Yuji Tsunemi is regarded as a pioneer and a leading oud performer not only in Japan but also throughout East Asia. He studied under the late Sudanese oud player Hamza El Din, and in 1989, he studied under the late Ali Sriti, a leading Tunisian oud player in the Arab world. After returning to Japan, he has pursued an active performance career. He continues to convey the charm of the oud while also contributing to the development of Japanese oud players and influencing various musical genres. In addition to live performances and concerts throughout Japan, he also frequently performs at embassies of various countries in Tokyo, and served as supervisor for Arab music for NHK’s The New Silk Road. He has written and recorded many songs, and his unique presence has been widely featured on television and radio. http://www.oud.jp/

After graduating from the Japan Guitar School, he studied lute under Toyohiko Satoh at the Royal Conservatoire the Hague in the Netherlands. He plays a wide range of plucked instruments in the lute family, using each appropriately according to the era and the music being played. His performance style—using gut strings to draw out the historical expressiveness of pieces—is rare even overseas. As an accompanist, his flexibility in adapting to the situation at hand has earned him the trust of his many collaborators. His solo CDs include Yasuragi no Gut (Varietie of Lute Collections: Toru Sakurada – Favorite Lute Music, Anthology on seven all-gut-string lutes), Kōtei no Bieuera / Shimin no Lute (Narvaez s Newsidler: Toru Sakurada [Vihuela, Lute]) (recommended by Record Geijutsu magazine, quasi-special selection), Pachelbel: Koibito no Tameiki (Pachelbel: Sighs of a Lover) (same selection), and Teorubo no Ongaku (Theorbo) (same selection). His trio CD Music from the Netherlands, released in 2017 with Toyohiko Satoh and Miki Satoh, was chosen as a special selection by Record Geijutsu magazine. He serves as the Secretary General of the Lute and Early Guitar Society Japan. http://www.lutelute.com/

Graduated at the top of his class from the Madrid Royal Conservatory. While in Spain, he studied under Jorge Ariza, Narcisco Yepes, Sainz de la Maza, and José Luis González. He won first place at the 1978 Francisco Tárrega International Guitar Competition, and at the 1982 José Luis González International Guitar Competition. In November 1998, he was invited by the Brazilian government to serve as a judge at the 6th Villa-Lobos International Guitar Competition, where he also held a concert. He has released several solo albums—El Rastro, Para Su Novia, El Mestizo, and The Prince’s Toys, which have all become exceptionally long-selling classical CDs. A highly talented accompanist and arranger, he has arranged and accompanied a variety of ensembles, including strings, winds, and vocal works. He is renowned for his diverse repertoire, ranging from classical to contemporary music. His exceptional musicality and natural sense of rhythm captivate listeners, and he has a large fan base across generations.

A biwa player who enjoys performing concerts in small halls where she can engage in conversation with the audience. She performs not only traditional narrative works such as The Tale of the Heike, but also many contemporary and original narrative pieces, continually exploring biwa music to suit modern sensibilities. She studied the Chikuzen biwa under the late Mikiko Yamada and Yamazaki Kyokusui (a Living National Treasure). In 1982, she won first place in the Biwa Competition. She is a recipient of the Education Minister’s Encouragement Prize and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation Chairman’s Award. In addition to holding recitals and concerts around the world, she actively undertakes new creative projects, including premiering original works. As a member of Pro Musica Nipponia, she has performed not only in Japan but also around the world. She received the Ongaku no Tomo Sha Prize and the Remy Martin Music Award in 1979, the Matsuo Performing Arts Award in 1988, and the Mobile Music Award in 1990. In 2005, she released an 8-part CD series of The Tale of the Heike: Miyao’s Book. http://naks.biz/biwa-jun/

Graduated from the Musashino Academia Musicae’s Vocal Course. After performing with a professional choir, she went freelance. In addition to numerous concert appearances at halls and music salons around the country, she has also participated in many performances for television, radio, CDs, film scores, and educational materials. She has performed as a soloist for works such as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Messiah, and performs songs from nine countries in their original languages. She has given eleven solo and guitar duo recitals in Tokyo. As part of the duo “UTAUD” with oud player Yuji Tsunemi, she pursues a crossover classical style that combines Arabic music and traditional Japanese folk songs, with her wide-ranging performances centering around ensembles. A lover of plucked string instruments, she has planned, hosted, and performed in the Moonlight Caravan Concert series since 2012. Her CDs include Yamato Shi Utsukushii (Beautiful Yamato), España, and Tsuki ni Yosu (To the Moon). With her soothing, silky voice and her striking stage presence owing to her 172cm height, she continues to captivate fans. http://www.oshiromiho.com/