Listening to the Outside World

Artist Profile

• Mareka Naito

  Started playing the classical violin at the age of 3. She won numerous competitions in junior school such as the Japan Classical Music Competition, Velsus International Junior Violin Competition (Italy). She first discovered Irish traditional music in 2007 and set on her journey of learning to play the Irish fiddle. In the middle of this journey she also found the time to attend university to study medicine in Yokohama, she graduated with a doctors license in 2014. Mareka is also proficient at the harp and concertina.

  Artist page

• Junji Shirota

  Junji has been performing professionally since 1973 having first specialised in Bluegrass music in Japan, fusing elements of Japanese and bluegrass music along the way. He moved to the United States in 1986 and discovered Irish traditional music there. In 1996, he formed the group "Jody's Heaven' and toured and recorded for the remainder of that decade. He has toured and recorded with a host of international Irish traditional Irish musicians.

  Artist page

  •