Issei Noro (born January 1, 1957, in Meguro, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz fusion guitarist and composer. He is best known as the leader of the band Casiopea.
Noro co-founded Casiopea in 1977 with bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. He quickly became the group’s main composer. Under his direction, the band later expanded into CASIOPEA 3rd (2012) and CASIOPEA-P4 (2022).
He is admired for blending tight ensemble interplay with precise guitar work. Outside Casiopea, Noro created the solo project ISSEI NORO INSPIRITS, formed the acoustic duo Okiraku Gig, and worked with many leading Japanese musicians.
Noro often experiments with Yamaha guitars, especially fretless models. His style helped define Japan’s fusion sound in the late 1970s and 1980s. He also won honors such as Best Guitarist at Yamaha’s EastWest contests.
Beyond performance, Noro has built a strong reputation as an educator. His melodic sense and technical skill continue to inspire younger generations of musicians.