Hisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人, born on June 16, 1955 in Togoshi, Shinagawa), known professionally as Char, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is considered one of Japan's greatest guitar players.[1][2]
In 2003, Char was ranked by HMV Japan at number 38 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts.[3]Rolling Stone Japan ranked his album Psyche number 36 on their 2007 list of the greatest Japanese rock albums of all time.[4] Char came in third in a 2011 goo poll on who the Japanese people thought was the best guitarist to represent the country.[5] Char was named the greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2017 list by Guitar Magazine, as voted on by professional musicians,[6][7] and in a 2019 public poll held by goo.[8] His song "A Fair Wind" was named the 34th best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019.[9] Char endorses Fender, with whom he has signature model guitars.[10] He also has signature models with ESP.[11]