The Japan Society

Access to Experts

Access to Experts is designed as a tool to help those organising Japan-related events. Experts are professionals who charge a fee to lead workshops and can tailor their workshop or presentation to different audiences. They may be able to visit schools and deal with larger numbers of students per day than JIYC volunteers and can be engaged to spend successive days at your school.

Please note that inclusion on this list does not imply recommendation by The Japan Society.

Music, Theatre & Dance Experts


LE LOHÉ, Francesca

Composer

Type of activity: lecture, workshop, performance
Available to travel: UK wide (from May 2021) - may be available for online sessions before then
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: frlelohe@gmail.com
website:www.francescalelohe.comwww.thekeyopera.com 

Francesca Le Lohé is a composer, community musician, teacher and flute player. On receiving a​ 2015 Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Scholarship, Francesca spent many years living, working and studying traditional musical instruments in Tokyo. Francesca’s immersive, site-specific opera "THEKEY" (inspired by Tanizaki's novella of the same name) features a mixture of Japanese and western artforms, and has been staged in Tokyo and London (2018-2019). Francesca has composed for a number of soloists, ensembles, community groups and theatre productions across Europe and Japan, and delivered seminars, workshops and Early Years music sessions in varied settings.


YANAGISAWA Rie

Koto, Jiuta-Shamisen, Vocal, Classical Dance & Live Music (Haru-Ichiban Group)

Type of activity: Japanese cultural event organiser (music, dance and arts), lecture, demonstration, performance, workshop, personalised calligraphy bookmarks, project leader
Available to travel:
anywhere (Based in London)
Age range: 6+
Number of participants: any

email: info@japan-promotions.co.uk
tel: 0203 652 6171
website: www.japan-promotions.co.uk

More information


KAYONO

Nihon Buyo

Type of activity: performance, lecture, demonstration
Available to travel: London and UK
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: 1-10, 10-50

email: info@kayononokai.com
website: www.kayononokai.com

Kayono studied Nihon Buyo for 19 years with the Hanayagi and Wakayagi schools (they are the five major Nihon Buyo schools in Japan). She was an accredited master of performing arts Wakayagi Ryu. Since 2021, Kayono has started to learn Jiuta Mai from her current Master Chihiro Yoshimura.  

More information


KITAMURA Keiko

Koto, Shamisen, Vocal

Type of activity: performance, teaching, demonstration
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: any

email: keikojapanesemusic@gmail.com
tel: 0784 086 6363
website: www.keikokitamura.com

More information


BELL, Clive

Shakuhachi

Type of activity: n/a
Available to travel: n/a
Age range: n/a
Number of participants: n/a

email: clivebell1@gmail.com
tel: 0208 802 9839 / 0796 165 2198
website: www.clivebell.home.blog/

More information


Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers and Mugen Taiko Dojo

Taiko Drumming

Type of activity: demonstration, performance, workshop, project leader, lecture
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: mtd@taiko.co.uk
tel: 01357 522 008
website: www.taiko.co.uk

More information


KIRBY, Jonathan

Taiko Drumming

Type of activity: performance, workshop, demonstration
Available to travel: southern UK
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: any

email: jk@kagemusha.com
tel: 01626 325 832
website: www.kagemusha.com

More information


AOYAMA Yuko

Classical Japanese Dance

Type of activity: demonstration, performance, teaching
Available to travel:
South East
Age range: 14+
Number of participants: 1-10

email: yukoaoyama@hotmail.co.uk
tel: 0207 262 9234
website: www.japanesedancing.co.uk


ASANO-CAMPBELL, Yoshie

Japanese Dance, Japanese Folk Songs, Kimono

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, performance
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: yoshie.campbell@gmail.com
tel: 0141 620 0675

Born in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture, Yoshie took a six year apprenticeship in Akita, northern Japan, a treasure house of traditional folk music (Min’yo). There she became a disciple of Asano Umewaka, one of Japan’s most revered folk singers and shamisen players and a renowned teacher. Umewaka gave his family name as an ‘art name’ to a small number of his best students, including Yoshie. She performed widely as singer and dancer with her teacher’s troupe before moving to UK. Now based in Glasgow, Yoshie has been performing, demonstrating culture and visiting schools in UK.


