Performer’s Details

Hiromu MOTONAGA
Shakuhachi player

Born in 1974 in Yamaguchi prefecture of Japan, Hiromu spent his childhood abroad but remains fascinated by Japanese culture. After graduating from Sophia University’s Faculty of Foreign Studies and the NHK Academy for Traditional Japanese Music, he studied Kinko-ryu shakuhachi under the tutelage of Reisei OHASHI and Kuniyoshi SUGAWARA.   His shakuhachi style is based on Kinko-ryu classical music and Honkyoku meditational music. Known for creating modern music using traditional sounds while collaborating with artists of various genres, he has composed more than 20 works using Japanese traditional instruments. Currently based in Tokyo, Hiromu has performed extensively in more than 30 countries and 40 cities, stretching from Spain, Romania, United States, Australia, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. He is the Operating Manager of NPO Pro Musica Nipponia, an orchestra of Japanese traditional instruments. In 2012, he released a CD album entitled WASABI and WASABI 2 two years later. He also recorded for numerous musicians with more than 30 titles.

Azumi YAMANO
Koto player

Born in Yamaguchi prefecture of Japan, now resides in Tokyo. Azumi obtained her undergraduate degree from the NHK Academy for Traditional Japanese Music and participated in the Program for Nurturing Emerging Artists organized by Agency for Cultural Affairs (Government of Japan). Azumi currently performs as a solo musician and is also a member of Dual KOTOxKOTO, AUN J CLASSIC ORCHESTRA, and Koto Quartet Radentai. She has collaborated with the musicians and artists in various genre such as contemporary Kabuki theatre, orchestra in Russia, folk musicians in all over the world, and at times choreographers aiming to explore the diverse possibility of Koto. She performs globally in Europe, Asia and South America, while instructing the young traditional musicians and introducing Japanese traditional instruments domestically for those who are unfamiliar with the Japanese traditional instruments.