Koto and Jiuta shamisen Player
Oakland, CA
Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, a fourth generation American of Japanese descent. Her mother is a respected head of the Chikushi Kai in Fukuoka, Japan.
Profiles
Profile Category: Koto
Profiles
Murasaki Ensemble
Koto-centric Group
Oakland, CA
Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto can provide koto music in traditional or world jazz format, Murasaki Ensemble, performing foreground or ambient music.
Profiles
Brian Mitsuhiro Wong
Koto, Shakuhachi, and Shamisen Player
Oakland, CA
Brian Mitsuhiro Wong, an American of Japanese and Chinese descent, won the "Grand Prix" award for achieving the highest scores on his teaching examinations from the Sawai Soukyokuin Koto Conservatory in Tokyo, Japan in July 2006, surpassing many Japanese native candidates.
Profiles
Michiyo Koga（古賀 実千代）
Koto Player
Sacramento, CA
Michiyo Koga is a virtuoso koto, piano, and vocal artist who has been playing koto since childhood. She began her classical piano training at age 5, continuing to voice training at the age of 15.
Profiles
Handa Utasetsu（半田 雅楽節）/ Setsuko Handa（半田 節子）
Koto and Jiuta shamisen Player
San Francisco, CA
Ms. Handa began studying koto at the age of 50 years old after moving to the USA by marriage. Before then, she worked as a researcher/educator of Science at a national university in Japan for 24 years.
Profiles
Masazuka-kai
Koto and Shamisen Ensemble
San Francisco, CA
Masazuka-kai was originally established in 1980 by the late Grand Master Ms. Sato Masazuka as the Sato Masazuka-kai.
Profiles
Wooden Fish Ensemble
Koto/Bass koto, Piano and Composer Group
San Francisco, CA
The Wooden Fish Ensemble presents concerts of music and musicians from a variety of cultural and national backgrounds working together in a collaborative way.
Profiles
Emily Kazuchiye Imazumi
Koto Player
San Jose, CA
Emily is a fourth-generation Japanese American koto player from Los Angeles, CA. Motivated to cultivate a deeper appreciation for Japanese music, she continues to impart her passion for the koto to communities in San Jose and Los Angeles, aiming to inspire the next generation of musicians.
Profiles
Kayo Toki / Toriya Masakazu（登利谷 雅佳寿）
Koto Player
San Jose, CA
Ms. Toki began studying the koto at the age of three years old. She studied under the late Aihara Masashino (Master, Ikuta School of Traditional Music), as well as Kawasaki Masachizu (Grand Master, Ikuta School of Traditional Music).
Profiles
Edo Ensemble
Traditional Japanese Music Ensemble (Voice, Shakuhachi, Koto, and Shamisen)
Santa Rosa, CA
Davis, CA
The Edo Ensemble duo is dedicated to bringing the beautiful sounds of Japan’s traditional music for voice, shakuhachi, koto, and shamisen to Western audiences.