PROFILE

Shinobue (Japanese bamboo flute) performer

Kazunari was born in Ehime and raised in Tokyo, Japan.

For 14 years starting in 1995, he was a member of KODO Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble. Beyond performing, he also engaged in composition and stage direction; his career highlights include collaborations with the New Japan Philharmonic and appearances at major events such as the Main Stage at the Fuji Rock Festival (one of Japan's largest outdoor festivals) and events related to the 2002 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by Japan and South Korea). Internationally, he has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall (New York), Symphony Hall (Boston), Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), and the Royal Festival Hall (London), as well as at the Paléo Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, and the Nobel Peace Prize Centennial Concert in Oslo, Norway. He was also selected to play the role of Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto in the premiere of the stage production "AMATERASU", performing alongside Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando at the Setagaya Public Theatre, Kyoto's Minami-za, and the Kabuki-za Theatre.

He became an independent artist in 2010. He has participated as a composer and performer in stage productions such as "PUZ/ZLE" and "ICON", directed by Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, touring extensively across Europe (including the Avignon Festival), the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. In recent years, he has focused on activities such as an annual solo concert in a planetarium—a project he considers his life's work—and dedicatory performances at shrines and temples with Tetsuya Kajiwara (former drummer of the band THE BLUE HEARTS). He also collaborates with a diverse range of artists—spanning genres such as Joruri puppetry, Noh, Kabuki, contemporary circus, and contemporary dance—and has performed in 33 countries across six continents, sharing the culture of "Wa" (Japanese tradition, also means harmony) with the world.

Performed at the "76th National Tree-Planting Festival Ehime 2026," held in May 2026.

Released three original albums: "The Echo of Dragon Singing" (2014), "Distant Winds" (2019), and "purify" (2024).