The OTOKAI Friends Concert is a monthly concert series where guests can enjoy original music in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We also share a video from each concert during the third week of every month.
For our sixth concert, the concept is “Travel from Home.” Centered around pieces selected by OTOKAI participants, the program was created to evoke the feeling of taking a journey through music.
In the warm and inviting atmosphere of Pastoral Sound, the sounds of guitar and piano blend gently together, creating a concert experience that invites you to travel through music without leaving home.
▼ The 6th OTOKAI Friends Concert
Connecting through music — a joyful time for a healthy mind and heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ2gFb_umyM&t=367s
Date
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Performers
Gyo Kitagawa — Guitar
Born in Saitama Prefecture and educated at Berklee College of Music. His extensive work in music production includes writing lyrics for Arashi’s “Happiness” and “My Girl,” writing, composing, and arranging M!LK’s “Ichininosan,” and producing the Braban Disney! series.
Norimichi Kokubo — Guitar
Born in Chiba Prefecture. He also performs as a member of the guitar-and-violin duo mille baisers. He has toured internationally and released ten albums and video works.
Shuhei Hosaka — Piano
Jazz pianist and graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, where he received the Acanthus Music Prize. Born in Gunma Prefecture, he also serves as a tourism ambassador for Shibukawa City.
Known for his versatile musical style, he blends elements of jazz, classical, and popular music with a balanced and flexible approach. He has arranged and performed piano for numerous bands and artists, including Hiro Tsunoda. He also served as a principal musician for the music division of Oreno Corporation, known for restaurants such as Ore no French, where he arranged and produced music for a variety of ensembles.
His CD releases include Tapestries (2017), YAKUMO (2019), Both Sides Now (2023), and The Secret Melody of the Imaginary City (2025). His YouTube channel, “You, Piano and Music,” featuring popular content such as movie-music medleys, has more than 42,000 subscribers as of April 2026.
Program
Walk with a Smile — Norimichi Kokubo
Sunlight Through the Trees — Maurice Claude
Beyond the Clouds — Yuna Murayama
Ragtime on the Corner — Shoki
A Dream Floating in the Sky — Maurice Claude
Before Dawn — Maurice Claude
OTOKAI Parade — Norimichi Kokubo
Venue
Pastoral Sound
Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood in Okusawa, Setagaya, Pastoral Sound is a private recording studio designed to bring out the natural sound of piano and acoustic instruments. Its high ceiling and rich, comfortable acoustics create an ideal environment for warm and expressive recordings.
Address:
2-4-12 Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo