Prominent Japanese jazz drummer Hideo Shiraki was born January 1, 1933, and is mainly recognized for his hard bop style during the 1950s and 1960s. Shikari studied percussion at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and was a prominent figure in the new Japanese jazz scene that grew in popularity during the 1950s. Also a notable bandleader, Shikari led a popular jazz quintet, which included such luminaries as Hidehiko "Sleepy" Matsumoto, Terumasa Hino, and Yuzuru Sera. He recorded with prominent double bass player Mitsuru Ono on Funky Jam Session (1960) and on the ensemble record Battle of Funky (1961) as part of the Modern Jazz All Stars of Japan. His 1961 album, In Fiesta, featured Yuzuru Sera on piano, Hidehiko Matsumoto on tenor and flute, and included a cover of Benny Golson's "Five Spot After Dark". Hino also featured on his 1965 album, Sakura Sakura, which saw Shikari move towards a world jazz style. He collaborated on two tracks for jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi, and played with the John Coltrane quintet in Tokyo in 1966. After performing at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1965, Shikari was fired by his music agency in 1968, amidst rumors of drug and alcohol abuse, and lived in relative seclusion until his death on August 31, 1972.
