Drum Sheet – Casiopea – Fightman

“Fightman,” released in 2006 on Casiopea’s album Full Colors, stands as one of the group’s most electrifying compositions—a perfect showcase of the band’s razor-sharp musicianship and their signature blend of jazz fusion, rock, and high-energy funk. For drum fans, it’s also one of the finest displays of Masaaki Hiyama‘s technical brilliance, captured during one of the band’s most creatively charged periods.

The origins of “Fightman” lie in Casiopea’s desire to push themselves beyond their studio sound. The band had already earned a reputation for tight, complex arrangements, but they wanted to craft a piece that fully captured their live intensity. “Fightman” was composed collectively, with guitarist Issei Noro presenting the initial framework: rapid-fire unison hits, muscular riffs, and a structure that allowed each member to shine. From there, the band rehearsed the piece meticulously, shaping it through improvisation and experimentation—common in their writing process. For Hiyama, this meant crafting drum parts that were not only rhythmically intricate, but also dynamically explosive, weaving crisp accents with flowing grooves.

What makes the drumming in “Fightman” special is how it balances finesse and fire. Hiyama’s patterns are full of syncopation, odd-meter fills, and lightning-fast ghost notes, yet everything still feels musical rather than merely technical. During recording, the band wanted a warm, open, live drum sound, leading them to use minimal processing and allow the natural tone of Hiyama‘s kit to come through—something that fans still appreciate today.

“Fightman” became a staple of Casiopea’s concerts, especially during their legendary Full Colors tour, from which the live version of the song became the definitive one. They performed it across Japan and in several international jazz festivals, often using it as a high-energy opener or closer. On stage, the song evolved into a powerhouse moment, with Hiyama’s drum parts growing even more adventurous—extended fills, spontaneous rhythmic shifts, and explosive interplay with bassist Tetsuo Sakurai.

To this day, “Fightman” remains one of Casiopea’s most celebrated tracks, especially among drummers. It captures the band at their peak: inventive, bold, and fearless—exactly the spirit that defines Japanese jazz fusion and keeps fans returning to this thrilling masterpiece.