Daisuke Kiba

Daisuke Kiba is a Japanese kokyu (胡弓) performer and composer from Awaji Island. He began studying jazz piano and theory at Koyo Music Conservatory from 1994 to 1995, then turned to the kokyu in 1998. In 2004, he studied classical kokyu under Kazuo Hara of the Nagoya school.

Kiba-san also explored kokyu traditions from Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, and regional styles like Bunraku and Kaze no Bon. He developed a four-string kokyu with an extended lower range, which keeps the traditional technique.

Kiba-san has performed internationally, including on NHK World’s “Blends,” and collaborated with artists such as the Yoshida Brothers. He co-founded the ensemble KODACHI with pianist Tomonori Adachi, mixing kokyu with piano and electronica. As a composer, he created works like “Suite Kojiki” and “Silk Road Suite,” for Japanese and other instruments. He leads the kokyu school Kinuzure-kai and continues to perform and compose.