Taiko and Tsuzumi Player
San Francisco, CA
Jimi Nakagawa is a performer, educator and composer based in San Francisco Bay Area. Jimi started playing drums in high school in Tokyo, Japan.
Profiles
Archives: Profiles
Profiles
The Heavy Roots Shakuhachi Ensemble
Bass shakuhachi Group
San Francisco, CA
A small band of reverent renegades, The Heavy Roots create sounds unknown to modern society. Founded by woodwind specialist, shakuhachi master and award-winning composer Cornelius Boots, they celebrate the low tones of the raw, earthy vertical bamboo flute of Japanese Zen Buddhism
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
Kyle Abbott
Tsugaru shamisen Player
Santa Cruz, CA
Kyle Abbott has dedicated over 15 years to playing and building shamisen. He is the author of the world’s first authoritative shamisen building/playing manual, ‘Shamisen of Japan’, and is the founder of Bachido.
Profiles
Elliot Kanshin（勘心）Kallen
Shakuhachi Player
Santa Rosa, CA
Elliot Kanshin Kallen plays the shakuhachi, the traditional Japanese end-blown bamboo flute.
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.
Profiles
Yoko Hiraoka（平岡 洋子）
Koto, Shamisen, and Chikuzen biwa Player
Boulder, CO
Yoko Hiraoka performs on the beautiful and evocative string instruments of Japan; the Koto, Shamisen, Biwa and Voice.
Profiles
Toni Yagami
Taiko Player
Denver, CO
Toni Y. Yagami returned to Denver in 1995 and has been doing performances and workshops in Colorado and throughout the United States.
Profiles
Christopher Yohmei（遙盟）Blasdel
Shakuhachi Player
Honolulu, HI
Christopher Yohmei Blasdel is an established senior shakuhachi performer and researcher and one of the few shakuhachi specialists known and highly regarded throughout Japan, the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia.