The Drifters (Japanese band)

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The Drifters ザ・ドリフターズ
Background information
Origin	Japan
Genres	Rock and roll, novelty rock, comedy rock
Years active	1956–present
Members	Cha Kato (drums) Boo Takagi (guitar)
Past members	Chōsuke Ikariya (bass guitar) Chū Arai (keyboards) Kyu Sakamoto Ken Shimura (keyboards) Kōji Nakamoto (guitar) Nana Kinomi
Same year/generation as: Count 55-go Kiyoshi Nishikawa Katsura Bunshi VI

The Drifters (ザ・ドリフターズ, Za Dorifutāzu) are a Japanese rock and roll band and comedy group. The band formed as Sons of Drifters around 1956 with members of two bands, Jimmy Tokita & His Mountain Playboys and Tokyo Western Boys.^[1]

However, members in the group changed back and forth occasionally. Chosuke Ikariya became the group's leader in 1964. Although the band became famous as a comedy group under Ikariya, they took part in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen as a musical band for the first time in 2001. Ikariya died of lymph node cancer in 2004 at the age of 72.

The group is also known for its 40-second performance as an opening act for The Beatles' first-ever concert in Japan.