Instrumentalist: 223 people
Jiro Nakano (中野 二郎 = Nakano Jirō) (10 April 1902 – 10 June 2000) was a Japanese composer, conductor and arranger from…
Jiro Nakano (中野 二郎 = Nakano Jirō) (10 April 1902 – 10 June 2000) was a Japanese composer, conductor and arranger from Aichi Prefecture. He composed works for solo guitar, solo mandolin and Mandolin orchestra.
Yoshie Fujiwara (藤原 義江, Fujiwara Yoshie; December 5, 1898 in Osaka, Japan – March 22, 1976) was a Japanese tenor singer.
Shinichi Suzuki (鈴木 鎮一, Suzuki Shin'ichi; 17 October 1898 – 26 January 1998) was a Japanese violinist, philosopher…
Shinichi Suzuki (鈴木 鎮一, Suzuki Shin'ichi; 17 October 1898 – 26 January 1998) was a Japanese violinist, philosopher, composer, and educator and the founder of the international Suzuki method of music education and developed a philosophy for educating people of all ages and abilities. An influential pedagogue in music education of children, he often spoke of the ability of all children to learn things well, especially in the right environment, and of developing the heart and building the character of music students through their music education. Before his time, it was rare for children to be formally taught classical instruments from an early age and even more rare for children to be accepted by a music teacher without an audition or entrance examination. Not only did he endeavor to teach children the violin from infancy and early childhood, his school in Matsumoto also did not screen applicants for their ability for admittance. Suzuki was also responsible for the early training of some of the earliest Japanese violinists to be successfully appointed to prominent western classical music organizations. During his lifetime, he received several honorary doctorates in music including from the New England Conservatory of Music (1956), and the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. He was proclaimed a Living National Treasure of Japan, and in 1993 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Kiyoshi Nobutoki (信時 潔, 29 December 1887 – 1 August 1965) was a Japanese composer, teacher and cellist.
Teiichi Okano (Japanese: 岡野貞一 Okano Teiichi; 16 February 1878, Tottori, Tottori, Japan – 29 December 1941) was a…
Teiichi Okano (Japanese: 岡野貞一 Okano Teiichi; 16 February 1878, Tottori, Tottori, Japan – 29 December 1941) was a Japanese composer.
Clara Matsuno (松野 クララ, Matsuno Kurara; 2 August 1853 – 1931), born Clara Louise Zitelmann, was a German-born educator…
Clara Matsuno (松野 クララ, Matsuno Kurara; 2 August 1853 – 1931), born Clara Louise Zitelmann, was a German-born educator, a pioneer in the kindergarten movement in Japan.
Scanch (Japanese: すかんち, Hepburn: Sukanchi) is a Japanese rock band originally active from 1982 to 1996. The members of…
Scanch (Japanese: すかんち, Hepburn: Sukanchi) is a Japanese rock band originally active from 1982 to 1996. The members of Scanch met and formed the band in 1982 - while they were still in high school. The band started with Rolly, shima-chang, Obata Pump and Doctor Tanaka as members. By the year 1990, they had their debut carried out from CBS/Sony. Dr. Tanaka left the band in 1993 and as a new keyboardist for the band they got Ogawa Bunmei. The remaining members continued the band until 1996. Scanch has also lent their songs "Bomber Love" and "Namida no Sentakukamoku" to the anime K.O. Beast.
Yuko Suzuhana (鈴華 ゆう子) (Japanese pronunciation: [sɨᵝzɨᵝha̠na̠ jɯ̟ꜜːko̞]) is a Japanese singer, Shigin master, Kenshibu…
Yuko Suzuhana (鈴華 ゆう子) (Japanese pronunciation: [sɨᵝzɨᵝha̠na̠ jɯ̟ꜜːko̞]) is a Japanese singer, Shigin master, Kenshibu master, composer, pianist, radio presenter, and cultural ambassador best known as the leader of Wagakki Band.
Kenta Kawatani (川谷 健太, Kawatani Kenta; born December 3, 1988), known by the stage name Enon Kawatani (川谷 絵音, Kawatani…
Kenta Kawatani (川谷 健太, Kawatani Kenta; born December 3, 1988), known by the stage name Enon Kawatani (川谷 絵音, Kawatani Enon), is a Japanese musician. He is the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the bands Gesu no Kiwami Otome, Indigo la End, Genie High, the instrumental band Ichikoro, and works as a songwriter for other musicians.
