Prana

Artist Profile

• Ko Omura

  Growing up in the United States, he developed a love for music through piano during his childhood, and discovered drums in Australia during his youth. He studied jazz at the University of Sydney and the Sydney College of Music, actively pursuing musical activities, including tours and recordings with his mentor, tenor saxophonist Dale Barlow. Since moving his base of operations to Tokyo in 2006, he has been a central figure in the Japanese jazz scene. From 2013, he apprenticed under Pandit Yogesh Samsi, a master of Indian classical music and a tabla guru. In 2016, he was dispatched to Mumbai by the Agency for Cultural Affairs for 80 days of intensive study.

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• Ryosuke Hashizume

  While a student at Okayama University, at the age of 20, he received a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in the United States. After graduating with a degree in jazz composition in 1996, he achieved the remarkable feat of releasing his debut album that same year, followed by his second album the following year, both in the US. Upon returning to Japan in 1997, he developed his career as a multi-reed player, leading his own band and participating in various units and sessions. Since 2006, he has released numerous leader albums. His unique worldview presented through his playing has garnered attention, and his innovative approach, which transcends existing styles, has attracted core jazz fans.

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• Toru Nishijima

  He started playing the violin at age 5, the viola and electric bass in high school, and switched to the double bass after graduating from university. Since then, he has been active at the core of the Japanese music scene, participating in projects such as Ryota Nozaki's "Jazztronik" and Taro Hakase's band. What stands out is the trust he has earned from top artists across genres. While creating works with leading jazz players, he has also supported recordings and concerts for artists such as Lisa Ono, Iwao Furusawa, Chie Ayado, Ryota Komatsu, Carmen Maki, and Tamasaburo Bando, making a name for himself not only in the jazz world but also in pop and classical music.

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