Yu Sakai grew up in the remote fishing town of Tosashimizu in the south of
Shikoku Island listening to Japanese folk and Enka (Speech) music. Aged 20 he
started studying at the prestigious Tokyo School of Music before moving to Los
Angeles two years later where he experienced gospel, jazz and hip-hop music. LA
also enabled him to begin writing and recording, and collaborations such as that
with former Boyz II Men member Marc Nelson. He moved back to Japan and in 2006
independently released his first album. He followed this by forming the Sakai Yu
Band and signing to Augusta Recor...