CULTURE

Japan is multicultural because they are open to listen to any kind of music. I don’t know the most famous singers, but I can mention some famous percussionists, for example Keiko Abe, Keiko Kotoku (marimbists), Satoshi Takeshi and Akira Jimbo(drumers). At this time I will present a great marimbist:

KEIKO KOTOKU

The marimba most talented of this generation. She has given concerts in Belgium, Germany, France, Sweden, Argentina, USA, Mexico, Japan and several countries. She is currently Professor of Marimba and Percussion at the School of Music, University of Science and Arts of Chiapas (UNICACH). College graduate Geijutsu Daigaku in Tokyo, Japan, studied with Makoto Aruga and Michiko Takahashi, and studied with Nancy Zeltsman the Boston Conservatory and graduated in percussion at the Conservatory of Piteå, Norrbotten. Has been a guest at festivals such as the International Marimba Competition Belgium 2004, 5 International Festival of Patagonia, Argentina 2005 and 7 International Festival of Patagonia, Argentina 2007 International Marimba Festival 2007 in Chiapas, among others. He has recorded with the group Global Percussion Network, making his album "Gaku" in 2005, the name of this piece and the album is based on stories about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima that he conveyed his maternal grandfather. Gaku was presented at the sixtieth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima in the Japanese city. Kotoku also performed a concert for peace in the world.