Ensemble Otodama

Originally founded by Ryoji Yamaguchi, Ensemble Otodama is a collaboration of musicians with backgrounds rooted across various musical genres. In this group, guitarist Ryoji Yamaguchi, jazz bassist Erika Sato, and percussionist Takashi Kaneko all perform arrangements of traditional Japanese folk music, as well as original works that the members have composed. The ensemble blends rhythms and harmonies of Jazz, Japanese music, Classical, and other world motifs in ways that can be driving as well as mellow. Ensemble Otodama played in the 2007 Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica, alongside ABBA, Monty Alexander, Kenny Rogers, Earth, Wind & Fire, and others. Ensemble Otodama’s first CD In Autumn was released in 2007. Currently based in Tokyo, the group performs internationally, regularly featuring local and guest artists during their shows.