Ikutaro Kakehashi: The Driving Force Behind MIDI

The MIDI Association

Early Life and Challenges

Born in 1930 in Osaka, Japan, Kakehashi lost both of his parents to tuberculosis by the age of two. Raised by relatives, he began working at the Hitachi shipyards in Osaka at 14, where he developed an interest in mechanical engineering.

After being rejected from Osaka University due to health issues, he moved to Kyushu at 16 and worked as a geographical survey assistant. Noticing a lack of resources for clock and watch repair in post-war Japan, he taught himself watch repair and opened the Kakehashi Watch Shop.

Young Ikutaro Kakehashi in front of his watch shop in Kyushu, circa 1946

At 20, he planned to close his business and pursue university education, but contracted tuberculosis and was hospitalized for three years. As a test patient for the experimental drug Streptomycin, his health improved, allowing him to leave the hospital and begin his life’s work in electronic music.

Founding Ace Tone and Early Innovations

In 1955, Kakehashi began experimenting with monophonic electronic musical instruments and founded Ace Electronic Industries. Initially attempting to build his own Theremin, he found it difficult to play and shifted focus.

In 1960, Ace Electronic Industries became Ace Tone, producing several successful products. Kakehashi collaborated with Matsushita (now Panasonic) to design the National SX-601 organ. His main collaborator at National was Kenji Matsumoto, with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship.

Kakehashi with the Technics SX-601 organ

International Exposure and the Birth of Roland

In 1964, Kakehashi attended his first NAMM show with the Ace Electronics R1 Rhythm Ace. Although he didn’t secure orders, he made valuable connections and learned about the latest electronic designs.

Many electronic music pioneers were influenced by home organs

In 1971, he helped Hammond develop the Piper Organ, the world’s first single-manual organ with a rhythm accompaniment unit.

As Ace Tone grew, more investors joined, eventually leading to Kakehashi becoming a minority shareholder. Disagreeing with the new direction, he left and, in 1972, founded Roland Corporation with $100,000 in capital. Roland would go on to become a leader in electronic musical instruments.

Contribution to MIDI

Kakehashi’s vision extended beyond instruments. He recognized the need for a standard protocol to allow electronic instruments from different manufacturers to communicate. Collaborating with Dave Smith of Sequential Circuits, they introduced MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in 1983, revolutionizing music production and performance.

Legacy

Ikutaro Kakehashi’s innovations, including the TR-808 drum machine and the development of MIDI, have left an indelible mark on music. He passed away in 2017, but his contributions continue to influence musicians and producers worldwide.

Ikutaro Kakehashi, the founder of Roland Corporation, created more than a successful business with a host of important innovations in electronic musical instruments; he has also paid tribute throughout his career to those who first inspired him. Mr. Kakehashi was born in Japan and formed Ace Electronics in 1964 with the goal of improving the electronic organ, following up on the work of his heroes, Mr. Hammond and Mr. Leslie. With the expansion of electronics in the late 1960s, he formed the Roland Corporation, which soon became one of the leaders in the industry.

https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ikutaro-kakehashi

The life and times of Ikutaro Kakehashi, the Roland pioneer modern music owes everything to

It’s almost impossible to imagine what modern music would sound like had Ikutaro Kakehashi not been born in an Osaka hospital on February 7, 1930.

http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/02/ikutaro-kakehashi-life/