Taro was born on 23rd January, 1968. Picking up his first violin at the age of four, he debuted as a member of the band Kryzler & Kompany — a trio of violin, bass and keyboards — in 1990 whilst studying the violin at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, one of the most prestigious art universities in Japan.
In 1996, he recorded “To Love You More” with Céline Dion, which went on to become a No.1 hit, selling over a million records and receiving an award for top foreign single of year. Between 1996-97 he performed in over 100 concerts worldwide as the special guest on Céline Dion’s world tour and after 11 albums with Kryzler & Kompany, he made his solo debut in 1997.
He has recorded his own compositions with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. His unique sound and collaborations with artists such the Polish jazz singer Basia and Argentinean Forever Tango Orchestra have gained him massive crossover appeal.
In 2007, he recorded a track for “We All Love Ennio Morricone” an all-star tribute album honouring Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone. The line-up included artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Andrea Bocelli, and Quincy Jones. Taro has released a total of 15 solo albums through his own label, HATS Records and has composed the soundtrack to numerous movies and commercials. He has also written music for various companies, many of which have supported his activities, including ANA (All Nippon Airlines), Shinsei Bank, Kinoshita construction, and Asahi Beer.
In the UK -
Taro moved to London with his family in September 2007 with the ambition to extend his career as a classical violinist. For the last ten years he has performed over 100 concerts every year, these concerts were typically held in halls with capacities of up to 5000 and tickets were known to sell out on the first day of sale.
Having sold over 6 million CDs in Japan he believes that now is the right time for him to make his mark in Europe, particularly in the UK. Taro’s dynamic performances, his sound and skill are often compared to that of Itzhak Perlman, a childhood hero. He is sure to captivate his audience not only in the UK, but everywhere in the world.
