Takashi Sugawa

Double Bassist, Composer

Takashi Sugawa is a versatile bassist and cellist renowned for his deep commitment to improvisation across a wide range of musical landscapes. Originally from Gunma, Japan, he began his musical journey on the cello at age 11 before taking up the double bass at 18. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston, he moved to New York City, where he met pianist Masabumi “Poo” Kikuchi and was deeply influenced by his musical philosophy. Upon returning to Japan, he joined the bands of Terumasa Hino and Sadao Watanabe. 

Currently, Sugawa leads his own group, Banksia Trio, and is a key member of the Takeo Moriyama Quartet and the Michiyo Yagi Trio. He has performed at numerous festivals, including Tokyo JAZZ, Montreux, London, Detroit, Melbourne and Moers. His work extends to theater and art, providing solo music for The Tale of the Heike and composed music for photography exhibitions, contemporary dance, and public art installations.

He released his debut album Outgrowing (featuring Leo Genovese and Tom Rainey) in 2018. With Banksia Trio, he has released four albums, most recently LIVE in 2025. He serves as an Educational Ambassador for his hometown of Isesaki City, where he conducts annual workshops and performances for elementary and middle school students.

Masaki Hayashi

Pianist, Composer

Renowned for his evocative solo performances and visionary leadership of projects such as the "Masaki Hayashi Group" and "Ma wo Kanaderu," Masaki Hayashi is a versatile force in the contemporary acoustic scene. His collaborative portfolio spans an extraordinary range of genres, working alongside luminaries such as Lisa Ono, Sheena Ringo, LEO, Aska Kaneko, and Kazuma Fujimoto, while maintaining key roles in ensembles like Banksia Trio and Naruyoshi Kikuchi y Pepe Tormento Azcarar.

Hayashi’s artistry lies in a sophisticated fusion of delicate performance and "static" songwriting—a style that embraces a vast array of influences with a touch of idiosyncratic wit. This distinctive voice has earned him profound international recognition and a reputation as a composer of rare depth.

His recent credits include recording sessions for NHK’s prestigious Taiga dramas, Berabou and Hikaru Kimi e, as well as the serial TV novel Tora ni Tsubasa. As a film composer, his score for the 2021 feature Under the Open Sky (Dir. Miwa Nishikawa) was honored with the Music Award at the 76th Mainichi Film Awards. His latest album, Unfolding in Time (a collaboration with Kazuma Fujimoto), was released in November 2025 to critical acclaim.

Shun Ishiwaka

Drummer, Percussionist, Composer

Shun Ishiwaka is a boundary-breaking percussionist and composer who has become a cornerstone of the modern Japanese music scene. A graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, his deep roots in classical and contemporary percussion inform his expansive work, which ranges from leading avant-garde jazz collectives like SMTK and Answer to Remember to collaborating with J-Pop icons such as Gen Hoshino, Kenshi Yonezu, and Sheena Ringo.

Ishiwaka’s versatility is unmatched, moving seamlessly between performing original percussion concertos with symphony orchestras and contributing to major film scores, including recording the drums for the BLUE GIANT anime film. His artistic reach extends globally through collaborations with jazz legends like Kurt Rosenwinkel and Jason Moran.

Following his successful 2025 residency, Jazz Transcending, presented by the Japan Society in New York, Ishiwaka continues to lead the new wave of creative music. He remains at the forefront of the global scene, masterfully bridging the worlds of classical precision and improvisational freedom.