Sho Asano
- JAPANESE
- ENGLISH
Sho Asano
- [Date of Birth] March 2, 1990
- [Birthplace] Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
- [Schools] Sendai Daiichi High School, Keio University
Born on March 2, 1990, in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan, Sho Asano is a Tsugaru shamisen virtuoso known for bringing the traditional Japanese instrument into a wide range of musical settings. He graduated from Sendai Daiichi High School and Keio University.
Inspired by his grandfather, Asano began playing taiko drums at the age of three and took up the Tsugaru shamisen at five. He later studied under Tokuo Odashima II of the Sangen Odashima school. At the age of seven, he became the youngest-ever participant in the Tsugaru Shamisen National Competition in Hirosaki, Aomori, now known as the Tsugaru Shamisen World Competition. From the following year, he continued to set records as the youngest winner in multiple divisions. In 2004, at the age of 14, he became the youngest-ever champion of the competition’s highest A-Class division and went on to win the title for three consecutive years through 2006.
In 2007, at the age of 17, Asano made his major-label debut with the album “Shofu” on Victor Entertainment. Since then, he has performed extensively around the world, including appearances at the Concertgebouw in the Netherlands and the Kennedy Center in the United States, as well as concert tours throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Rooted in Japanese folk music and traditional performing arts, Asano has developed a musical style that crosses boundaries between classical, rock, jazz, pop, flamenco, and beyond. He has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Yosuke Yamashita, Kazufumi Miyazawa, yama, and flamenco guitarist Jin Oki. As a teenager, he also formed a band with Makoto Takahashi, former drummer of the legendary Japanese rock band BOØWY.
Asano has also collaborated on recordings with internationally acclaimed musicians, including renowned bassist Will Lee, drummer Marcus Gilmore, and Grammy Award-winning clarinetist Richard Stoltzman.
His performances extend well beyond traditional Japanese music venues. He became the first traditional Japanese instrumentalist to appear at MONSTER baSH, one of Japan’s largest outdoor music festivals, performing there for three consecutive years. He has since appeared at numerous rock and jazz festivals.
As a member of MIKAGE PROJECT, an ensemble that reimagines traditional folk songs from across Japan through a contemporary musical approach, Asano performs both in Japan and internationally. He is also a member of ART KABUKI Orchestra, a collective of traditional Japanese instrumentalists exploring new forms of expression rooted in Japanese musical traditions.
Asano is featured in the 2025 edition of “Music for Junior High School: Instrumental Music,” a textbook published by Kyoiku Geijutsusha for junior high schools in Japan.
His primary instrument, “Jitan,” is handcrafted by Sangen Kobo, one of Japan’s leading shamisen makers. In 2023, Asano signed an endorsement agreement with Sangen Kobo, becoming the first shamisen player in the world to receive such an endorsement.
Asano also performs as MAOSHO, a duo with jazz pianist, trumpeter, and composer Mao Sone. Combining the musical language of jazz with Japanese traditional music, MAOSHO has developed a distinctive sound of its own. Following a New York performance that received a standing ovation, the duo has continued to expand its activities internationally, including concert tours across the United States.
He is also a member of KOBUSHI, formed with bandoneonist Kazuma Miura, Mao Sone, and percussionist Kan. The ensemble explores new musical possibilities by bringing Japanese traditional music into dialogue with musical traditions from around the world.
While remaining deeply committed to the traditions of Japanese folk music and classical performing arts, Asano continues to expand the possibilities of the Tsugaru shamisen through his solo work, collaborative projects, and cross-genre performances. Through an active international career, he brings the sound of the Tsugaru shamisen and the richness of Japanese musical culture to audiences around the world.
【REGULAR RADIO PROGRAMS】
NHK FM — “Deai wa! Minyoubi”
TBC Radio — “Mori no Miyako Shinkin Presents Sho Asano Radio ‘Sho’case”
NHK Radio 1 — “Minyo wo Dozo” — Program Writer
