( English Version )

The Cello Acoustics 　The Cello Acoustics is a cello ensemble built around Yoshihiro Kikkawa, “Yoshi”, 　Japan's only jazz cellist. Yoshi's band is coming into the limelight for its innovative 　mix of a wide spectrum of styles drawn from jazz, classical, and healing music, 　sprinkled with interludes of improvisation. 　Yoshi has performed with, The Cello Acoustics, on Session 505, a jazz program on NHK's 　FM radio station, in September 2000 (with simultaneous recording for broadcast on one 　of NHK's Hi-Vision TV stations). 　And in June 2001 these performances were highly acclaimed by a wide-ranging audience 　through national new paper articles, radio and Television. 　Entitled simply "The Cello Acoustics," his much-awaited first album was released in 　Japan in January 2001.

YOSHI　(YOSHIHIRO KIKKAWA) 　Japan's First and Only Cello Improviser 　Born in the city of Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan, Yoshihiro Kikkawa graduated from the 　A.N. Music School before going to New York to pursue further studies. 　Upon his return, he worked as a studio musician, supporting concerts and recordings of 　numerous musical celebrities and noted artists. While the Soviet Union was still in 　existence, he participated in a month-and-a-half-long concert tour of nine Russian cities. 　In Europe, he has made appearances in France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, 　and Switzerland. 　In the United States, he has taken part in concerts in San Francisco at The Circle Theater, 　Los Angeles at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1993, New York at Lincoln Center, 　and Hawaii. 　And in Asia, outside Japan, he has performed in Hong Kong. 　He toured and appeared in jazz festivals as a cello improviser with the jazz group headed 　by jazz guitarist, Kazumi Watanabe. 　Recently you'll find YOSHI performing in the US and Japan. After obtaining his US artist's 　visa, YOSHI spends much of his time flying between New York and Tokyo vigorously touring 　before eager, appreciative and ever-expanding audiences. 2000　Jan　　YOSHI played with Yuki Kuramoto (Piano) as his side man at Yuki's concerts 　　　　　　　 　　　　Apr　　YOSHI performed at Orchard Hall in Shibuya Japan and other halls as a 　　　　　　　　member of a Braziliana superstar, Toninho Orta (guitarist and singer) 　　　　　　　　and Kazumi Watanabe Super Band 　　　　Aug　　YOSHI performed as a member of Kenichi Shimazu's(Piano) trio live at Skydoor 　　　　　　　　and CD titled “Symmetrophobia Live at Skydoor” was released 　　　　Oct　　YOSHI appeared at Numazu Music Festival in Shizuoka Japan with　Kazumi 　　　　　　　　Watanabe(Guitar) and Masami Nakagawa(Flute) 2001　Jan　　YOSHI's first CD entitled “The Cello Acoustics” was released in Japan 　　　　Apr　　YOSHI appeared at a concert of Toshihiro Nakanishi (Violin) at Aoyama Circle 　　　　　　　　Theater as a featured guest. 　　　　May　　YOSHI and his band, “The Cello Acoustics” performed at a NHK FM radio 　　　　　　　“Session 505” jazz broadcast with Masahiro Sayama (Piano), Benisuke 　　　　　　　　Sakai(B) and Youichi Okabe (Percussion) 　　　　Jul　　YOSHI appeared at the “2001 Summer Concert in Multimedia Center”and 　　　　　　　　performed by the theme [Welcome to a new world of Jazz Cello] as a 　　　　　　　　leader of his band. The event was hosted by National/Panasonic Incorporated. 　　　　Sep　　YOSHI performed at the “Session 505” Jazz program of NNK FM radio station　 　　　　　　　　which was also televised on NHK High Vision TV. 　　　　Oct　　YOSHI appeared as a featured guest artist with the OOEDO WIND 　　　　　　　　ORCHESTRA, Japan's top players at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space 　　　　　　　　before a veryenthusiastic audience. 　　　　　　　　(The live CD of this concert also featuring Astro Piasora is available 　　　　　　　　 in CD shops in Japan.) 　　　　Nov　　Marked the release of YOSHI's first CD “The Cello Acoustics” in the　 　　　　　　　　Republic of Korea which garnered rave reviews! 　　　　　　　　YOSHI joined the Yamaha rosters by offering lessons in “ Jazz Cello “ 　　　　　　　　at the Yamaha Ginza Center and Yamaha Music Square. 