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Profile of performers

Retsuzan Tanabe : Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute)

1955 : Born in Okayama where he received his first lessons in Shakuhachi from his father, Keizan .
1975 : Studied under Hozan Yamamoto.
1980 : Graduated with a degree in Philosophy from the Literature Department of Chuo.
University as well as from the 25th class of NHK Hogaku Ginosha Ikuseikai.
1981 : Became Shihan(Master) of Tozan-Ryu and an assistant to Hozan Yamamoto, which led to his turning professional.
1985 : Passed the NHK Hogaku audition.
1986 : Started joint concerts with his brother, Shozan (also a Shakuhachi player). Organized "Group Take(Bamboo)" made up of four Shakuhachi players to give recitals.
1987 : Invited as a performer to the 1st anniversary concert of the inauguration of President Aquino in Manila, the Philippines.
1988 : Accompanied Miyagi-kai in performing all over the USA, in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of Michio Miyagi's birth.
1989 : Performed with the Yoko Komatsubara Spanish Dancing Company in Madrid, Spain .
1992 : Planned the project "Shikisai-No-Ma" to express traditional Japanese colors with music, and then performed it at Studio ams.
1993 : Held a solo concert outdoors once a month (the 34th and final concert was in January, 1996) in imitation of and tribute to Komuso (a mendicant Zen priest of the Fuke sect who wore a sedge (grass) hood and played Shakuhachi). The title is Tanabe- Retsuzan- Shakuhachi- No-Kai "Fushi-Yuin"|Shakuhachi pilgrimage to 34 temples dedicated to Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) in Chichibu.
1996 : Started a series of concerts, "Koedo, Nihon-No-Otoasobi" at Tanakaya Museum in Kawagoe, Saitama, (9 concerts in total), in which one particular Japanese musical instrument was highlighted exclusively at each concert . Wrote "Tanabe-Retsuzan-No-Shakuhachi-Kyoshitsu," a series of 12 articles for the "Hogaku Journal." Presented "Mizu-No-Oto-Genfukei (The Original Soundscape of Water)," a project done in collaboration with Tsutomu Shibasaki, the representative of Water Network. "I met a lot of people and found I was happy that my musical activities had been supported by them."
1997 : Released his first solo album, "Mizu-No-Oto-Genfukei (The Original Soundscape of Water)" (Bamboo/CD) and VTR for a live concert,"'97 Tokyo Waterfront Concert|Mizu-No-Oto-Genfukei|"(Global Management/GMVT-1001).
1998 : Gave a concert and lecture upon being invited to the Boulder International Shakuhachi Festival. Held a concert and symposium at Togoku University, South Korea Started a new series of concerts, "Usuiro-No-Shizuku-Wa-Ukezuki-Kara-Koboreru".
1999 : Embarked on yet another series of concerts, "Ginza, Nihon-No-Otoasobi" in Ginza Kanematsu Hall (4 concerts up to now) followed by the performance "Oto-No-Tomoshibi Concert-Gallery of Sound and Light in Nara-" (at Sagiike Pond, Ukimido). Planned the concert "Mori-No-Oto, Mizu-No-Hibiki (Sounds of the Forest, Echoes of Water)" and performed it at the Swedish Embassy. Held various performances such as "Kankafu," a series of concerts gracefully performed using Koto and Shakuhachi (3 times up to now), "Oto-No-Sasayaki, Kotoba-No-Hibiki" with the purpose of reconsidering the relationship between Japanese language and music, "Ma-Ga-Ugoku," a collaborative performance with Japanese drums, and "ingc," a concert combining music with art. Started live concerts in collaboration with Kenichi Shimazu, a jazz pianist, with Japanese classical music as the theme.
Now : A member of Nihon Sankyoku Kyokai, Tozan-Ryu Shakuhachi Gakkai and Tozan-Ryu Hozan Kai / Daishihan (Grand Master) of Tozan School of Shakuhachi / Instructor at Yomiuri Bunka Center Representative of Wagaku Kobo. Involved in various performances for newly-planned projects based in Tokyo, always with great importance attached to "meeting lots of people," "continuing something," and "being natural"

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Takinojo Mochizuki : O-tsuzumi / Shime-daiko

Born in Tokyo. Studied Nagauta (Japanese long epic song) and shamisen (Japanese three-stringed instrument) under Sanotada Kineya, and Nagauta-hayashi (musical accompaniment to Nagauta) under Takio Mochizuki. Graduated with a degree in music (majored in Nagauta-hayashi) from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. 1984, succeeded to the name of Takinojo Mochizuki, Jr.
At present, involved in playing mainly Japanese classical music in public as a member of the Nagauta Association, and modern Japanese music as a member of Nipponia Promusica. Also gives performances as a percussionist regardless of the musical genre including pops, jazz, and rock music.

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Chie Sakurai : Koto (Japanese zither)

Born in Nagano. Graduated with a degree in Music from Seiha-Ongakuin. Studied under Utashizu Kimura and Reiko Kimura. Became Shihan (Master) of Ikuta-Ryu Sokyoku Seiha. Received Mobil Award as a member of Nipponia Promusica in 1991.
Now, involved in various activities including musical performances and recordings, as a member of Nipponia Promusica and Seiha Ensemble.

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Kuniko Obina : Koto / 17-String Koto (Japanese zithers)

Born in Shimane. Graduated with a degree in Music from graduate school of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Released CD "Edokomachi" in 1994.
Involved in all sorts of activities such as concerts in Japan and abroad, recordings and teaching, and a member of the Miyagi Ensemble, "Ayane," "Mutsunoo," another group performing Japanese music as well as the group Kokyu (Chinese fiddle) -No-Kai "In."

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