MOONRISE Brings Japanese Artists to New York
MOONRISE Japan Artists – Ryota Kikuchi: Piano
Saturday, September 19 at 1:30 p.m.
MOONRISE Japan Artists – MAOSHO: Jazz & Shamisen
Saturday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center – 129 W. 67th Street
Admission: $35 Prime | $25 General | $20 Seniors & Students
Disclosure: The author is providing public relations services for MOON and Mar Creation in support of the MOONRISE concert series and received compensation for this work. The event information presented here is based on materials provided by the organizers.
MOONRISE, an international artist development initiative dedicated to introducing Japanese artists to audiences in the United States and beyond, will present two performances at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The concerts will feature the innovative musical duo MAOSHO and acclaimed pianist Ryota Kikuchi, bringing contemporary and traditional Japanese artistry to one of New York City’s premier concert venues.
Presented by Moon and Mar Creation, the performances reflect MOONRISE’s ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for Japanese artists to engage with international audiences through live performance, cultural exchange, and artistic collaboration.
“MOONRISE exists to help Japanese artists reach the world—not simply by performing overseas, but by building meaningful cultural connections through music,” says Akie Osawa, producer of MOON. “We believe every performance is an opportunity to share Japan’s creativity, inspire dialogue, and create lasting relationships between artists and audiences.”
MOONRISE Japan Artists –Ryota Kikuchi: Piano
A pianist, composer, arranger, and YouTube creator, Ryota Kikuchi began playing the piano at the age of four. While still a student at Nihon University’s College of Art and Graduate School, Kikuchi composed music for various artists, and since he has worked on numerous TV programs, film scores, as well as anime and video game music. He gained attention for composing the music for the web commercial of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In November 2024, he became the first Japanese soloist to successfully perform all four of Gershwin’s concerto works in a single evening. His YouTube channel has more than 850,000 subscribers, and the total number of views has exceeded 400 million. Kikuchi’s unique style, built on the solid technical foundation cultivated through classical music, combined with outstanding improvisational and arrangement skills, allows him to perform across various genres, earning him high praise as a one-of-a-kind pianist. Learn more at his website.
“I’ve been fortunate to connect with people around the world through YouTube, and I’m excited to finally meet many of those listeners in person through live performance,” says Kikuchi. “I hope this concert will be a special opportunity to share music together and create unforgettable memories.”
PROGRAM
George Gershwin – “Rhapsody in Blue”
Ryuichi Sakamoto – “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”
Akira Ikufube – “Bon Odori”
Movie Music Medley
To purchase, please visit Kaufman Music Center’s website. As a special benefit, JapanCulture•NYC members will receive a promotional code for discounted tickets by email. If you'd like to learn more about membership, please visit our Membership page.
MOONRISE Japan Artists – MAOSHO: Jazz & Shamisen
Mao Sone is a jazz artist who masterfully performs on both piano and trumpet. Sho Asano is one of Japan’s leading shamisen performers and folk singers.
Traditional Japanese music and jazz come together in a bold and unique collaboration with MAOSHO. The powerful sound of Tsugaru shamisen, the spirit of Japanese folk song, and the freedom of jazz improvisation create an energetic and emotional performance. The duo received a standing ovation in 2025, when they first performed a series of concerts in New York City.
“Our music is a conversation between tradition and innovation,” says MAOSHO. “We hope audiences in New York will experience not only the sound of Japan, but also the universal joy of creating something new together.”
Joining MAOSHO on the Merkin Hall stage will be guest artist Keita Ogawa, one of the most versatile and sought-after percussionists in New York City.
PROGRAM
Mao Sone – “Sakura Sakura Fantasy”
Mao Sone – “HAYASHI”
Richard Rodgers – “My Favorite Things” (arr. Sho Asano)
Japanese Folk Song – “Yagibushi” (arr. Mao Sone)
To purchase tickets, please visit Kaufman Music Center’s website. As a special benefit, JapanCulture•NYC members will receive a promotional code for discounted tickets by email. If you'd like to learn more about membership, please visit our Membership page.
