Taiko Group
Los Angeles, CA
Asano Taiko U.S. is home to the professional performing ensemble, UnitOne. Featuring some of North America's most exciting performers and world-class taiko repertoire, UnitOne has performed at the 2015 North American Taiko Conference and the 2015 Extasia festival in Japan.
Tsuzumi and Nagauta/Yamatogaku-style shamisen Player
Los Angeles, CA
Born and trained in Japan, Mariko Watabe is one of the foremost experts in theatrical Kabuki style music and dance.
Traditional Japanese Music Troupe (Tsuzumi, Vocals, and Shamisen)
Los Angeles, CA
Fuji Japanese Music is a traditional Japanese music troupe founded and headed by instructor Mariko Watabe. Troupe focuses on Shamisen and voice for Nagauta and Yamatogaku and Hayashi.
Taiko, Shakuhachi, and Shinobue Player
Los Angeles, CA
Whether through Taiko drumming or composing music for chamber and staged concert performance and improvisation, Shih-Wei Carrasco-Wu is already proving himself to be a fresh face on Southern California’s performance arts scene.
Koto Player
Los Angeles, CA
Japanese koto player Yuki Yasuda is based in Los Angeles, California. She was born in Japan, and began playing the koto at age twelve. She later majored in koto music at the Takasaki Junior Arts College and also received rigorous koto instruction under the tutelage of Tadao Sawai and Kazue Sawai, he masters of great modern koto music.
Koto Ensemble
Los Angeles, CA
The LA Koto Ensemble based in Los Angeles, California. The ensemble was founded by Yuki Yasuda in 2016. The ensemble members enjoy and perform the koto music at the Japanese cultural event and the music festival every year.
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.
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.
Taiko Group
Oakland, CA
Queer Taiko, formed in 2013 by Kristy Oshiro, is a diverse group of LGBTQIA+ and allies committed to building community and awareness through Japanese taiko drumming
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.
