Akihito OBAMA
Obama trained under Toshimitsu Ishikawa in Kinko school Shakuhachi and the Koten-Honkyoku. He graduated from the NHK training program for young performers of traditional Japanese instruments (NHK Hogaku Gino-sha Ikusei-kai) and won the second annual Shakuhachi Newcomer Competition in 2000. He appears in concerts including those organized by the National Theatre. Obama had a period of study in New York as a fellow of the Asian Cultural Council(ACC).
He has been invited to many international music festivals including the World Shakuhachi Festival and La Folle Journee, and has performed in over 37 countries. He has released ten CDs including “The Light in the Silence”, three pieces from the classical repertoire for shakuhachi called Koten-Honkyoku, and “LOTUS POSITION”with Yosuke Yamashita. Obama is a part-time lecturer at Gakushuin University and a member of Japan Shakuhachi Professional-players Network.