Koji Yamamoto (山本 耕史, Yamamoto Kōji; born 31 October 1976) is a Japanese actor and singer, who was born in Tokyo, Japan.
Chihiro Yamanaka (山中千尋, Yamanaka Chihiro) (born 1976) is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer, born in Kiryū, Gunma…
Chihiro Yamanaka (山中千尋, Yamanaka Chihiro) (born 1976) is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer, born in Kiryū, Gunma Prefecture. As of 2025, she was based in Tokyo. She has released more than 30 albums, most of them on Verve Records.
Yukiko Onishi (大西 由希子, Ōnishi Yukiko; born December 25, 1990), known as Yucco Miller (ユッコ・ミラー, Yukko Mirā) is a…
Yukiko Onishi (大西 由希子, Ōnishi Yukiko; born December 25, 1990), known as Yucco Miller (ユッコ・ミラー, Yukko Mirā) is a Japanese jazz and jazz fusion saxophonist, composer and YouTuber. She is known for her pink-dyed hair and being a popular saxophone player, appearing in overseas jazz festivals in South Korea and Malaysia while also appearing on many television programs.
Shuhei Naruse (Japanese: 鳴瀬 シュウヘイ, Hepburn: Naruse Shūhei) is a Japanese musician, composer, and music arranger from…
Shuhei Naruse (Japanese: 鳴瀬 シュウヘイ, Hepburn: Naruse Shūhei) is a Japanese musician, composer, and music arranger from Kyoto Prefecture. Naruse attended Ritsumeikan University. His major debut as a musician was in the rock band DEVELOP=FRAME where he played keyboards. He has since worked on the composition and arrangement for various Avex Trax musical artists, including the soundtracks of Kamen Rider Den-O, Kamen Rider Kiva, and Kamen Rider Fourze. He also composed the soundtracks for the anime series MegaMan NT Warrior, Mega Man Star Force, and Sket Dance. For his work on Kamen Rider Kiva, he plays keyboard in the "limited rock unit" Tetra-Fang as SHUHEI.
Hijiri Kuwano (桑野聖, Kuwano Hijiri; born February 12) is a Japanese violinist, composer and arranger. Kuwano began…
Hijiri Kuwano (桑野聖, Kuwano Hijiri; born February 12) is a Japanese violinist, composer and arranger. Kuwano began taking violin lessons at age six and studied under Yonosuke Ishii, Shizuko Ishii and Chikashi Tanaka. While attending Tokyo University of the Arts, he performed as a guest concertmaster at Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. Before graduating from the university, he became interested in playing non-classical music and started performing with Toshihito Nakanishi, who inspired him in many ways. Kuwano also started a career as composer, when he produced an album published together with a photobook by Kenji Ishikawa, Moonlight Blue. Kuwano handled string arrangements for albums and movies for Kome Kome Club and began his career as arranger as well. Kuwano worked on recordings, concerts with various artists, movies and video games as a soloist and as the "Hijiri Kuwano strings group". He is credited in Whisper of the Heart, Shall We Dance, Nobody Knows, Kind of Love, Melody of Oblivion, Good Luck Girl!, Final Fantasy XIII and numerous other productions as a performer, composer and arranger. He is also known as the violin player in the battle theme "Blinded by Light" in Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII (composed by Masashi Hamauzu). He works closely with Hamauzu and Imeruat (Masashi Hamauzu and Mina) as a supporting artist. He toured with Imeruat to Europe and Hong Kong and performed several pieces on "α" Clock: World Time, Sony Global website (composed by Masashi Hamauzu).
Tobizaru Masaya (翔猿 正也, born April 24, 1992, as Masaya Iwasaki (岩﨑 正也, Iwasaki Masaya)) is a professional sumo wrestler…
Tobizaru Masaya (翔猿 正也, born April 24, 1992, as Masaya Iwasaki (岩﨑 正也, Iwasaki Masaya)) is a professional sumo wrestler from Japan and wrestles for Oitekaze stable. He made his top division debut in September 2020 and his san'yaku debut in November 2022. As of August 2023, Tobizaru is also the smallest makuuchi wrestler and the third smallest sekitori-ranked wrestler overall. He is the brother of retired wrestler Hidenoumi of the Kise stable; they became the 18th pair of sekitori brothers in sumo history. Despite the fact that they are in different stables, Tobizaru will not face him in competition as Japan Sumo Association rules prevent close relatives from being matched against each other outside of playoff bouts.
