Kazuki Tokaji of Enuff Z’Nuff and Circle The Earth: The NAMM Show 2026 Interviews

Kazuki Tokaji of Enuff Z’Nuff and Circle The Earth: The NAMM Show 2026 Interviews

As the final moments of NAMM Show 2026 unfolded inside the bustling Anaheim Convention Center, the energy in the air was still electric. Crowds thinned but the excitement lingered—musicians packing up gear, industry pros squeezing in last‑minute conversations, and the echo of performances still drifting through the halls. Amid that end‑of‑weekend buzz, we sat down with guitarist Kazuki Tokaji—known for his work with Enuff Z’Nuff, Circle the Earth, and his own solo projects—for a candid conversation about his NAMM experience, recent collaborations, and the journey that brought him from Japan to the heart of the Los Angeles music scene.

We’re here with Kazuki Tokaji. NAMM weekend is coming to an end. What were some of the highlights for you at NAMM 2026?
Wow, that’s a difficult question. Everything was great. I met a lot of friends I hadn’t seen in a long time, so just doing the whole NAMM thing was amazing. It’s hard to pick one highlight. But yesterday I performed on the DAS Arena Plaza stage with my own project, and that was definitely a big moment for me.

Your project—tell me about it.
Kazuki: It’s under my name, Kazuki Tokaji, and I play with my friends Brad on bass and Hank on drums. We did a few songs, and it was a lot of fun.

How long have you been playing guitar?
I’ve been playing guitar for quite a while—23 years now. I started out listening to J‑Pop when I was a kid, and then I got into American music, which eventually led me to move here.

How did your recent shows with Enuff Z’Nuff go? What were some of the highlights from that tour?
Well, I’ve known Enuff Z’Nuff—not personally at first, but I’ve been listening to them since I was a kid. They’re huge in Japan. My friend Luis Kalil was playing with them, and he mentioned me to the band. I met them at the Whisky a Go Go, and they were like, “Hey, you wanna play the next tour?” And I said, “Yeah, hell yeah!”

It all went really smoothly. We never had a rehearsal or anything—we just showed up, plugged in, and played. That’s how the whole tour went. No rehearsals, no studio time, just straight to the stage.

Describe that first show with Enuff Z’Nuff. Were you nervous at all?
No, not at all. It was so much fun. We were drinking every day, smoking every day—it was just a great time.

Your latest single, “Before I Sleep,” is a collaboration with I Built the Sky. Tell me about that.
I’d been writing that song for a long time—maybe almost two years. It felt almost done, but something was missing. I’ve never met I Built the Sky in person since he’s in Australia and couldn’t make it to NAMM, but I texted him and asked if he wanted to do some solos or write something together. He said yes, and the whole process was really quick and smooth. He told me he enjoyed working on it, and he did an amazing job. When I heard it, I knew—this is the one. I’m releasing it.

You worked with Derek Sherinian of ex–Dream Theater. What was that experience like?
That was during COVID‑19, when everyone was stuck at home with no work, no gigs, no rehearsals. I figured I should write some songs, so I reached out to him and said, “Hey, I think you’re really cool—do you want to do something together?” And he said yes. It was really smooth and easy. He’s incredibly talented, and I love his tone. I really like the song we did.

Jim McGorman from the Goo Goo Dolls—what did you do with him?
Yeah, Jim is a songwriter and producer, and I had the chance to meet him. We got along really well. He’s a super nice guy, really talented, and he has a studio at his place. Sometimes I go there and we write songs together. I grew up listening to him—he was always playing guitar on TV—so it’s a real pleasure for me. I was like, “Oh, you’re my hero!”

I recently interviewed Lauren Christy. I remember her two solo albums from the ’90s, so it was a real treat to finally talk with her after all these years. You’ve worked with Lauren Christy—what did you do together?
We wrote a few songs, and we performed one of them once in Hollywood. She’s a really nice person—super talented and a hard worker.

You went to Musicians Institute. What was that experience like?
Man, Musicians Institute changed my life. In 2017, I moved to LA and started studying at MI. At that time, I couldn’t speak a word of English—I could barely order a sandwich at Subway. I didn’t understand English, but I understood music. It’s a universal language.

Every day I practiced until midnight, then went home and studied English. Some of the teachers noticed how hard I was working and gave me a lot of opportunities. I still work with MI today. I don’t teach there, but I do clinics and events. Yesterday I performed at the MI booth for about 30–40 minutes. They’re really great people. MI literally changed my life.

