Chisho Akitsu

Cello
Buddhist priest and cellist based in Hiroshima. At home temple Gansenbou, holds garden concerts in May, peace concerts in September, New Year’s Eve year-in year-out concerts, Wednesday “Morning Concerts,” actively bridging temple-music collaboration. Graduated Toho Gakuen School of Music, New England Conservatory. 46th Music Competition of Japan, second prize; International Tchaikovsky Competition, seventh prize; 1996 Hiroshima Prefecture “Energia Music Award.” Formerly principal at Sendai Philharmonic, Hiroshima Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestras, lecturer at Toho Gakuen School of Music, Soai and Hiroshima Universities.

Nobuo Furukawa

Cello
Nobuo Furukawa studied at Toho Gakuen School of Music and Franz Liszt Academy of Music before his current appointment as principal cello of Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 1998. Awards include 2nd place, 1995 Music Competition of Japan; Diploma Prize, 1997 International Instrumental Competition Markneukirchen; 2003 Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award; 2011 Kenichiro Todo Music Award; 2013 Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award. He continues to be active not only in classical music but in various genres, garnering attention for his popularity and talent.

Ryosuke Hori

Cello
Studied with Hideo Saito since age eight. While student at Toho Gakuen School of Music, won first prize at 36th Music Competition of Japan. Moving to Europe, graduated Wien Konservatorium with highest art prize. Subsequently, studied under Pierre Fournier. On return, served as principal at NHK Symphony Orchestra. Appearances with leading orchestras; solo and chamber performances; member of Saito Kinen Orchestra, Mito Chamber Orchestra. Long-time faculty and now professor emeritus at Tokyo College of Music. Japan Cello Society council member.

Yuki Ito

Cello
First prize winner of International Johannes Brahms and Windsor Festival International String Competitions, and recipient of Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award. Since his debut with renowned Philharmonia Orchestra, has appeared with leading orchestras at home and abroad and stood in limelight on prestigious European stages including a recital at Wigmore Hall. Placing Rachmaninoff study at the core of his wide repertoire, released a worldwide debut album Rachmaninoff Cello Works in 2012 and published a monograph Thoughts on Rachmaninoff in 2023.

Ko Iwasaki

Cello
Studied with Hideo Saito, Leonard Rose, Harvey Shapiro, Pablo Casals. Placed high at international competitions including Vienna and Tchaikovsky International Competitions, subsequently appearing as soloist and chamber musician on international stages. Has been professor at Universities of Illinois and Texas, as well as Toho Gakuen School of Music and its graduate school where he is now professor emeritus. Currently resides in the US. In recent years, performs and teaches as regular member at Montecito International Music Festival in California.

Masaharu Kanda

Cello
Studied with Yoritoyo Inoue, Toho Gakuen School of Music. 1973 Music Competition of Japan, first prize. 1982–1990, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra principal. 1982 joined New Arts String Quartet. 1992 Hida-Furukawa Music Award encouragement prize; 1994 Cultural Affairs Agency National Arts Festival Award; 1994 Kenzo Nakajima Music Award, also individually 1992. Acclaimed soloist, regular in major national contemporary music festivals. 2005 formed string quartet Quàttro Piaceri, 2006 commenced complete Shostakovich quartets project concerts. Guest professor, Tokyo College of Music; part-time lecturer, Toho Gakuen School of Music.

Yo Kigoshi

Cello
Native of Shizuoka. Studied with Hideo Saito. 1975 Music Competition of Japan, second prize. Completed Toho Gakuen diploma course. Principal at New Japan Philharmonic before entering Hochschule für Musik und Theater München in 1979 to study with Walter Nothas. Concours de Genève, diploma prize. In 1980, held recital at Brahms-Saal, Musikverein Wien. Upon return, 1981–2013 served 33 years as principal at NHK Symphony Orchestra. Currently principal at IlluminArt Philharmonic Orchestra, guest professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, lecturer at Toho Gakuen School of Music.

Hideki Kitamoto

Cello
Hideki Kitamoto Graduated Toho Gakuen Music High School. After Toho Gakuen diploma course, studied at Julliard through Cultural Affairs Agency’s Overseas Study Program. Music Competition of Japan, second; Min-On Chamber Music Competition, first prizes. Twenty-one years as Tokyo Philharmonic principal until 1996. Over thirty years with string quartets, led two complete Beethoven quartets cycles, two European tours as Eleonore String Quartet. Long teaching career including Tokyo University of the Arts, Yamagata University. Currently part-time lecturer, Toho Gakuen School of Music. Music Competition of Japan, commissioned musician member.

Sumire Kudo

Cello
Native of Tokyo. Formerly of Avalon String Quartet, currently a member of the New York Philharmonic. Won 2nd prize at the 62nd Japan Music Competition. Completed the Soloist Diploma Course at Toho Gakuen College Music Dept. and then the Artist Diploma Course at Juilliard, where she was also engaged as assistant to the Juilliard Quartet. She has studied with Yoritoyo Inoue, Hakuro Mori, Harvey Shapiro, and the Juilliard Quartet and appeared in the Marlboro Music Festival, Music@Menlo, SummerFest La Jolla, etc.

