- Ensemble Tōzai
Ensemble Tōzai comprises four Japanese musicians specialising in both traditional Japanese and Western classical music. Tōzai means ‘East-West’; with a combination of violin, piano, shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and taiko percussion, the incredible sounds that emanate from this collective of outstanding performers, all soloists in their own right, can only be described as universal. Click here for audio samples
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Reiko Fujisawa Piano Brought together for a hugely successful ‘Japan 2001’ UK tour, the music Ensemble Tōzai performs is written for especially for them or adapted by members of the group. Their repertoire extends from traditional Japanese music and existing 20th century works to newly commissioned and collaborative works with contemporary composers. |
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Masayuki Kino Violin  After studying under Yfrah Neaman, Nathan Milstein, Ruggiero Ricci and Ivry Gitlis, Masayuki Kino took the top prize at the 1984 Carl Flesch International Violin Competition in London, and the special prize for salon music at the 1985 Menuhin International Violin Competition in Paris. He has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Berliner Sinfonieorchester, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, and since 1993 has been concertmaster of the Japan Philharmonic. He has released many CDs, all of which have received favourable reviews. |
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Hidekazu Kato Shakuhachi Hidekazu Kato studied at the prestigious Tokyo Geidai Music University under the great shakuhachi master Katsuya Yokoyama. On graduation Kato joined the exclusive ensemble Nihon Ongaku Shodan, Japan’s premier traditional instrument group which performs all over the world. Their 1999 American tour with British percussionist Evelyn Glennie, featuring works by contemporary Japanese composers and traditional Japanese music, was a critical and popular success. Since 1998 Hidekazu Kato has been a key member of Bamboo Orchestra, a unique ensemble of 13 traditional instruments founded by Yabuki Makoto. He also works closely with the popular Japanese Enka singer Ayako Fuji. |
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Joji Hirota Percussion Joji Hirota was born in Northern Japan. At the age of eleven, he began a lifelong study of percussion and has been composing from the age of thirteen. He was trained by Itto Ohba – great master of Japanese Taiko Drumming – and his son Kazuoki. He has released four solo albums and has been musical director of the Red Buddha Theatre and the Lindsay Kemp Dance Company. Hirota has been a regular performer at Womad since 1986, has worked with Jah Wobble and Bill Evans’ Band, and has recorded two albums in partnership with Pete Lockett as “Taiko to Tabla”. He worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company both as solo percussionist and co-composer for its production of “Macbeth” in UK, Japan, and the USA as well the film version broadcast on Channel 4. Amongst this great variety of musical activities and influences, Joji maintains the spiritual centre of his music in taiko drumming. He also performs as a vocalist in his arrangements of Japanese folk songs . |
