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.com / www.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 "THE鍵KEY" (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
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.
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
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/
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
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
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
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’.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
HORIMASU Kazue
Theatre, Drama
Type of activity: workshop, lecture, demonstration (in-person or online)
Available to travel: Based in London; available to travel anywhere in the UK
Age range: any
Number of participants: any
email: engekikikaku.aru@gmail.com
website: www.engekikikaku-aru.jimdofree.com
Kazue Horimasu worked at high schools in Aichi Prefecture for 11 years, creating stage productions with students, including Kabuki and plays by Kōbō Abe. She studied applied drama alongside Japanese avant-garde and traditional forms such as Kabuki, Noh, and Kyōgen for over a decade. She trained at the Bungakuza Institute and École Philippe Gaulier in France. In Tokyo, she taught drama at universities, led workshops for actors and non-actors, and directed professional productions. After completing an MFA in Theatre Directing at East 15 Acting School in 2024, she began working in the UK as a freelance director and facilitator.