About
A New Voice, Chosen with Intention
At age 54, during the pandemic, I made a decision.
If I had to stay inside, I would use that time fully.
I committed myself to the shinobue—not casually, but with focus and discipline.
I set a clear goal: within one year, I would be ready to perform—and be paid.
And I did.
But what began as a personal challenge quickly became something much larger.
A Hidden World
As I immersed myself in the instrument, I ran into obstacles I hadn’t expected.
Reliable information was scarce—especially in English.
For those who don’t read or speak Japanese, the path is often unclear and fragmented.
Finding a quality shinobue outside Japan can be very difficult.
I realized this wasn’t just my challenge.
It was a barrier for anyone, anywhere in the world, who felt drawn to this instrument.
That’s when my focus expanded.
A Growing Mission
I began sharing what I was learning from my teacher, Bunta Satoh sensei.
Through my YouTube channel—now a growing community of over 3,500 subscribers—I offer guidance, insights, and access to knowledge that is often difficult to find.
Because this instrument deserves to be heard.
And people deserve a clearer path to it.
At the heart of this work is a simple belief:
It is never too late.
You are never too ANYTHING to begin.
Finding My Artistic Voice
While teaching and sharing, something else was quietly taking shape.
A deeper artistic voice.
At age 60—just six years after first picking up the shinobue—I created my first album, Tales of Shinobue.
Not as a technical milestone, but as an expression of something I could no longer hold back.
I realized: this is the time to tell these stories.
The voice of the shinobue—its history, its emotion, its spirit—deserves to be heard beyond its traditional boundaries.
And I don’t want to leave this world with that music still inside me.
Sharing the Sound
My work has been shared in spaces where people come to listen, reflect, and connect:
Denver Botanic Gardens
Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix
University of Wyoming
The J.M. Smuckers Co.
…and more
Each performance is an invitation into a quieter, more attentive way of listening.
Let’s Connect
Whether you are here to listen, to learn, or simply to explore—
You are welcome here.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to stay connected.
I share music, insights, and resources for both listeners and learners walking their own path.
From Yokohama to the Shinobue
I was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, where music first entered my life through the piano at the age of four. What began as early classical training soon grew into a deep passion for all musical genres. I later came to the United States to continue my musical studies, focusing on piano and voice, and eventually earned a master’s degree in opera performance.
For many years, I lived inside the world of Western classical music—learning its discipline, its emotional depth, and its stagecraft. I loved it, and I still do.
But something unexpected happened later in life.
