The Drifters (Japanese band)
Japanese rock and comedy group known for a record-breaking variety show.
The Drifters (ザ・ドリフターズ, Za Dorifutāzu) started out as a rock and roll band and comedy group. Their origins trace back to around 1956, when they formed as Sons of Drifters from members of Jimmy Tokita & His Mountain Playboys and the Tokyo Western Boys. Membership shifted frequently until Chōsuke Ikariya took over as leader in 1964. Though the group built its fame on comedy under Ikariya, they also performed as a musical act on Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time in 1969. Ikariya passed away from acute respiratory distress syndrome in 2004 at age 72. The Drifters are also remembered for a 40-second opening act for The Beatles' first concert in Japan.
The group’s lineup included Ikariya (leader, joined 1962, died 2004), Cha Katō (joined 1962), Boo Takagi (joined 1964), Chū Arai (joined 1964, left 1974, died of a heart attack in 2000), Kōji Nakamoto (joined 1965, died in 2022 from a subdural hematoma due to a fall at home), and Ken Shimura (joined as an assistant in 1968, became a full member in 1974 replacing Arai, died from COVID-19 in 2020).
Their biggest claim to fame is the variety show *Hachiji da yo! Zen'in shūgō*, which ran on TBS from 1969 to 1985 for 803 episodes. It achieved some of the highest ratings in Japanese TV history, though its low-brow slapstick humor delighted children while frustrating parents. During the 1970s, the Candies co-starred on the show. Each episode typically opened with a 20- to 25-minute sketch, followed by musical guests, and ended with more sketches that often involved those guests. The Drifters—often called "Dorifu"—also produced 90-minute specials every few months, packed with short sketches and featuring famous singers who sometimes didn't perform music.
In the late 1970s (1977–1978), the group was frequently paired with the duo Pink Lady in a series of fumetti-style manga and the children's show *Yanmar Family Hour Fly! Son Goku*, based on *Journey to the West*. That show used puppet caricatures of the Drifters as main characters, with Pink Lady providing narration and theme songs.
After *Hachijidayo!* ended in 1985, the group effectively disbanded but still reunited for occasional specials (see *Dorifu Dai Bakuho*). Ken Shimura and Cha Katō worked together on *Katochan Kenchan Gokigen TV*. Kōji Nakamoto became a regular on *Toyamano Kinsan*. Boo Takagi released several Hawaiian-style music albums. Following *Katoch
- formed
- around 1956
- field
- Rock and roll band and comedy group
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- Variety show Hachiji da yo! Zen'in shūgō; opening act for The Beatles' first-ever concert in Japan
Lore & Background
The Drifters formed as Sons of Drifters around 1956 from members of Jimmy Tokita & His Mountain Playboys and Tokyo Western Boys. Membership changed back and forth occasionally. Chōsuke Ikariya became the group's leader in 1964. Although famous as a comedy group under Ikariya, they took part in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen as a musical band for the first time in 1969. The group is also known for its 40-second performance as an opening act for The Beatles' first-ever concert in Japan.
Their most famous work is the regular variety show Hachiji da yo! Zen'in shūgō, which aired on TBS from 1969 to 1985 with a total of 803 episodes. It held the highest ratings of any program in its time, and still holds one of the highest program ratings in Japanese television history. Its low-brow humour and slapstick comedy made it popular with children
Reader's Guide
The Drifters hold a significant place in Japanese entertainment history as a group that bridged rock and roll music with comedy. Their variety show Hachiji da yo! Zen'in shūgō set ratings records that remain among the highest in Japanese television history, demonstrating their massive popular appeal. The show's low-brow humour and slapstick comedy attracted children while often dismaying parents, reflecting a cultural tension in postwar Japanese media. Their 40-second opening act for The Beatles' first-ever concert in Japan marks a notable moment in cross-cultural music history. The group's longevity—from formation around 1956 to continued specials after 1985—and the individual careers of members like Ken Shimura and Chosuke Ikariya (who won a Japanese Academy Award) underscore their lasting influence. Their song Ii Yu Da Na was featured in the video game series Death Stranding, showing continued relevance in modern pop culture.
Did You Know?
- The Drifters performed a 40-second opening act for The Beatles' first-ever concert in Japan.
- Their variety show Hachiji da yo! Zen'in shūgō aired 803 episodes from 1969 to 1985 and holds one of the highest program ratings in Japanese television history.
- Chosuke Ikariya won the Japanese Academy Awards of Best Supporting Actor in 1999 for his role in the movie Bayside Shakedown.
- Their song Ii Yu Da Na was featured in the video game series Death Stranding.
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