Mitsuru ISHIZUKA
- Name:
- Mitsuru ISHIZUKA
- Date of Birth:
- Aug. 6, 1979
- Birthplace:
- Hiki, Saitama
Profile
Raised by a family of taiko players, Mitsuru Ishizuka was surrounded by Japanese drums from an early age. He entered the Kodo Apprentice Centre in 1999 and became a Kodo member in 2002. On stage, Ishizuka is mainly featured on taiko drums. Since 2007, he has also directed numerous performances. His gentle disposition, precise direction, and talent for careful observation have earned him the deep trust of his colleagues.
Ishizuka shows flair as a composer, with the popular Kodo pieces Honoka and Stride, along with catchy Kodo One Earth Music Composition #3 Haruka to his name. In 2013 and 2015, he served as musical director for the “Amaterasu” production while performing the role of Susano’o on stage. Ishizuka directed the Kodo All-Star Special Performances for Earth Celebration’s main stage from 2017 through 2019, and was the executive artistic director for EC 2020, held entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the O-daiko soloist in “Kodo One Earth Tour: Tsuzumi,” a Kodo 40th anniversary commemorative production that toured in Japan in 2020–2021. Whether centerstage as a performer or behind the scenes as a director, Ishizuka brings charisma and brilliant skills to the forefront of Kodo’s performances.
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