ALCOCK, Mark

Taiko Drumming

Type of activity: performance, demonstration, workshop
Available to travel: anywhere 
Age range: 5+
Number of participants: any

email: js@taikomeantime.com
website: www.taikomeantime.com

More information


BARROW, James

Taiko Drumming

Type of activity: performance, demonstration, workshop, project leader
Available to travel: West of England, Wales, Midlands, North of England
Age range: 4+
Number of participants: up to 30

email: james@taikowest.com
tel: 01694 720169 / 07866 793265
website: www.taikowest.com


COXALL, Michael

Shakuhachi

Type of activity: demonstration, performance, teaching
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 14+
Number of participants: any

email: mc9@soas.ac.uk
website: www.soumeishakuhachi.wordpress.com

Michael Soumei Coxall studied shakuhachi in Japan for many years under the legendary Kinko-ryu master and Living Cultural Treasure, the late Yamaguchi Goro, and still continues his studies on frequent visits to Japan with Mizuno Kohmei and Sugawara Kuniyoshi. Michael was awarded his shakuhachi ‘Master’s Licence’ in 2007 and the professional name ‘Soumei’.

More information


HIROTA Joji

Taiko Drumming, Composer, Shakuhachi, Vocals & Other Percussions

Type of activity: performance, workshop
Available to travel: anywhere (based in London)
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

website: www.jojihirota.com

More information


HOLDING, Melissa

Koto, Shamisen (Tsugaru)

Type of activity: performance, demonstration, lecture
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: 1-50

email: melissa@tantraweb.co.uk
tel: 01865 245859
website: www.melissaholding.co.uk


HOTTA-LISTER, Ayako

Koto, Sangen (Shamisen), History of Japanese Music

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, performance, workshop, project leader
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: any

email: ayakoh374@googlemail.com


SUE Hiroko

Koto

Type of activity: performance, workshop, demonstration
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: hirokosue@hotmail.com
tel: 07817 043759

More information


STAGG, Richard

Shakuhachi

Type of activity: lecture, individual lessons, demonstration, performance, workshop, shakuhachi repair and tuning
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 14+
Number of participants: any

To contact Richard Stagg, please write to him care of The Japan Society. We will forward correspondence to him.

More information


WALTERS, Liz

Taiko Drumming / Tamashii School of Taiko- Do

Type of activity: workshop
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: any

email: info@taikoschool.com
tel: 07970 134174
website: www.taikoschool.com

Liz Walters leads one day ‘hands on’ workshops for both Primary & Secondary Schools and also offers longer term projects such as introducing Taiko into the music department as part of the school curriculum / school collaboration events & performances.

More information


PHELAN, Orpha

Noh

Type of activity: lecture, workshop, demonstration
Available to travel: anywhere (Based in London)
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: orphaphelan@mac.com
tel: 07979 842949
website: www.orphaphelan.com

Orpha is offering performance-based training in the dance, chant, music and performance history of noh. In the past, she has worked with a range of ages, from primary school children to postgraduates and teachers. The workshops are of particular interest to students studying drama, world theatre, literature, and Japanese, though exposure to Japanese culture through this ancient art form is rewarding for all, wherever their interests lie. No prior experience is necessary.

More information


HOHKI Kazuko
Contemporary Theatre, Live Art

Type of activity: performance, workshop
Available to travel: anywhere (Based in London)
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: 1-45

c/o Jo Crowley
email; jo@kazukohohki.com
tel: 07843 274684
website: www.kazukohohki.com

More information


SOAS Noh Group

Noh

Type of activity: performance, demonstration, workshop
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: kuragetouni@gmail.com
tel: 020 8993 9505

The formation of SOAS Noh Group resulted from a visit by Prof. Richard Emmert and Akira Matsui from Japan in 1990 to hold a workshop at SOAS University of London, organised by Dr David Hughes (in that period a SOAS Senior Lecturer).  The workshop participants then went on to give a demonstration of Noh at the Japan Festival in 1991, in Hyde Park.

After a period of inactivity the group was formally re-established in 1998 by Riko Sherratt, together with Dr. David Hughes.  The Group became an official participant in Japan Festival 2001 and invited Akira Matsui (Noh Living National Asset) from Japan several times to train the Group and to hold workshops and performances throughout England. The Group continues these activities to this day, including performing in regional festivals and conducting occasional school workshops.


MENDL, Kumiko

Storytelling

Type of activity: performance, drama workshop, theatre
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 3+
Number of participants: any

email: kumiko@athousandcranes.org.uk
tel: 07801 269772
website: www.athousandcranes.org.uk

More information


AKAMA Ryoko

Music and Sound Composition, Performance, Artistic Director of ame C.I.C

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, performance, workshop
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: info@ryokoakama.com
website: www.ryokoakama.com / www.amespace.uk

More information


Maeda Gakuen Yochien

Taiko Drumming, Arts, Dance, Music, Soroban

Type of activity: performance, demonstration
Available to travel: Acton and Finchley, London
Age range: 3-18
Number of participants: 10-50

email: support@maedagroup.co.uk
website: www.maedagroup.co.uk

Maeda Gakuen Yochien have carried out Japanese drum performances, Soroban classes and demonstrations in schools.