About Me (Taka)

My name is Taka.

I play Irish traditional music on the fiddle, banjo, and tin whistle etc.

I am originally from Japan.

I play and teach Irish traditional music in my hometown in Tokyo.

I learned to play traditional music in Ireland when I was studying English in county Clare.

I learned to play Irish traditional music in a music class which was run by Cois na hAbhna in Ennis. When I was learning music there, I passed all grades of the SCT (Scrúdú Ceol Tíre ) exam.

SCT exam is the examination for the Irish traditional music offered by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.(Comhaltas is a world wide organisation of Irish traditional music based in Dublin.)

In 2015 I passed the TTCT exam and became a qualified teacher of Irish traditional music.

TTCT (Teastas Teagaisc Ceolta Tíre) is an examination for a person who wish to become a teacher of Irish traditional music examined by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

I am the very first person to pass the TTCT exam from Asian countries.

In 2019 I participated in the all Ireland Fleadh Cheoil held in Drogheda, Co. Louth and placed 2nd in the Piosai Ceoil Nuacheaptha (Newly Composed Tunes).

Fleadh Cheoil is competition of Irish traditional music held annually in Ireland.

It is like the Olympic games of Irish traditional music. Participants are coming from all over the world.

Results for the Píosaí Ceoil Nuacheaptha competition at the Fleadh in 2019

The medal that I received at the Fleadh.

The tune that I composed for the Píosaí Ceoil Nuacheaptha competition.

I played the "Taka's Tune" at the Fleadh TV Show. (I play it after the harp player)

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Now I am playing and teaching Irish traditional music in Tokyo.

I am trying to help popularising Irish music in Japan.

I hope Irish traditional music becomes more popular in Japan.