You’ve worked with people like Steve Vai and Marty Friedman through MI. What was that like?
Man… where do I start? Steve Vai. Both of those opportunities came from MI. They asked me, “Hey, do you want to play with Steve Vai? There’s an event.” I said yes, auditioned, and thankfully I got it.

He’s incredibly talented. He was practicing in the room, so I didn’t get to talk to him much, but he was super cool—and really tall! I couldn’t believe I was playing next to him on stage. I’d only ever seen him on screens, on YouTube. Playing with him in person was very special.

And Marty Friedman—MI gave me that opportunity too. I was originally supposed to do something at his clinic, but we decided, “Let’s do something on stage instead.” We played a few songs together. He has an amazing ear. And funny enough, he speaks Japanese fluently. We don’t speak English to each other—he speaks Japanese. I was shocked!

How long did it take you to learn English? You speak it beautifully.
Really? Thank you. I’m still learning every day, and I know I have an accent. But I’ve been here eight or nine years now. My girlfriend is American, so she’s helped me a lot. And I don’t speak Japanese much in America, so that probably helps too.

You’re also in another band called Circle the Earth. Tell me about that and how it came about.
We just had a show here at NAMM, actually—it was really fun. Back in 2019, right before COVID, I was looking for opportunities. Auditions aren’t always perfect; I had a bad day, went back to MI, practiced, talked to friends. One of them told me, “There’s a band called Circle the Earth looking for a guitarist. Do you want to audition?” I said yes, showed up, and they took me right away.

And here we are in 2026—I’m still in the band. They’re really great people. Everyone has a different musical background, and everyone comes from a different country. It’s beautiful—that’s why it’s called Circle the Earth.

Are you currently involved with any other bands or projects?
Yes, a lot actually. Enuff Z’Nuff, Circle the Earth, and a lot of local bands. Some Japanese bands too.

We’re here at NAMM, and there are a lot of artists looking for endorsement deals. What advice would you give a young artist seeking an endorsement?
How do I describe this…? As an artist today, you play, but you also have Instagram, TikTok—social media is a big part of it now. It’s not just about being on stage. Some people only focus on social media and never play live, but either way, an endorsement means you have to promote the product. That’s the deal.

Some people think, “If I get an endorsement, I’ll become more famous.” Maybe—but that’s not really what endorsements are for. An endorsement means the company supports you. Maybe they provide gear, maybe they help promote you, but you also have to promote them. And you have to actually use and like the product. You don’t want to promote something you don’t believe in.

Everyone has a different path. I was really lucky with ESP—my guitar company. They’re great people. And since I’m originally from Japan, I always wanted to play ESP. That was a dream come true. My advice is: keep going. Play a lot. Post a lot on social media. And reach out to the brands you love. Tell them why you like their products, how long you’ve been using them. Timing is everything.

Let’s talk about your brand. What do you like most about ESP guitars?
ESP is the best guitar company on earth, in my opinion. I have a custom‑made ESP they built for me—one made in the U.S. and another made in Japan. Both are amazing. They look great, feel great, and the tone is incredible. I don’t play any other guitars besides ESP. I just can’t. This is the one for me. I can’t go back to any other brand.

And what do you hope 2026 brings for you?
Wow. 2026 has already been great. It’s January 24th right now, and I’ve already had some good opportunities. Circle the Earth going to Mexico next month, then I’m heading back to Japan for a few shows and clinics. We’re planning to go to the UK, and maybe Australia—we’re talking about it right now.

I just want to play more, meet more people, and make a lot of records. That’s pretty much it. I’m excited for what’s coming.

In Conclusion

As the crowds filtered out of the Anaheim Convention Center and the final echoes of NAMM Show 2026 faded, Kazuki Tokaji’s enthusiasm remained unmistakably bright. His passion for music, his gratitude for the opportunities he’s earned, and his drive to keep growing all point toward a year filled with movement and possibility. Whether he’s touring internationally, collaborating with world‑class musicians, or pushing forward with his own projects, Kazuki continues to carve out a path that’s uniquely his—one built on dedication, humility, and an unmistakable love for the craft.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Karyn Burleigh of Rock Edge Photography)

Kajuki Tokaji on Instagram
Enuff Z’Nuff on Instagram
Circle The Earth on Instagram
ESP Guitars on Instagram