ARTISSIMO Taiko Drummers /Japan/

Joji Hirota is no doubt one of Europe’s most renowned percussionists. Born in Northern Japan, at the age of seven, he started a lifelong study of percussion. In 1972 Joji Hirota became the musical director and percussionist of the Red Buddha Theatre. In 1977 he joined the Lindsay Kemp Dance Company in which he performed the same duties. In 1991 he won the Time Out Award for best dance company for their production of “Onnagata” for which Hirota wrote and performed the music. During this period, Joji Hirota toured extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, Canada and the USA, South America and Japan. Joji Hirota released four solo albums, “Sahasurara”, “Wheel of Fortune” “Rain Forest Dream” and “The Gate” and went on tour with Peter Gabriel, Jah Woble, Guo Yue and the London Metropolitan Ensemble.