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Hideo Shiraki (白木秀雄; born 1 January 1933 in Tokyo; died 31 August 1972) was a prominent Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader, recognized for his contributions to the jazz scene in the 1950s and 1960s. Initially celebrated for his hard bop style, he later ventured into world jazz. Shiraki emerged in the vibrant Japanese jazz scene of the 1950s, influenced by the US occupying forces. He studied percussion at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and played with Masashi Nagao’s Blue Coats during this time. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, his quintet gained popularity in Japan and became associated with the "funky boom" trend in hard bop. Notable musicians such as Hidehiko “Sleepy” Matsumoto, Terumasa Hino, and Yuzuru Sera were part of his quintet. His notable albums include 1961’s *In Fiesta* (Teichiku Japan), which featured a rendition of Benny Golson’s “Five Spot After Dark,” with performers like Hidehiko Matsumoto on tenor and flute and Yuzuru Sera on piano. In 1965, he released *Sakura Sakura*, which showcased his quintet alongside three female koto players, marking his shift towards a world jazz approach. A significant performance at the Berlin Jazz Festival in November 1965, organized by Joachim-Ernst

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