“I went to Jimmy Page’s hometown. I’d walk the streets he walked and breathe the air he breathed… I even noticed the smell when it rained”: Akio Sakurai aka Mr. Jimmy has studied the Led Zeppelin icon for 43 years – and elevated tribute artist to high art

The star of the 2019 documentary reveals the one Page tone he can’t figure out, goes into incredible detail about pickups, and explains why there’s still one Gibson missing from his Page collection

Many of us will understand Akio Sakurai’s devotion to Jimmy Page. At a young age, the future kimono salesman fell in love with music, found a hero and joined the ranks of rock guitarists round the world.

But the Japanese player’s commitment carried him beyond the realm of those who eventually leave their instrument to gather dust: he spun his dream of emulating Page into an odyssey that’s led to him becoming known as Mr. Jimmy.

He truly is the leader of the Page followers – he’s spent three decades transforming himself into a near-mirror image of the Led Zeppelin icon, down to his garb on and off stage. For many of those decades it was a part-time gig for Sakurai, as he performed note-for-note renditions of Page’s licks in Tokyo clubs.

But everything changed 11 years ago, when Page himself caught wind of his act and went to see him. “I asked Jimmy for advice and he replied, ‘You already know me,’” Sakurai says.

“I asked him if it was okay to keep doing what I’d been doing, as I’m aware that some artists don’t like tribute bands. To see someone wearing the same clothes and posing like them… it could be seen as creepy!” But Page, ever the English gentlemen, told him: “Keep doing it,” and hugged Sakurai.