Sugizo is a Japanese musician, currently playing guitar in supergroup Skin, X Japan, and Juno Reactor.  Brought up by classical music as his parents played in the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Sugizo began to play the violin at age three and later taught himself to play guitar and bass. In high school, he became part of a school band called Pinnochio, where he met Shinya Yamada with whom he would join the band Slaughter alongside J and Inoran. Later Ryuichi Kawamura joined them and...

Sugizo is a Japanese musician, currently playing guitar in supergroup Skin, X Japan, and Juno Reactor.  Brought up by classical music as his parents played in the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Sugizo began to play the violin at age three and later taught himself to play guitar and bass. In high school, he became part of a school band called Pinnochio, where he met Shinya Yamada with whom he would join the band Slaughter alongside J and Inoran. Later Ryuichi Kawamura joined them and they formed the Visual Kei rock unit Lunacy. With J already a bass player, Sugizo switched to the electric guitar, and as Inoran preferred to play rhythm guitar, he became Lunacy's lead guitar (and invented his familiar stage name). The five performed in Machida Playhouse and other clubs. hide discovered them and signed them to Extasy Records. The band's name was changed to Luna Sea. In 2000, the group disbanded and Sugizo pursued a solo career. He has had a wide range of solo work and collaborations: Ryuichi Sakamoto's campaign Zero Landmine, musical director for H. Art Chaos (a contemporary dance company)'s Vertical Dream, and work with Ken Nikai as musical director and a starring role in Nikai's film Soundtrack. Sugizo released Parallel Side of Soundtrack, a compilation album inspired by the film. He later starred in Isao Yukisada's film Rock and Roll Mission, and a television by the aforementioned Ken Nikai called Redrum. Sugizo also formed a few solo project bands. His first was called Sugizo & Spank Your Juice, and later he formed Shag, a psychedelic jam band. He also released two solo singles: "Super Love" and "Dear Life." In 2002, Sugizo accepted applications from new artists through his radio program on J-Wave, whom he then produced and included on the compilation album Global Music. In 2003, Sugizo performed at the Full Moon Festival at Kyoto's Ninnaji Temple. Following the release of "No More Machine Guns Play the Guitar", a single with an intense anti-war message, he released his second album "C:LEAR." In 2004, Sugizo formed the acid rock band The Flare with vocalist Yuna,a project that would last two years. Their music expressed anti-war, pro-peace values and in 2005 they performed at Earth Day Tokyo, Japan's largest event devoted to environmental and peaceful causes. In 2007, Sugizo began a new collaboration with Toshinori Kondo and Rebel Familia, the leader of the Japanese dub world. In April 2007, Shag played the Nagisa Music Festival. Currently Sugizo is a member of the superband called S.K.I.N, along with Gackt, Miyavi, Yoshiki, and Ju- Ken as supporting member. In March 2008, Sugizo played at an X Japan reunion concert as a stand-in for hide. In April 2008, Sugizo took part in Juno Reactor's European tour. July 23, 2008 Sugizo released his best album commemorating his 10 year solo project,this album titled Cosmoscape. Sugizo also confirmed a solo concert that will be held on December 19th,2008 in Shibuya-AX. January 15, 2009 Sugizo arrived in Hong Kong alongside the members of X Japan for the first show of X's world tour which will feature Sugizo continuing his role as a stand-in for hide as the group play in venues throughout Asia, Europe and North America.