In 1972, he formed the West Road Blues Band in Kyoto along with vocalist Takashi "Hotoke" Nagai, guitarist Shinji Shiotsugu, bassist Tadashi Kobori, and drummer Teruo Matsumoto.

[3] Since he found his home in the Crescent City, he has played with musicians including Earl King, Henry Butler, Davell Crawford, Marva Wright, George Porter Jr. among many others aside from the two groups he has been a member of.

It was an all blues album recorded in New Orleans, with support from the local musicians including John Gros and Marva Wright.

On June 7, 2012, he played the Melting Point in Athens, Georgia, along with Martha Reeves, Randall Bramblett, and a host of other musicians celebrating the 60th birthday of Ike Stubblefield.

In February, 2018, Funk on Da Table, Yamagishi's new band consisting of Japanese and American musicians made a tour debut.