JUNE KURAMOTO

KOTO :
SHAMISEN :

Born in Saitama-ken, Japan and raised in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, June epitomizes America’s evolving art and music culture. Almost by destiny renowned koto master Madame Kazue Kudo, protégé of Japan’s most famous kotoist and composer Michio Miyagi, immigrated to the United States and began teaching koto in June’s family home. Using her grandmother’s koto, June, only six years old, found a ‘connection’ for her life in the instrument and Japanese music.

Subsequently June received classical degrees in koto from the Miyagi School of Koto in Japan through Kudo Sensei (teacher). Along the way she has performed with some of the greatest musicians in the classical world from Japanese masters to Ravi Shankar. But being an American artist she wanted somehow to integrate this music that is her life with the American culture and music that she loves.

June met an eccentric artist-musician named Dan, and they began merging her koto music with the diverse musical environment of Los Angeles. This was the beginning of Hiroshima. June has since been the driving artistic force of Hiroshima creating a multi-cultural musical statement.

Her many recording credits include George Duke, Manhattan Transfer, Taste of Honey, Teddy Pendergrass, Stanley Clarke, Keiko Matsui, Angela Bofill, David Benoit, and Ozomatli. She can also be heard on television and movie scores including “Heroes (NBC),” “East Meets West (Food Channel),” “Simply Ming (PBS),” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “The Last Samurai,” and “Black Rain.” Commercials include Suntory Light (Japan) and Hawaiian Electric Company (Hawaii).