruka, IZPON, Shigekazu OtakeSenko / Haruka, IZPON, Shigekazu Otake2019

    RoleCo-credited artist

    ClientButter Sessions

  • NakamuraEmi『Nipponno Onnawo Utau Best』NakamuraEmi『Nipponno Onnawo Utau Best』2016

    RolePercussion

    ClientNippon Columbia

  • Zainichi Funk『Rainbow』Zainichi Funk『Rainbow』2016

    RolePercussion

  • Ryozo Band With The Muro Players『Many Troubles In The City』Ryozo Band With The Muro Players『Many Troubles In The City』2015

    RoleCongas, Percussion

  • cro-magnon『V』cro-magnon『V』2015

    RolePercussion

    ClientJazzy Sport

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  • Based On Kyoto『New Born From My Roots』Based On Kyoto『New Born From My Roots』2014

    RolePercussion

  • PES from RIP SLYME『Suteki na Koto』PES from RIP SLYME『Suteki na Koto』2012

    RolePercussion

    ClientWarner Music Japan

    Plays on two tracks: “Seaside Lovers” and “Megami no KISS”. “Megami no KISS” was the theme song of the Fuji TV drama『Legal High』.

  • The Tchiky's『The Tchiky's』The Tchiky's『The Tchiky's』2011

    RoleCongas, Percussion

  • Terras『Terras』Terras『Terras』2011

    RoleBongos, Wood block

  • Swing-O Presents 近藤 房之助『黒くなれ』Swing-O Presents 近藤 房之助『黒くなれ』2011

    RoleBacking vocals, Percussion

  • Naoito『379Days』Naoito『379Days』2011

    RolePercussion

    ClientTuff Beats

  • Ackky『Composition』Ackky『Composition』2010

    RolePercussion

  • Ackky『COMPOSITION EP』Ackky『COMPOSITION EP』2010

    RolePercussion

  • Naoito & BuyCDs Session『Buy Or Bye Bye』Naoito & BuyCDs Session『Buy Or Bye Bye』2010

    RoleCongas

  • Juzu A.K.A. Moochy『Re:Momentos Movements』Juzu A.K.A. Moochy『Re:Momentos Movements』2010

    RoleRecording assistant, Percussion

  • Naoito『雑食familia』Naoito『雑食familia』2010

    RoleBells, Bongos, Güiro, Percussion, Toy instruments

  • HIFANA『24H』HIFANA『24H』2010

    RolePercussion

    ClientW+K Tokyo Lab.

  • Hifana『Nampooh Cable』Hifana『Nampooh Cable』2009

    RoleFeatured artist

  • Cro-Magnon『4U』Cro-Magnon『4U』2009

    RoleFeatured artist, Percussion, Vocals

  • Chinza DOPENESS『100% RAP』Chinza DOPENESS『100% RAP』2009

    RolePercussion

    Appears on the track “MOGU MOGU” only

  • Orquesta Nudge! Nudge!『Rhythm Chant』Orquesta Nudge! Nudge!『Rhythm Chant』2008

    RoleCongas, Shekere

  • Cro-Magnon『III』Cro-Magnon『III』2008

    RolePercussion

  • Hifana『Connect』Hifana『Connect』2007

    RoleFeatured artist

  • Kuniyuki Takahashi『We Are Together』Kuniyuki Takahashi『We Are Together』2006

    RolePercussion

  • Juzu A.K.A. Moochy『Momentos』Juzu A.K.A. Moochy『Momentos』2005

    RoleChorus, Assistant, Translation, Percussion, Photography

  • Soft『Otodama』Soft『Otodama』2001

    RoleCongas, Percussion, Timbales

  • NXS『Sleeper』NXS『Sleeper』2001

    RoleCongas

  • AOA『Emotion Vacation』AOA『Emotion Vacation』2001

    RoleMember

  • Soft『Bonjour Bonshanfarm』Soft『Bonjour Bonshanfarm』2000

    RolePercussion

  • AOA『21 Century Super Fly?』AOA『21 Century Super Fly?』2000

    RoleMember

  • Tulululus『ゲーテへの感謝』Tulululus『ゲーテへの感謝』2000

    RoleCongas, Percussion, Timbales

  • Juzu A.K.A. Moochy『Juzuworx』Juzu A.K.A. Moochy『Juzuworx』2000

    RoleHandclaps

  • AOA『Surfin' Alright』AOA『Surfin' Alright』1999

    RolePercussion

Production

  • Watermelon / YUKKO! feat. IZPONWatermelon / YUKKO! feat. IZPON2026

    RoleProduction, track making

  • KoKoRoE『alpha』KoKoRoE『alpha』2024

    RoleMade as KoKoRoE

    An ambient / drone work (6 tracks) inspired by a trip to Takachiho-cho, Miyazaki, Japan. Credited on Bandcamp as “All by KoKoRoE”.

  • Fuji-Q Highland『Zetsubo Yosai -IMPOSSIBLE GAMES-』Fuji-Q Highland『Zetsubo Yosai -IMPOSSIBLE GAMES-』2023

    RoleAll background music inside the attraction

    ClientGROUNDRIDDIM

  • TOGITO『P・O・N』『Déjà vu』TOGITO『P・O・N』『Déjà vu』2022

    RoleProduction, composition, lyrics, arrangement

    ClientMIYA TERRACE (a label within TOY'S FACTORY)

    “Hasta Mañana”: No. 1 on the iTunes Jazz chart in Italy (May 2022) / No. 6 in Japan

    The album charted in the UK, the US, Brazil, Turkey, Hong Kong and Japan

  • Los Niños de Atarés (Tribal Tech Mix)Los Niños de Atarés (Tribal Tech Mix)2021

    RoleOwn release as izfono a.k.a. izpon

  • Magnifica『Arará』Magnifica『Arará』2020

    RoleMade as the duo Magnifica

    ClientOfftone

    A dark ambient / experimental duo of IZPON (percussion, production) and GOMAX Goda (keyboards). Three tracks inspired by Arará, an Afro-religious tradition that developed in its own way in Cuba.