2002　Feb　　YOSHI performed at the welfare concerct hosted by NP His Imperial Highness 　　　　　　　　Prince of Tomohito of Mikas,in Toyoda, Aichi Japan, who later lavished 　　　　　　　　praise on his performance. 　　　　Apr　　NHK BS World Cup Soccer featured YOSHI's original song “The Whitenight in 　　　　　　　　Leningrad” (from his first album, ”The Cello Acoustics”)　for their 2002 　　　　　　　　TV broadcast. 　　　　Aug　　YOSHI appeared at the Yokohama Summer Jazz Festival 2003　Feb　　After receiving his US Artist's Visa, YOSHI moved to NY and started 　　　　　　　　performing for American audiences, to rave reviews! 　　　　Apr　　YOSHI began broadcasting his own global internet radio show 　　　　　　　　　“My Country　Home” 2004　Jun　　Marked the highly anticipated release of YOSHI's second album 　　　　　　　“MIAGETEGORAN YORU NO HOSHIWO”/ “Look upon the Stars”, 　　　　　　　　making him the favorite featured artist of many radio shows, 　　　　　　　　magazines　and news paper articles as he toured throughout Japan. 　　　　Aug　　YOSHI performed “CELLO SOLO WITH BOUND AND STILLNESS”, 　　　　　　　　his month long tour of Hokkaido Island, to sensational reviews! 　　　　Oct　　YOSHI performed at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International 　　　　　　　　Film Festival 2005　　Feb　　YOSHI's original song, “Aurora” 　　　　　　　　(from his first album, “The Cello Acoustics”) has been selected by 　　　　　　　　Japan Airlines as part of their Music Library for February (Domestic) 　　　　　　　　and for their Feburary and March (International flights). 　　　　　　　　Look for it in the Soft and Smooth Jazz of J Lounge, Please check Skyward 　　　　　　　　Entertaiment (International) and Winds (Domestic) on JAL flights to 　　　　　　　　hear “Aurora”. 　　　　　　　Yoshihiro Kikkawa became a member of American cellist organization, New 　　　　　　　Directions Cello Association. Later he was assigned as the first Japanese 　　　　　　　representative of New Direction Cello Association among other international 　　　　　　　cellists. -　　　　　　　Joined an Australian tour. His performance at Toowomba Regional Art Gallery 　　　　　　　was described as “a superb and innovative Jazz cellist” on the local 　　　　　　　newspaper. 　　　　　　　He was applauded by standing ovations at jazz clubs in Toowomba, Brisbane and 　　　　　　　others. -　　　　　　　Appeared in NHK TV program “People On The Topic”. -　　　　　　　Played cello solo as the first Japanese guest artist at “Goshen Jazz Festival” 　　　　　　　standing ovations from the audience and other performers. -　　　　　　　Appeared in NHK documentary on his life, entitled “I Can Fly Beyond With My 　　　　　　　Cello” 　　　　　　　which was on air in 6 prefectures in Tokoku area. -　　　　　　　Played “Amazing Grace” as the first Japanese cellist at the memorial service 　　　　　　　for victims of 9.11 World Trade Center that was produced by Erando Foundation. -　　　　　　　In New York, performed cello-3-units with Aaron Minsky(cello), Sean Grissom(cello) 　　　　　　　and Yoshihiro Kikkawa(cello) at “Cello Night”. 2006 - 　　　　　　　“I Can Fly Beyond With My Cello.” was re-aired in 6 prefectures of Tohoku 　　　　　　　area due to many requests from TV audiences. -　　　　　　　Lectured at Jazz Cello Workshop how to play cello in University of Sacrament, 　　　　　　　California USA. -　　　　　　　Performed cello duo with Sean Grissom at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage in 　　　　　　　Washington DC., USA. -　　　　　　　Accomplished a nationwide tour “New York Style Manhattan Cello Duo Breeze” with 　　　　　　　Sean Grissom. -　　　　　　　Performed as the first Japanese cellist at “The New Directions Cello Festival” 　　　　　　　in Sacrament, California, USA. -　　　　　　　Participated as a guest player at “Asagaya Jazz Street 2006” in Tokyo, and 　　　　　　　“Moriguchi-Kadoma Jazz Festival 2006”,and “Hirakara Yado Kaido Jazz Street 　　　　　　　2006”in Osaka. 