Tales of Shinobue
Eight stories told through breath, presence, and sound
Releasing May 21, 2026
The shinobue has one of the most expressive sounds I’ve ever known.
It does more than play notes—it carries sadness, joy, strength. It tells stories.
That is why I named this album Tales of Shinobue.
Each piece is a story. Eight in total.
Eight moments, emotions, and inner journeys expressed through this instrument.
I did not grow up playing the shinobue. I discovered it later in life, at the age of 54.
At the time, I had no idea where it would lead.
I certainly could not have imagined that, six years later, I would be releasing an album like this.
But the more I played, the more I realized something:
this instrument could say what words could not.
At some point, a quiet but persistent thought arrived: I can’t leave this earth with these stories untold.
And so this album became my way of telling them.
As you listen, I hope it offers more than sound.
I hope it gently invites you to reflect on your own stories—the ones still waiting to be expressed.
What is your story?
Eight Stories
Zen Awakened (2026 Remaster)
A stately, meditative opening that prepares the listener for an inward journey—an invitation to reconnect with the authentic self.
🎧 60-sec preview available
4. Red Moon
Driven by the presence of koto and a distinctly traditional melodic character, this is one of the most Japanese-inspired pieces on the album. Originally titled Red Moon Over Kyoto.
5. Stardust
Under a sky filled with stars, the universe stretches beyond comprehension, and I am reminded of my own smallness. In that vastness, the ego softens into humility and wonder. Best experienced beneath the open night sky.
6. Unshaken
When you truly know who you are and what you are meant to do, even doubt loses its power. What remains is a steady, unshaken presence.
7. Midnight Lotus
In the stillness of night, when the mind becomes quiet, clarity emerges. Like a lotus blooming in darkness, calmness and insight arise from within.
8. The Calling
The piece begins with the sound of ocean waves, as if standing alone on a cliff facing uncertainty. A dark undercurrent reflects inner doubt, until a single suzu bell cuts through and silence falls. This is the moment of calling. From there, the music transforms into a joyful ensemble of shinobue, koto, taiko, and suzu. The bells guide the rhythm, symbolizing purpose discovered through connection and shared expression. As the ocean returns at the end, the individual and the greater flow of life are brought into harmony.
Inspired by the Japanese folktale Urashima Taro, this piece evokes the mystical world of Ryugujo, where time flows differently from reality. What feels like only a few days in that world is, in truth, many years in the human world. Upon returning, Urashima Taro opens the gifted box—and instantly becomes an old man, realizing how time had passed beyond his awareness.
3. Even If I Fall
A blend of sadness, hope, and quiet determination. Life’s challenges can feel like battles—but even in falling, there is strength to rise again. Within sorrow lives resilience and the courage to continue.
2. Ryugujo (Undersea Palace)
🎧 2-minute preview available