Profile of Japanese instrumentalists

Honoka Asami（koto player）

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts. She completed the 55th term of the NHK Traditional Music Teachers Training Program, and was concert mistress at the graduation concert held at the NHK Hall. Passed NHK Japanese music audition. Appeared on NHK-FM's "Hogaku no Hitotoki" and "Hogaku Hyakuban". 2018 "Society of Living National Treasures" performance. Lecturer at NHK Bunka Center Chiba Class. She is a Miyagi-sha Shihan (instructor).

Motoko Watanabe（shakuhachi performance）

Graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Kinko-ryu, majoring in shakuhachi, and the master's course of the graduate school of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. She received the 2010 Acanthus Music Award from the Graduate School of Music. Completed the 54th term of the NHK Traditional Japanese Music Technicians Training Program. Participated in the 21st Youth International Art Festival in Russia. Since 2012, she has been performing with Takeyama Takahashi II of Tsugaru Shamisen throughout Japan.
While studying the classics, she also pursues the possibilities and appeal of the shakuhachi in the modern age. Ensemble Muromachi” (Baroque and Japanese instruments), ‘VOICE SPACE’ (collaboration of poetry and music), ‘Wagakudan Kohaku’ (Japanese music group), ‘Suzune’ (shakuhachi quintet), and a duo live performance with piano, and other new works premiere. At Asakusa Arima Dourama, she is in charge of sound for the one-man show.

Jun Akaru（shinobue player）

Graduated from Gakushuin University, Faculty of Letters, Department of History, and studied Gagaku and Kabuki music while in school. She completed the 50th term of the NHK Traditional Japanese Music Technicians Training Program, and completed a separate course in traditional Japanese music at Tokyo University of the Arts. She belongs to Nippon Music Group. In addition to performing, she has been arranging works by her great-grandfather, Ryutaro Hirota (Hamachidori, Haruyokoi, etc.) for Japanese instruments.

Syozan Sakurai（shakuhachi player）

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts and completed the graduate course at the same university. Graduated from the Modern Japanese Music Institute. Graduated from the 45th NHK Hogaku Technicians' Training Course. Passed the NHK Japanese music audition. Completed training under the Agency for Cultural Affairs' New Artist Development Program. She is active both in Japan and abroad with the mindset of "to inherit the teachings of previous generations in order to inspire future actions". Studied under Houzan Yamamoto I (Living National Treasure), Junsuke Kawase, Seizan Ishigaki I, and Houzan Nomura (Living National Treasure). Tozan-ryu master.