Hidenoumi Takuya (Japanese: 英乃海 拓也; born 11 June 1989 as Iwasaki Takuya (岩崎 拓也)) is a former Japanese professional sumo…
Hidenoumi Takuya (Japanese: 英乃海 拓也; born 11 June 1989 as Iwasaki Takuya (岩崎 拓也)) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler for Kise stable. A former amateur sumo competitor at Nihon University, he made his professional debut in 2012 and was promoted to the top makuuchi division in July 2015. His highest rank to date is maegashira 6. He has one jūryō division yūshō or championship. He is the elder brother of Oitekaze stable wrestler Tobizaru. He retired following the March 2026 tournament.
Ueno Yoshie (born Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a female Japanese flautist. Ms. Yoshie is a multiple…
Ueno Yoshie (born Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a female Japanese flautist. Ms. Yoshie is a multiple prize-winner who has performed in Japan before the emperor and empress, and also in the United States, Germany, France, Austria, Russia, Korea, China, and Taiwan. As of 2017 she was based in Paris, France.
Yuki Ito (伊藤 悠貴, Itō Yūki) is a Japanese classical cellist, based in London and Tokyo. He is particularly noted for his…
Yuki Ito (伊藤 悠貴, Itō Yūki) is a Japanese classical cellist, based in London and Tokyo. He is particularly noted for his interpretations of Sergei Rachmaninoff's works, in particular the Cello Sonata. In 2025 he became the first Japanese cellist to join the international roster of Larsen Strings Artist.
Toru "Tiger" Okoshi (born March 21, 1950) is an American jazz fusion trumpeter born in Ashiya, Japan. After studying at…
Toru "Tiger" Okoshi (born March 21, 1950) is an American jazz fusion trumpeter born in Ashiya, Japan. After studying at Kwansei Gakuin University, Okoshi moved to the U.S. in 1972. In 1975 he completed studies at the Berklee College of Music. Okoshi collaborated in the 1970s with Gary Burton, and played with the Mike Gibbs Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 1974. Following this he toured with Buddy Rich. In the early 1990s, he played in George Russell's Living Time Orchestra and recorded with Bob Moses. In the early 2000s he recorded several songs on the album Orpheus Again by Bruce Arnold.
Kaoru Kakizakai (柿堺 香, Kakizakai Kaoru; born 1959 in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is an internationally…
Kaoru Kakizakai (柿堺 香, Kakizakai Kaoru; born 1959 in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is an internationally renowned performer and teacher of the shakuhachi, a traditional vertical bamboo flute of Japan. Kakizakai studied under and recorded with Yokoyama Katsuya. He graduated from the NHK Traditional Music Conservatory and is a past winner of the Kumamoto All Japan Hougaku competition. Kakizakai has performed widely in Japan and abroad, notably as shakuhachi soloist in Toru Takemitsu's November Steps with the NHK Symphony Orchestra. As of 2006, he is a research fellow at the Tokyo College of Music. He is also full-time instructor for the International Shakuhachi Kenshukan and NHK Culture Centre, and President of the International Shakuhachi Kenshu-kan Chichibu School and Oizumigakuen School. He is a member of the regular faculty of the Shakuhachi Summer Camp of the Rockies in Colorado.
Yuko Inoue (井上 祐子, Inoue Yūko; born Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan), is a Japanese classical violist.
Kayoko Miyama (Japanese: ミヤマ カヨコ; formerly 美山夏蓉子) is a Japanese jazz vocalist and voice performer.
Ino Hidefumi (猪野 秀史, Ino Hidefumi; born July 26, 1970) is a Japanese jazz, and electronic musician. He releases his…
Ino Hidefumi (猪野 秀史, Ino Hidefumi; born July 26, 1970) is a Japanese jazz, and electronic musician. He releases his music solely on Innocent Record, a label he created with the concept of "One label, one artist.”