Nobuto YAMANAKA
Tsugaru-shamisen

After graduating from intermediate school at the age of 15, Yamanaka became a live-in apprentice to the late Tsugaru-shamisen master Chisato YAMADA for 4 years before becoming a master of Tsugaru-shamisen Yamada style. In 2018, he was inducted into the hall of fame after becoming a three-time winner in the A-class division of ?Tsugaru Shamisen World Tournament?. He also won the first prize in the ?Utazuke* Division of Tsugaru Shamisen National Competition? three times. His powerful style of playing, clear and sharp sound with sensitivity in expressing feelings in music have seen Yamanaka establish a reputation that transcends the shamisen, and he has frequently been involved in performances of different genres. To date, he has performed in Japan and 37 overseas countries. For the past 16 years, Yamanaka has been performing as a member of ?Takio Ito & Takio band?. The band is known for its contemporary style, turning traditional songs like ?Nanchu Soran? into modern versions. He is also a part time teacher at Senzoku Gakuen University, Department of Modern Japanese Music, as well as a Tourism Ambassador for Kazo City and Goodwill Ambassador for Saitama Prefecture.

Homepage: http://nobu483-1000.sakura.ne.jp/profile1044.html
*Utazuke: Providing a shamisen accompaniment to singing.

Satoshi KATANO
Shinobue (Bamboo flute)

Born in Sahara-city, Chiba, Katano started playing Sahara-bayashi when he was 9, influenced by his father. In 2005, he performed Sahara-bayashi in the U.S. state of Wisconsin as a member of Chiba friendship mission. He then started his career as a solo Shibobue player in 2008. He won the first prize in the National Yokobue (Cross Flute) Contest 2013, Internet Yokobue Contest 2017, All-Japan Yokobue Contest 2017 and 2019. Currently, he is based in Yanagawa-city, Fukuoka and continues playing Shinobue while working as a boatman

TAKA
Wadaiko (Japanese drum)

TAKA is an award-winning Wadaiko player and Japanese calligrapher. He started playing Wadaiko since 7 years old and started Japanese calligraphy at the age of 12. After graduation, he started to work as a solo Wadaiko player in earnest, and opened a Wadaiko class “DAGAKU” in 2009. In 2013, he formed a performance group “Wadaiko AKATSUKI”. TAKA won the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award as the best Otaiko (large drum) player at World Wadaiko Uchikurabe Contest in Okaya Taiko Festa in 2015. In 2017, he won the same prize in the ensemble taiko drumming section. In 2019, TAKA was awarded the Prefectural Governor Award as the best drummer in a single drumming contest in OTAIKO HIBIKI Festival. In the same year, he also won the first prize in the All-Japan Otaiko Single drumming contest. He is currently studying Tsugaru-shamisen under Nobuto Yamanaka.

Junya Tsukamoto
Wadaiko (Japanese Drum)

Tsukamoto started playing Wadaiko when he was 5. In 2012, he performed with Kanjani Eight, Kohaku Uta Gassen, a Japanese famous TV program. He then joined Wadaiko AKATSUKI in 2013 and won an Excellence Prize in the solist devision of Fujisan Otaiko Uchikurabe Contest in the following year. Tsukamoto studied under TAKERU, a Wadaiko player for one year in 2016. In 2017, he won the grand prize at the group devision of World Wadaiko Uchikurabe Contest in Okaya Taiko Fiesta. In 2018, he toured 3 counries in Central and South America and has performed in 9 overseas countries until today. He is studying Tsugaru-shamisen under Nobuto Yamanaka and Shinobue under Michiko Yamada.

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