2007 -　　　　　　　Participated as a guest player at “Hirayama Ikuo Museum 10th Anniversary” 　　　　　　　atSetotamachi Onomichi, Hiroshima. Accomplished a nationwide tour called 　　　　　　　“Masahiro Sayama jazz piano 88 keys & Yoshihiro Kikkawa jazz cello 5 strings”. -　　　　　　　Collaborated with one of Japan representative W.bass player Mitsuaki Furuno at one 　　　　　　　of the big festivals in Japan called “Yokohama Simmer Jazz Festival” in Kanagawa. -　　　　　　　Participated as a guest player at “Osaka, Moriguchi, Kadoma Jazz Festival 2007” -　　　　　　　Performed at “Kanagawa Hakone Jazz”. -　　　　　　　Collaborated again with W bass player Mitsuaki Furuno at “Tokyo-Asgaya Jazz 　　　　　　　Street 2006”. -　　　　　　　Participated as a guest player at “Fukiagesuna, Celebration of Sand in 2007” 　　　　　　　at Satsuma City in Kagoshima. Donated to one of the intellectual disability 　　　　　　　welfare facilities in Kagoshima. Received Thanks Letter from Mayor. Assigned as 　　　　　　　the third generation head at “Satsuma Class” in Kagoshima. 2008 -　　　　　　　Performed at “Hot House ? Everyone’s House” for embryonic Minamata Desease 　　　　　　　patients in Minamata, Kagoshima. -　　　　　　　Appeared on the cover page of classified ads magazine “Clover” for handicapped 　　　　　　　which was subscribed in the metropolitan and Kinki areas. -　　　　　　　Participated as a guest player at “Sand Festival 2008”. -　　　　　　　Performed at Nikka Whisky Factory in Yoichi City, Hokkaido where it became 　　　　　　　famous by NHK TV program “Massan”. -　　　　　　　Appeared in a long run and the most popular TV program “Sato Shinobu Meeting 　　　　　　　with Harmony”. -　　　　　　　Appeared as a personality on “From New York”, Kitakata City FM Radio in 　　　　　　　Fukushima. 2009 -　　　　　　　Lectured and gave live cello performance at Ebisu Rotary Club reception. 　　　　　　　His title was “Be Original ? Change Your Inferior Complex to Your Personality”. -　　　　　　　Lectured and played cello at “Prevent Suicide” event, entitled “Life, You 　　　　　　　Must Survive”. -　　　　　　　Lectured and played cello at “Your Passion Switches ON to Your Dreams!” 　　　　　　　at KDDI Hall which was held by Citizens College. 2011 -　　　　　　　Lectured with a title “Change Your Inferiority Complex to Your Personality” 　　　　　　　and gave cello performance at Four Wheels R&D Center of Honda Motors in Haga, 　　　　　　　Tochigi. 2012 -　　　　　　　Lectured and gave cello performance at annual congress of Japan Society of 　　　　　　　Perinatal & Neonatal Medicine, and also at Japanese Society for Clinical 　　　　　　　Thanatology. 2013 -　　　　　　　Dedicated cello performance for the victims of East Japan Great Earth Quake 　　　　　　　on the third anniversary at Honmyo-ji, the family temple of Kiyomasa Kato, 2014 -　　　　　　　Attended as a guest speaker with a title of “Believe in Your Possibility. 　　　　　　　Everybody is a hero/heroin of his/her life.” at Tokyo Tama Shimin University. -　　　　　　　Again lectured and gave cello performance at Annual Congress of Japan Society 　　　　　　　of Perinatal & Neonatal Medicine. -　　　　　　　Performed as a guest player at International Soloptimist in Numazu, Shuizuoka. 2015 -　　　　　　　Lectured and played cello at International Rotary Club of Kinki Prefectures 　　　　　　　with Dr. Genshitsu Sen and NHK announcer, Sadatomo Matsudaira. -　　　　　　　Appeared on 40 minutes TV program “Words for Tomorrow”. Talked about 　　　　　　　“to perform cello is a chance of meeting new people”. 2016 -　　　　　　　Appeared in NHK documentary program “Live with Hearing Loss” which was aired on 　　　　　　　January 27th (Wed). -　　　　　　　Summarized as “There is a solo cellist, Yoshihiro Kikkawa, who travels alone 　　　　　　　on his camping car all over Japan to perform. He has a hearing problem on his 　　　　　　　left ear. His playing style is very unique and innovative, and all listeners 　　　　　　　are attracted by its sound. He was born poor in Tsuruoka City, Yamagaga. 　　　　　　　Listening to music was the only fun in his childhood. He came to Tokyo dreaming 　　　　　　　to be a musician. Because of his ear problem, he unconsciously made bigger 　　　　　　　sounds than other instrumental musicians at ensembls. He was told that it was 　　　　　　　too difficult for him to become a professional musician. However he prevailed 　　　　　　　his handicap by concentrating on listening sounds. Later he received offers 　　　　　　　as a professional musician. As a professional cellist, he started to perform 　　　　　　　in USA where he had received a very precious advice from one of his associates 　　　　　　　in New York. It was a cue for him to produce his original playing style of today.” 　　　　　Main character: Yoshihiro Kikkawa 　　　　　Narrator, Akira Sada and Kumiko Takayama. -　　　　　Re-aired on January 30th. -　　　　　Re-aired on Feb. 5th.