  • Eso Que Tu Sientes / IZPONEso Que Tu Sientes / IZPON2018

    RoleProduction, track making

    Own work as lead artist

  • BANDERAS『La Bandera』BANDERAS『La Bandera』2018

    RoleProduction, percussion, vocals

    ClientFlower Records

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  • Game『SKATE GIRL』Game『SKATE GIRL』2018

    RoleAll background music and sound effects

    ClientCyberAgent

    Illustration: Yu Nagaba

  • NHK Taiga Drama『Naotora: The Lady Warlord』special movie “Live”NHK Taiga Drama『Naotora: The Lady Warlord』special movie “Live”2016

    RoleMusic for the special movie only (sole composer) / Appeared as a benshi (narrator)

    ClientNHK

    Music for the special movie “Live” only. Not the music of the Taiga drama series itself.

  • KINGDOM★AFROCKS『Radioidiot』KINGDOM★AFROCKS『Radioidiot』2013

    RoleProduction, percussion, vocals

  • KINGDOM★AFROCKS『SanSanNaNa』KINGDOM★AFROCKS『SanSanNaNa』2012

    RoleProduction, percussion, vocals

  • Chinza DOPENESS & Doping Band『だいぶ気持ちいいね』Chinza DOPENESS & Doping Band『だいぶ気持ちいいね』2012

    RoleProduction, percussion, synthesizer

  • KINGDOM★AFROCKS『Fanfare』KINGDOM★AFROCKS『Fanfare』2011

    RoleProduction, percussion, vocals

  • Tsunami Attack!! - Japanese Garage Rock 'N' Roll Vol. 3Tsunami Attack!! - Japanese Garage Rock 'N' Roll Vol. 32010

    RoleComposition, Lyrics

  • Ai Kago “17-sai yo, Sayonara”Ai Kago “17-sai yo, Sayonara”2010

    RoleArrangement / Recording direction

    ClientP-VINE

    Credited on this song only, not the whole album

  • Kingdom☆Afrocks『Live In Afro City』Kingdom☆Afrocks『Live In Afro City』2008

    RoleCongas, Composition, Percussion, Vocals, Lyrics

  • TV commercial for『Everybody's Golf 5』TV commercial for『Everybody's Golf 5』2007

    RoleMusic

    ClientPlayStation 3

    The video is not shown here because permission has not been obtained.

  • The Flamenco A Go Go『Early Days』The Flamenco A Go Go『Early Days』1996

    RoleBass

  • The Flamenco A Go Go『Fully Fed Freaks』The Flamenco A Go Go『Fully Fed Freaks』1994

    RoleProduction, Songwriting, Bass, Organ, Fake steel

  • The Flamenco A Go Go『I'm Your Mom』The Flamenco A Go Go『I'm Your Mom』1994

    RoleBass

  • Benten BentohBenten Bentoh1994

    RoleSongwriting, Bass

  • The Flamenco A Go Go『The Flamenco A Go Go』The Flamenco A Go Go『The Flamenco A Go Go』1993

    RoleBass, Organ

Remix

  • stop it - Remix / IZPON, Aerial swimmingstop it - Remix / IZPON, Aerial swimming2022

    RoleRemix

  • ODODO - IZPON REMIXODODO - IZPON REMIX2021

    RoleRemix

Audio Content

  • Audio ad productionAudio ad production2023

    RoleNarration recording / Editing / Mixing / Mastering

    ClientMajor IT, beverage, automotive and game companies

    17–20 spots

  • Podcast『Choshu Riki no Ai no Lariat』Podcast『Choshu Riki no Ai no Lariat』2022

    RoleRecording & Editing / Music

    ClientBubbleWrap SOUNDS

    Nov 2022 – May 2023

    Opening and ending themes; recording, editing, mixing and mastering of the show audio

    Guests included Tomoya Nagase and Shido Nakamura

DJ

    DJ Mixes

    • DJ IZPON@Shibuya Ruby Room 11th Anniversary 2013

    • DJ IZPON's Afro Summer Mix

    • Mi Musica Cubana Sunday Mix

    Physical releases: 57 listed on Discogs, plus many digital-only releases.

    Video

    Schedule

    Instagram

    Highlights

    Services

    • Music Production

      From composing and arranging to the final touches. Music for artists, games, TV commercials and attractions.

    • Audio Content Production

      Narration recording, editing, mixing and mastering, all handled by one person. For audio ads and podcasts.

    • Percussion Recording (Remote Available)

      Recording with a wide range of percussion instruments. Work is done through file exchange, so remote requests are welcome.

    • Remix

      Remixes rebuilt from the rhythm up, while keeping the core of the original.

    • Percussion Lessons

      Latin and Afro percussion technique, taught to fit each student, whatever your level of experience.

    • DAW Production Lessons

      From songwriting to mixing and mastering, following the actual steps of real-world production.

    • DJ

      Sets built around Latin and Afro music, with selections that follow the mood of the room.

    Contact