Shinobu Eto

Music is my way to connect to the world — people, nature, beyond boundaries. For me as an artist, koto and voice are natural media to be original and innovative. It has infinite potential with its unique, marginal, rich and universal fascination. 

I believe that simplicity is the ultimate beauty. When I perform both traditional and contemporary pieces, I aspire to produce ‘various dimensional sound’ with my organic instruments by focusing on each note and what lies between the notes including silence.

Different art forms are increasingly interconnected these days and I believe I have a mission not only to pass on Japanese traditional aesthetics but also to create innovative works through my various activities. I hope my distinctive sound creations will contribute to the diversity and chemistry of music and further reach many people around the world. 

 

musician

A Tokyo-based koto (traditional Japanese string instrument) player. Mainly perform Japanese jiuta-sokyoku pieces and also create contemporary music and improvisation. Eto has had traditional training from her grandaunt Toshiko Yonekawa I (known as a living national treasure of art as a koto player) and Toshiko Yonekawa II.  Received an artist name ‘Toshifumi’ when she was seventeen years old. Graduated from NHK professional Traning School for Japanese traditional musicians.  Received a scholarship from the Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan and has been taught by Fumiko Yonekawa Ⅱ, Satomi Oshio (music theory), Yoko Yamasaki (voice traning).

She has performed on many stages all over Japan, including concerts sponsored by the National Theatre of Japan, Kioi Hall, NHK radio programs, and CDs.

In 2018, she started to perform abroad and was a resident of Music Omi (OMI International Arts Center, Columbia County, NY, USA).

 

assistant producer / curator 

In 1990s, Eto joined P-house gallery, a contemporary art gallery + cafe with dogs + alternative radio station, in Tokyo. Takashi Murakami was originally one of organizers.  The gallery held Jake and Dinos Chapman’s exhibition; Paul McCarthy and Mike Kelly’s performance and live, and so on. Eto also played the koto at the opening party of Micari Collection, which visitors were able to enjoy doing activities in a temporary completely white Japanese tea ceremony room.