The group's founder, Masakazu Yoshizawa, is a composer and and active studio musician for woodwinds, Japanese flutes, and percussion. His soundtracks are numerous, including Jurassic Park, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, The Joy Luck Club and Lost World, to name only a few.
Tateo Takahashi is the only Tsugaru Shamisen professional in the U.S. He began his shamisen study with his brother, Yujiro Takahashi, one of Japan's most well known Tsugaru Shamisen players. He lived, studied and played in Tokyo and in San Francisco before moving to Los Angeles in 1976. He is the founder of the Los Angeles based shamisen group "Takahashi-kai." Takahashi's film credits include Tatoo and Vietname War Story
Hiromi Hashibe began studying the koto at the age of five.
She is certified as a grand teacher by the Miyagi
School of Koto. She has been teaching in Los Angeles since 1975 and
is the leader of her own koto group, "Wakana-kai."
Hashibe's film credits include
Star Trek,
Vietname War Story
and The Setting Sun
Return to Yoshizawa's Homepage.