Biography of Ten-Chi-Jin

Jiro Oma (born 1954) is a drummer, producer and the leader of Ten-chi-jin. He was born in Kosakamachi, Akita Prefecture, Japan. During his teenage years he started to play music, strongly influenced by the Beatles and many other British and American Rock artists. In 1976, at the age of 21, he joined the pop group “Off course” as their drummer. The band participated at the legendary 10 day live performance at Tokyo Budokan, which marked an important milestone of Japanese popular music. After “Off course” dissolved in 1989, Jiro moved back to Akita Prefecture, starting his career as producer. By coincidence Jiro met Shinobu Osawa in 2000 and Hiroyuki Kurosawa in 2001 and was highly impressed by their outstanding performances. In 2003, Jiro contacted Shinobu and Hiroyuki to form the band “Ten-chi-jin”.

Shinobu Osawa (born 1974) is a taiko performer born in Odate, Akita Prefecture, Japan. She plays various sizes of the taiko (Japanese drum) including Odate-Magewappa-Taiko, a variant of the taiko invented in Odate City in 1984. Her career began at the age of 10 when she joined the local Odate-Magewappa-Taiko group. From the very beginning Shinobu has made remarkable progress, winning numerous contests. In 2004, she was awarded the “Akita Prefecture Art Encouragement Prize”. Beside the activities as a member of Ten-chi- jin, Shinobu is also a member of the group “Hidano Osamu with Taiko Masters” and the fusion group “Bronze”. Solo performances include a live act at “The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize” award ceremony in 2008.

Hiroyuki Kurosawa (born 1972) is one of the greatest successors of traditional Japanese music and folklore. He was born in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, where he started to learn the shamisen when he was 7 years old. Hiroyuki inherits the legitimate lineage of Tsugaru-Shamisen, currently teaching this art at his school in Iwate. Hiroyuki is the first person ever to win the gold medal of the “All Japan Tsugaru-Shamisen Kanagi Championship” for three consecutive years in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Hiroyuki collaborates with musicians from various genres such as “Himegami”. Hiroyuki is not merely a student of traditional Japanese music, he also absorbs many elements of Western classical music and Rock, which enables him to compose unique melodies.

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