| B I O G R A P H Y | Matama Kazushi | 
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Since
then Matama has participated in several international tours to Europe,
South America, Asia, Australia, and the U.S. with Yokoyama and other
top Japanese musical groups. He served as one of executive members
of the ground-breaking "International Shakuhachi Music Festival
in Bisei" in 1994 both as a planner, manager, as well as a
player. In 1999 and 2000 he also helped establish the "Australian
Shakuhachi Music Festival in Sydney and Brisbane". Matama is
currently director of "Ramposha-Chikushin Kai" under the
direction of Katsuya Yokoyama. In addition, he is a lecturer for
the International Shakuhachi Research Centre and exectutive director
of the Yokohama Chikushin Kai. |
Born in Yokohama, Japan, Matama started playing Shakuhachi at the
age 17. After graduating from Hosei University with a degree in
History, he began studying shakuhachi seriously with Yokoyama Katsuya
for over the last 30 years. In 1972-73 he successfully passed the
NHK audition and graduated from the NHK Special School of Traditional
Japanese Music.