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 has been a Kodo member and featured taiko performer since 2002. Making his directorial debut in 2007, Ishizuka has crafted powerful, complex compositions such as Honoka and Stride, which have been included in both stage programmes and recent Kodo recordings. His gentle disposition, precise direction, and talent for careful observation have earned him the deep trust of his colleagues. In 2013 and 2015, he served as musical director for the “Amaterasu” production, all 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. Ishizuka composed the third Kodo One Earth Music composition, Haruka, which was released in 2021 for large taiko ensembles to enjoy playing around the world.
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