Motofumi Yamaguchi

Biography: Motofumi Yamaguchi joined Sado no Kuni Ondekoza in 1980 and was one of the founding members of Kodo in 1981. He began to study fue (bamboo flute) on his own in 1980, and later went on to firmly establish the instrument’s expressive role within the taiko ensemble. On stage, Yamaguchi is featured on fue, kokyu (Japanese violin), koto (harp) and shamisen (banjo). He is an experienced programme director and one of the group’s principal composers, creating new pieces for Kodo and for the soundtracks of film and plays. In 1988 he began solo work under the title “Ikkan Fugetsu,” and in 2009 he released an eponymously named album— Yamaguchi’s first as a soloist. He became a Kodo Distinguished Member in 2012. In addition to his work with Kodo, Yamaguchi still passionately performs under the “Ikkan Fugetsu” name, and regularly teaches shinobue (transverse bamboo flute) workshops. His second solo album, “Ikkan Fugetsu Vol. 2: Tomoshibi,” was released in May 2015.