Sumiko Kurata

Cello
Studied with Hideo Saito. While at Toho Gakuen Music High School, placed in Music Competition of Japan. From Toho Gakuen School of Music, furthered study in France with Paul Tortelier as French government’s stipendiary student. Graduated Conservatoire de Paris. Performed around Europe as Quatuor Elyseen. On return, recitals and appearances with NHK, Tokyo Metropolitan, Yomiuri Nippon Symphonies, etc. Long-time SKO member. Invited to teach at Shenyang Conservatory, China. Toho Gakuen’s Namae Prize. Professor emeritus, specially appointed professor, Toho Gakuen School of Music. Special lecturer, Suzuki Method.

Keiko Matsunami

Cello
Studied with Hideo Saito at Toho Gakuen School of Music before moving to Paris. Upon return, principal at New Japan Philharmonic for seventeen years until 1992. Debut recital in 1975, thereafter several recitals and chamber music appearances. Saito Kinen Orchestra member since founding until 2006, Mito Chamber Orchestra until 2013. From early on dedicated to fostering numerous cellists. Third prizes in Music Competition of Japan, Cassadó International Violoncello Competition. Bach’s 6 Suiten für Violoncello Solo with Fumio Kawamura, named special-selection disc on Record Geijutsu magazine.

Dai Miyata

Cello
First Japanese grand prix winner at 2009 Rostropovich Cello Competition, and first prize winner in all competitions he participated. Focused on fostering young musicians, serves as judge in international competitions and instructor at Rohm music seminars. Recordings include Elgar Cello Concerto with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Dausgaard. Specially appointed professor at Toho Gakuen School of Music and part-time lecturer at Toho Gakuen Music High School. Plays on 1698 Antonio Stradivari “Cholmondeley” loaned by Ueno Fine Chemicals Industry.

Keita Takagi

Cello
Born in Hokkaido. Graduated Toho Gakuen Music High School and Toho Gakuen School of Music. From Toho Gakuen Graduate School, went on to study at Universität der Künste Berlin. Won second prize at 74th Music Competition of Japan, and third prize at Domenico Gabrielli Cello Competition in Berlin. Studied with Yoshiro Uehara, Hakuro Mori, Ko Iwasaki, Markus Nyikos. Several appearances as soloist, chamber musician, and guest principal at leading Japanese orchestras. Part-time lecturer at Toho Gakuen School of Music.

Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi

Cello
Studied with Hideo Saito at Toho Gakuen Music School for Children, Toho Gakuen Music High School. 1961 studied with János Starker, Indiana University. 1963 ARD International München, second; Casals International, first prizes. 2009 Medal with Purple Ribbon; 2013 Person of Cultural Merit. Formerly associate professor, University of Western Ontario; professor, Universities of Illinois, Indiana; currently specially appointed professor, Toho Gakuen School of Music (president 2004–2013); guest professor, Korea National University of Arts. Kirishima International Music Festival music director, Suntory Hall president, Japan Art Academy member.

Hiroyasu Yamamoto

Cello
Before graduating Toho Gakuen School of Music, won first prizes in 56th Music Competition of Japan, First Japan Chamber Music Competition. Acquired chamber music diploma at Accademia Musicale Chigiana. Formerly principal, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony; guest soloist, Hiroshima Symphony; principal, Kanagawa Philharmonic orchestras; currently special principal, City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. Annually participates Saito Kinen Orchestra, Miyazaki International and Mishima Seseragi Music Festivals. Professor, Tokyo College of Music; part-time lecturer, Tokyo University of the Arts; special lecturer, Suzuki Method. Japan Cello Society board member.

Taisuke Yamashita

Cello
Began violin at age four, studied with Yuji Tougi, Saburo Sumi. At age 13, began cello on advice from Hideo Saito. Studied with Hideo Saito, Yoritoyo Inoue, Reine Flachot at Toho Gakuen Music High School. After diploma course, furthered study with Guy Fallot at Conservatoire de Musique de Genève. While student, placed in international competitions in Genève, Barcelona, Firenze. After graduating, served as principal at Orchestra della Svizzera italiana for forty years. Currently professor at Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana.

Kenichiro Yasuda

Cello
Studied with Hideo Saito, Gaspar Cassadó, Pierre Fournier. 1965 Music Competition of Japan, first prize; Third International Tchaikovsky Competition, third prize. 1969, appeared as soloist with Festival Strings Lucerne in Japan, Europe, US, Canada. 1974, performed with Seiji Ozawa in Hong Kong, San Francisco. Since 1975, faculty at Toho Gakuen School of Music. Active as member of Mito Chamber Orchestra. Formed Yasuda String Quartet in 1986, highly praised for some eighty complete Haydn string quartets and Beethoven chronological chamber works concerts.