TANIKAWA Kensaku

Born in 1960, and studied jazz piano under Masahiko Satoh.
As a performer, he organizes concerts throughout Japan; “DiVa”, the trio band that
sing contemporary poems, “Palhaco”, the unit with the harmonica player Chikara
Tsuzuki, and he works with his father Shuntaro Tanikawa to bring the collaboration
of reading and music.
Started to work on composition and arrangement from the mid-eighties,and he created music for movies such as “47 RONIN”(1994),“Ryoma’s Wife,Her Husband,and Her Lover”(2002),and the theme music for the well-known NHK documentary “At the Moment, History Was Made”. Won the Japan Academy Awards in 1988,1995,and 1997.
Recent activities: Music director of “The village, never strucked by lightning”produced by Biwako-hall in2006. Composed “Sketch of Jazz”to dedicate it to Izumi Tateno.
Produced music of “Jazzing”,a picture book by the illustrator Yoko Yamamoto, the integration of picture, essay, and sound. Music director of “Anne of Green Gables” produced by Hyogo Performing Arts Center, “DO-RA-MA YOKOHAMA150”the project to celebrate Yokohama Port’s Opening 150 th Anniversary in 2009.
Commissioned works:“Waking Wings, Flapping Seasons” A Symphny for Boys and Girls ( words by Wakako Kaku) for Toyama Prefectural Culture Foundation (2009.3),
“Early. Spring” (words by Kiyoko Nagase) for Akaiwa city in Okayama prefecture(2010).

TANIKAWA Kensaku’s tracks

• 小さなきまぐれ 1- A Little Whim 1 by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• 小さなきまぐれ 2 - A Little Whim 2 by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• 小さなきまぐれ 3 - A Little Whim 3 by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• The Beatles Medley by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• ころころ by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• Five Monks in Paradise by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• Emmanuelle by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• You can still make it by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• Our summer by TANIKAWA Kensaku
• Strong lightning by TANIKAWA Kensaku