About Mao Sone
A native of Chiba Prefecture, Mao Sone was born into a musical family: His paternal grandmother was a Shamisen player, and his maternal grandmother was a former jazz cafe owner. After studying classical piano from a young age, Sone added trumpet at age eight. He made his professional debut in his senior year of high school, performing alongside Norio Maeda and Takeshi Inomata. He attended Berklee College of Music on a full-tuition scholarship, and after graduating at the top of his class in 2014, he became a member of the inaugural class of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute’s master’s program, completing his degree with the highest honors (Summa Cum Laude) in 2016.
Mao Sone is a rare and versatile multi-instrumentalist who has garnered international acclaim as a "Jazz Dual-Threat"—a virtuoso on both the trumpet and the piano. An accomplished performer, composer, and producer, he has established a unique presence in the global music scene through his innovative blend of tradition and modernity. Visit Sone’s website to learn more.
About Sho Asano
Influenced by his grandfather, Sho Asano began learning wadaiko, traditional Japanese drums, at age three and the Tsugaru shamisen at age five. Throughout his childhood, he regularly won shamisen competitions, breaking records as the youngest winner in various categories. In 2004, at the age of 14, Asano became the youngest winner of the highest tier of the Tsugaru-jamisen National Competition (now known as the Tsugaru-jamison World Competition). He released his debut album, Shofu, at age 17 and has performed extensively overseas, including a concert at the Kennedy Center.
Incorporating elements of Japanese folk songs, classical music, rock, jazz, pop, and flamenco, Asano’s performance style transcends genres. He has worked with a wide range of artists, collaborating with world-class musicians such as jazz legend Will Lee (bass), rising jazz star Marcus Gilmore (drums), and two-time Grammy Award winner Richard Stoltzman (clarinet). Hear Asano’s music on his YouTube channel.
About Keita Ogawa
New York-based drummer and percussionist Keita Ogawa is a prodigious talent, playing practically any percussion instrument with fluency and musicality. The three-time Grammy winner studied at Berklee College of Music, and he spent three months in Rio de Janeiro, immersing himself in learning Brazilian percussion from some of the country’s most respected musicians. His passion for crossing musical borders and cultures shows in his impressive list of collaborators since moving to the U.S.: Yo-Yo Ma, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, and Charlie Hunter, Snarky Puppy, and Bokanté, among many others.
New York City is the final stop of a series of events for the MOONRISE project. Together, the performances of MAOSHO and Ryota Kikuchi showcase the diversity and vitality of contemporary Japanese music, offering New York audiences an opportunity to experience distinctive artistic voices that bridge tradition, innovation, and global cultural dialogue.
About Merkin Hall
Located within Kaufman Music Center on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Merkin Hall is one of New York City’s leading venues for classical, contemporary, jazz, and cross-cultural performance. Known for its exceptional acoustics and intimate setting, the hall has presented internationally acclaimed artists and emerging voices from around the world, serving as a vibrant home for musical innovation and artistic excellence.
About MOON
Moon, Inc. specializes in concert production and artist management, organizing numerous performances annually. The company is led by representative director and producer Akie Osawa, who has a proven track record in discovering and nurturing young talent, such as violinists Ai Okumura and Rina Matsuda, pianist Aya Nagatomi, and bandoneon player Kazuma Miura. Osawa established Moon in 2020 and continues to support artists’ global development and cross-cultural collaborations with the focus of presenting Japanese performers on the world stage. Learn more at Moon’s website.
About MOONRISE
Launched by Moon in 2025, MOONRISE is an international artist development and cultural exchange initiative that supports Japanese artists in expanding their presence beyond Japan through performances, audience engagement, and artistic opportunities abroad. As part of Moon’s “Global Expansion Project for Performing Artists,” MOONRISE is centered around music, collaborating across diverse fields such as food, traditional culture, fashion, film, and technology, showcasing the beauty and talent of Japan through the collective strength of “All Japan.” The full vision of MOONRISE is not “from Japan to the world,” but “making Japan shine within the world.” By fostering connections between artists and international audiences, MOONRISE seeks to deepen cultural understanding and create new pathways for creative exchange.
About Mar Creation
Established in 2003, Mar Creation, Inc is a full-service resource for creative needs ranging from video and music production, graphic and web design, event planning and booking, PR, artist management, and film distribution. The organization has been involved with and supports various charitable events for AIDS, Japan earthquake/tsunami relief, and peace-making projects.
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