KAWAMURA Kizan
Award-Winning Tozan Ryu Shakuhachi player
Born in Tokyo, KAWAMURA Kizan graduated from Engineering Department of Tōyō University. KAWAMURA studied shakuhachi with his father KAWAMURA Taizan and received his master licenses jun shihan and shihan with honours from the Tozan Gakkai School of Shakuhachi.
KAWAMURA was a member of the 51st graduating class of the National Broadcasting Association’s(NHK) Japanese Music Artists Program Program and passed the NHK audition, and has appeared on the NHK Radio program ‘Hōgaku Hitotoki’ (A Moment of Japanese Music). In 2009 he received the Grand Prize at the 15th Kumamoto All-Japan Traditional Music Competition as well as the Culture and Science Minister’s Newcomers Prize. He also won gold medals at both the 36th (2010) and 38th (2012) Tozan School All-Japan Honkyoku Competitions.
KAWAMURA is currently an Award-Winning Tozan Ryū Shakuhachi player and assistant lecturer, and a member of the Tozan Ryū Shakuhachi Music Association, the Taizan-kai, the Mutsu-no-o Japanese instrument orchestra, the Hachiku Shakuhachi Quartet and other groups.
Yasukazu KANO
Japanese "Shinobue" Bamboo Flute Player
Born in Tokyo in 1963, Kano started playing the drums at age 13. In 1984 he moved to NYC to pursue his career in business, and in 1987 he returned to Japan to pursue his passion for music. He moved to Sado island to join the internationally renowned 'Taiko' drumming group,KODO. As a taiko drummer and bamboo flute player for KODO, Kano has performed in over a thousand venues worldwide including Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonic Hall and Theatre de la Ville in Paris. In 1997, he left KODO to start his own career as a bamboo flute player.
Kano draws his musical inspiration from the beautiful nature of Sado Island. He can make the Japanese bamboo flute sing like the birds and sound like the ocean breeze and the forest wind. Kano's melodies are simple and expressive, and his original compositions showcase the blend of traditional and modern, incorporating Japanese scales and rhythms, jazz improvisation, African rhythms and classical music. Kano is always eager to explore new possibilities in music, and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with artists across the musical spectrum.
Kano also shares his love for music through lectures, demonstrations and workshops for children, adults and educators worldwide. His lectures are conducted both in English and Japanese, and the topics include making bamboo whistles, drumming and improvisation.
Kano has produced several albums, music books and DVD.
Kano has given concerts over two thousands venues worldwide, and continues to spread his music throughout the world.