ZAN are young and brilliant Japanese traditional instrument – Koto and Shakuhachi – player duo who united to produce new style of music just like no other. They came together to seek for potentials for innovative style of music while appreciating the traditional Japanese culture. With Kominato on vocals and Shakuhachi, this “Japanese Traditional Instrument Duo” are challenging into the J-POP music scene.
Zan's Lives in NYC
2006.12.6
Kion Dining Lounge, East Village, NYC
12.7
Kitaya Japanese Cuisine, NYC
12.8
Former CEO of MTV networks’ VH1 ED BENNETT presents
MUSIC X ART X LOFT
12.11
Banquet for EN: Through the Eyes of Your Culture,
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
12.12
EN: Through the Eyes of Your Culture,
Charity Art Festival, Metropolitan Pavilion
2007.4.29
Sakura-ON STAGE at Cherry Blossom Festival,
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
5.5
Kitaya Japanese Cuisine, NYC
5.6
Papa Jube's Show at S.O.B.'S New York
5.9
Kitaya Japanese Cuisine, NYC
5.12
Sound Scape, The Bowery Poetry Club, NYC
Shin Ichikawa- Koto with Seventeen Strings
A son of Seiga Adachi, the third generation head master of a Sugen-Kai in Akita Prefecture Ikuta Style of Koto.
Ichikawa began playing the guitar in junior high school, but once he was fascinated by the modern Koto performance on TV, he realized the likeness with the guitar and moved to Tokyo for Koto training – he studied under the Hikaru Sawai style. Only within year and a half, Ichikawa held recitals and participated/won in various contests and soon came into the public limelight as a young musician. And now, he is the member of ZAN to seek for potential of Japanese traditional music and convey the magnificent world of Koto.
Akihisa Kominato- Vocals and Shakuhachi
An eldest son of Head Family, Kominato Shakuhachi player Japanese Traditional Folk Kominato Style
Born in the family of Japanese Traditional Folk, Kominato grew up listening to Japanese traditional folk music. Since the Kominato is a Japanese traditional folk family generation after generation, it was mandatory for him to learn the performance skills – he won the singing contest as early as 5 years old, and recognized his talent as a singer at an early age.
Kominato soon began learning the Shakuhachi, Fue (Japanese Flute), Taiko, and Hayashi.
However being born as the son of the Japanese Traditional Folk family, parent-child relationship was more of a master-pupil relationship, so Kominato could not be dependent to his parents and practically had no family communication. Soon, he began to feel hateful toward music.
During his long vacation trip to Indonesia and Thailand at age 11, he came across the country’s ethnic music and was astonished by their expressive and emotional sound. Since then, Kominato began studying not only Shakuhachi, but also Classic Style Shakuhachi Play. At age 16, he met the late National Living Treasure, Goro Yamaguchi and realized the boundless expressiveness and profundity of Shakuhachi. Soon, Kominato followed his master to Tokyo and got admitted to Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music/Department of Japanese Music.
Unfortunately, his master passed away while in school, but soon he vowed to spread the splendid world of Shakuhachi by playing the classic masterpiece “Zan-Getsu” for his master. After graduating college, Kominato began playing sessions with not only Japanese traditional music, but also international music such as fusion and bossa nova. Currently, Kominato is pursuing new path as the vocal and Shakuhachi player of ZAN.
ahhhhhhhh ZAN I LOVE YOU!!!!!! I hope you guys go to sakura matsuri again next year!!!!! i cant wait to see you guys again!!!!! love love love <3 Cynthia
Konnichiwa ZAN! Thank you so much for accepting my request. I enjoyed your performance at Sakura Matsuri very much. I hope you both are well and i hope to see you perform at the Knitting Factory or SOBs this week.
Guys!! I was so happy to see on Sakura Matsuri! It's my first hearing your music! But i love your music! I loooooooooooove Koto!!! Shin san great job )) hehe Hope to come this Friday to Knitting Factory!! Hope you're enjoying being in NY Mata konkinyoubi hehe
Hey Guys! Seeing you guys today was AWESOME. I like that you have your hair pulled back Kominato-san. Ichikawa, you should have a mini-workshop, because watching you play was amazing. I was hoping to buy your new album today, but oh well. Keep up the wonderful work. See you guys next year!
Hey guy! How are you doing? Yeah, i regret not being able to go to your show in NYC... i had ... well.. school :( I wish i had been there :D i know you guys are amazing!
I love u guys! i saw u on a japanese video last night, and was amazed. I currently liv in australia, but i am japanese and u no the smap series on tv?? i was watching an episode of it which like promotes all the amazing young talents in japan and thats how i got to know u guys and was absolutely blown away, i hope u guys keep up the gud work!
konnichiwa ZAN. thank you for adding me. i just want to say that your music is a true inspiration. Akihisa-san your talent with the Shakuhachi is a art in its own. i have always wanted to learn how to play the shakuhachi. but i am unable to afford lessons or even get to japan to learn. its my dream to learn how to play as briliantly as you do and i will always see you as a master in the art. and Shin-san. your skill with the 7-string koto is magnificant. you play with such grace as to make the strings sing your song. you are both master muscians. i cant wait for your U.S debut and i hope i can meet you one day. again thank you for being such a inspiration.
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