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Podcast: Art Works Podcast
Episode: Strings of Transformation: June Kuramoto and the Journey of the Koto
Description: Koto musician and 2024 National Heritage Fellow June Kuramoto shares her remarkable journey from Japan to Los Angeles, recounting the challenges of adapting to a new culture as a young child and how a chance encounter with the koto reconnected her with her heritage. Kuramoto discusses her rise as one of the few koto masters in America, her deep exploration of the instrument’s traditional roots, and her innovative work blending the koto with jazz, R&B, and contemporary music. She reflects on co- founding the Grammy-nominated band Hiroshima with Dan Kuramoto, and how the band redefined Asian American music. Kur...