尺八 元永拓（もとながひろむ）
Studied Kinko-ryu shakuhachi under Reiharu Ohashi and Kuninori Sugawara. In 2002, he formed the shakuhachi trio "Prajna Empire" and performed in New York and other locations. He joined the Japan Music Group in 2003 and formed the new pure Japanese music unit "WASABI" in 2008, making their major debut in 2012. Appointed as an East Asia cultural envoy by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, he has performed in over 30 countries and 40 cities overseas through projects dispatched by the Japan Foundation. He has also appeared on NHK BS TV's "Earth TV El Mundo" and "J-WAVE MUSIC CELEBRATION" and currently serves as a permanent director and chairman of the board of directors of the non-profit organization Japan Music Group, and as a lecturer for the Koto Music Club at Sophia University.