MUSIC at JAPAN HOUSE 2026 | By Blending Tsugaru Shamisen, Jazz, Piano, and Global Sounds, MAOSHO Featuring Ryota Kikuchi | Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 7:00PM
LOS ANGELES, CA — Japanese musical tradition meets contemporary jazz when MAOSHO featuring Ryota Kikuchi takes the stage at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles in Hollywood on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
This special one-night performance brings together three exceptional Japanese musicians for a unique collaboration that crosses genres, generations, and cultural boundaries.
MAOSHO features Tsugaru shamisen virtuoso Sho Asano and internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and trumpeter Mao Sone. The duo combines traditional Japanese folk music with jazz, Latin, and world music, creating a fresh and powerful sound rooted in Japanese musical heritage.
Joining MAOSHO for this special Los Angeles performance is acclaimed pianist, composer, and arranger Ryota Kikuchi. Known for his extraordinary technique, creativity, and genre-defying performances, Kikuchi has built a global following with more than 850,000 YouTube subscribers and 400 million views.
Together, Asano, Sone, and Kikuchi will create an exciting musical dialogue between tradition and contemporary sound, bringing together the expressive power of Tsugaru shamisen, jazz improvisation, piano, and modern arrangements.
This concert offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience three distinctive musical voices on one stage and discover new possibilities in Japanese music.
EVENT INFORMATION
MAOSHO Featuring Ryota Kikuchi
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Doors Open: 6:30 PM Show Starts: 7:00 PM
Venue: JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles 6801 Hollywood Blvd, 5F Los Angeles, CA 90028
Artists: Sho Asano — Tsugaru Shamisen & Vocals Mao Sone — Piano, Trumpet & Composer Ryota Kikuchi — Piano, Composer & Arranger
Tickets: General Admission — $40 Premium VIP Admission — $50
Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maosho-featuring-with-ryota-kikuchi-tickets-1997090576675
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Sho Asano — Tsugaru Shamisen & Vocals
Sho Asano is one of Japan’s leading Tsugaru shamisen performers. He began playing at age five and, at 14, became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious A-Class division of the Tsugaru Shamisen National Competition, winning three consecutive championships.
He has performed at renowned venues including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and has collaborated with artists across jazz, rock, pop, and traditional Japanese music. In 2025, he formed MAOSHO with Mao Sone, receiving a standing ovation at their New York performance.
Mao Sone — Piano, Trumpet & Composer
Mao Sone is an internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist known for his unique ability to perform on both piano and trumpet. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he has won international jazz competitions and performed at prestigious venues including Blue Note New York and Blues Alley in Washington, D.C.Active as a performer, composer, arranger, and producer, Sone continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz and cross-cultural music.
Ryota Kikuchi — Piano, Composer & Arranger
Ryota Kikuchi is an acclaimed pianist, composer, arranger, and YouTube creator known for his exceptional technique and genre-defying performances.With more than 850,000 YouTube subscribers and 400 million views, he has built a global following. His versatile musical style spans classical, jazz, pop, and contemporary music, making him one of Japan’s most exciting pianists.
This concert is organized by Kimono Con.