At the beginning of her solo concerts, Aragaki Mutsumi invites her audience to journey with her into another world of Okinawan music. It’s a voyage into her Okinawa, evoked through the expert sound of her sanshin playing, the rich expression of her voice, and the mesmerising atmospheres created by both natural and electronic soundscapes.

Mutsumi studied the traditional Okinawa string instrument sanshin and the island’s classical singing tradition under the tutelage of two great masters of Okinawan music, Fukuhara Chouki and Fukuhara Kyouko.
Her mission now is to integrate the deep soul of Okinawan music into a contemporary setting—without, as she says, “losing its scent.” Aragaki Mutsumi is both a guardian of her roots and a bold experimenter.

Aragaki Mutsumi is part of Final Descent’s Artist in Residency 2025, where three Japanese musicians will visit Copenhagen Jazz Festival with solo performances and exciting new collaborations.