Takashi Hasegawa
 |
| Takashi Hasegawa | |
|---|---|
 Takashi beheading Rivers | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Takashi Hasegawa |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Website | Kyokushin Karate Page |
Takashi Hasegawa (長谷川たかし) was a friend of Rivers Cuomo, tenant of 1711 Stoner Ave., and the inspiration for the title of the 60 Wrong Sausages song and Cuomo demo "Ben Gay".
Overview
Takashi was born in Japan, and, in 1991, was attending a business school in America, with a goal to get his Green Card and reside permanently in the US. He met Cuomo and Pat Finn (60 Wrong Sausages member and early friend of Weezer) at a dojo in Burbank, where the three were taking a class in Kyokushin karate. Weezer friend and historian Karl Koch recounts the three, and himself, quickly becoming good friends.[1] Takashi soon had to look for a new apartment due to issues with his landlord, and by fall 1991 he was invited to stay at 1711 Stoner Ave. with the bonus benefit of lowering everyone's rent. The apartment was then home to Patrick Wilson, Jason Cropper, Pat Finn, and Karl Koch, with a growing cast of temporary additional people couch surfing.
Takashi was and remains a very devoted student of Kyokyushin Karate, a full contact style developed by a Korean sensei named Mas Oyama, who remains revered at near god-like levels, well after his 1994 death.
The 60 Wrong Sausages (proto-Weezer) song "Ben Gay" was named by Cuomo in honor of Takashi, who erroneously, but assiduously believed the athletic cream of the same name was meant to be used on bruises.[1]The title has a triple reference: The pain cream Ben Gay, The karate outfit known as a "Gi" (while not pronounced "gay", the song's title was deliberately a conflation of the two), and an intentionally humorous reference to same sex relations. The song appeared again on the Cuomo demo tape The Yeastmaster, and released on the demo compilation Alone V: Before Weezer.
Takashi now runs a dojo in Santa Monica, California. Said Karl Koch, "It was his life long dream; it took him 15 years to make [it] a reality (green card issues etc). Dude has more determination and integrity in his little finger than pretty much anyone I know has in their whole body."[2][3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Koch, Karl. (2021). Tales of Weezer (pg. 25–27).
- ↑ Koch, Karl (as Karlophone). (November 13, 2008). All Things Weezer post. Screenshot: File:Karl ATW Takashi Hasegawa citation.jpeg.
- ↑ https://kyokushinwestla.com/members/
