Photo ©︎ Bibi Nakao 2025

Kosuke Hashizume is a composer, classical guitarist, and notation artist who explores the evolving relationships between sound, space, and diverse media. He honed his musical skills through studies in Belgium, France, the UK, and Japan.

Hashizume is the driving force behind ‘Rosetta’, an initiative dedicated to delivering innovative musical experiences that challenge conventional ideas. Having served as a researcher for the Rohm Theatre Kyoto Research Programme, and as a university lecturer, he remains deeply committed to musical research and nurturing the next generation of artists. As representative director of the Co-Rosetta General Incorporated Association, his vision is to create a society in which music and art are seamlessly integrated into daily life, enabling everyone to enjoy self-expression and appreciation of the arts.

Kosuke Hashizume Official Website

Photo ©︎ Bibi Nakao 2025

Keisuke Arima is a left-hand pianist who has dedicated 15 years to performance and research. The cultural activities he develops in Japan and internationally are guided by his life’s theme, “Travel, Sound, and Media”.

He presides over ‘ArtVillage’, an international platform dedicated to social contribution through art, which fosters deeper collaboration with cultural groups worldwide that share its philosophy. Based at “ArtVillage Naganuma” in Hokkaido, an initiative that has firmly established this philosophy within the local community, he continues to promote the connection between art and society through education, community development and international exchange.

Photo ©︎ Bibi Nakao 2025

Takaaki Shibata played the mandolin throughout his time at middle school, high school and university, later pursuing studies in Germany. As a mandolinist and instructor, he is currently dedicated to elevating the quality of mandolin music and promoting its appreciation across all generations.

As a chamber musician, he performs with ‘Rosetta’ and holds an annual recital every April. He has performed at international music festivals and symposiums in Germany and the USA, among other places.

As well as leading his own ensemble, he maintains strong links with amateur enthusiasts and instructs multiple mandolin orchestras, including adult community groups and university-recognised societies. Focusing particularly on introducing the mandolin to younger generations, he founded ‘Kodomo Mandolin Kōbō Kaerumu’ (Children’s Mandolin Workshop Kaerumu), where he directs performances that include hands-on instrument experience.

Takaaki SHIBATA Official Website

Photo ©︎ Bibi Nakao 2025

Kyoko Sako was born in Hiroshima and discovered the mandolin when she started junior high school. She went on to become the first mandolin major in Japan at Elisabeth University of Music, before continuing her studies at the Wuppertal campus of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in Germany.

Since returning to Japan, she has dedicated herself to exploring the potential of the mandolin, actively commissioning and premiering new works and giving repeat performances. She also lectures at Elisabeth University of Music and coaches mandolin clubs, including the one at Hiroshima Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School. This demonstrates her strong commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Furthermore, she teaches German at Elisabeth University of Music to support students who wish to study in Germany.

As Branch Manager of the Chugoku-Shikoku Chapter of the Japan Mandolin Union, she is currently working to revitalise mandolin culture in the Chugoku-Shikoku region, raising awareness and organising events to bring mandolin enthusiasts together.

She is also a certified storyteller of atomic bomb experiences in Hiroshima City.

Kyoko Sako Official Website

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Hailing from Kameoka City in Kyoto Prefecture, saxophonist Tadayoshi Kusakabe is a key promoter of new music from Japan and Asia. He has worked with the Hiroshima Wind Orchestra and ‘Rosetta’ to achieve this. After completing his studies at Aichi University of the Arts, he graduated from the Konservatorium Wien Privatuniversität (now the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna) in Austria. Since returning to Japan, he has continued to perform and teach both domestically and internationally.

His 2022 CD release, CHANT, received high acclaim from numerous music magazines, including Record Geijutsu and Ongaku Gendai. He currently lectures at Kyoto Women’s University and various music schools, while also pursuing solo and orchestral performances. As Artistic Director of the Kyoto Forest Music Festival, he is dedicated to promoting music in his hometown. He enjoys roasting coffee in his spare time, preferring a roast index of 1.20.

Tadayoshi Kusakabe Official Website

Photo ©︎ Bibi Nakao 2025

Takuya Oi, a vocalist, was born in Mie Prefecture. From an early age, he was free to explore sound, partly because his primary school music teacher practised R. Murray Schafer’s educational theories.

He currently performs primarily experimental music and actively collaborates with artists from other genres. He is also the representative of Marga Sari, a Javanese gamelan ensemble that explores new gamelan music. Additionally, in his role at the Tanpopo-No-Ie General Incorporated Foundation, he manages art projects involving people with disabilities.

Takuya Oi’s X (former Twitter)

Born and raised in Kyoto, Asami Kaminaka first encountered percussion in her high school brass band. Unable to play the piano, she committed to percussion, believing it was her only path to a professional music career. After graduating from Kyoto City University of Arts, she began her career as a freelance performer. She regularly premieres new works and collaborates with artists from various fields, while also participating in a group that focuses on school performances.

Following the passing of that group’s leader, she founded the “Happy Birthday Band.” This band primarily performs classical music, with a repertoire carefully arranged to appeal to children’s sensibilities. The ensemble’s unique feature is its flexible formation, changing for each performance to incorporate her own percussion and piano alongside other instrumentalists.

Her exploration of Dalcroze Eurhythmics has also led her to incorporate its elements into her various activities. At her alma mater, Kyoto City University of Arts, she works as an administrator for ensemble classes (though she jokingly notes her lack of actual authority). She embraces a “mother figure” role for the students, playfully admitting they might occasionally find her a bit bothersome.

Asami Kaminaka Official Website