Mukon Mochizuki・J.D. Andrade

A native of Illinois, J.D. began his musical journey in classical violin at the age of 9, eventually focusing on chamber music through high school and university. He first started taiko as a member of Gendo Taiko Gendo Taiko Providence, RI (U.S.A.) Collegiate taiko group founded in 2005 by Raiki Machida and Joshua Goldner with roots in Miyagi prefecture’s Wadaiko Gensō. Visit Website at Brown University in 2006, and in 2012, he moved to Honolulu to study with Kenny Endo Kenny Endo Honolulu, HI (U.S.A.) Esteemed taiko artist and the first non-Japanese national to get a stage name in hōgaku bayashi. Visit Website after being awarded the Taiko Center of the Pacific Taiko Center of the Pacific Honolulu, HI (U.S.A.) Taiko school founded in 1994 by Kenny and Chizuko Endo with roots in the Sukeroku style of drumming from Tokyo, Japan. Visit Website (TCP) Fellowship.

Upon moving to Japan in 2014, J.D. began playing taiko professionally with Taiko Project Indra, where he began his journey into the traditional performing arts. In addition to taiko, J.D. studies matsuri-bayashi (festival music) under Kyosuke Suzuki Kyosuke Suzuki Tokyo, Japan One of the leading practitioners of Tokyo festival music, Japanese lion dance, and kagura. Wakayama Shachū holds the 無形文化財 (Intangible Cultural Property) designation for Edo Sato Kagura. Visit Website and kabuki-bayashi (traditional Japanese drumming) under Saburo Mochizuki Saburo Mochizuki Tokyo, Japan A prominent performer and teacher of hōgaku bayashi who studied with Bokusei IV, former Living National Treasure. He holds a 無形文化財 (Intangible Cultural Property) designation for nagauta. .

In 2019, J.D. became the second foreigner, after Kenny Endo, to be awarded a stage name, or natori, in kabuki-bayashi, granted by Sakichi Mochizuki IV, headmaster of the Mochizuki School’s Morishita division. His stage name is Mukon Mochizuki (望月武懇).

In 2022, J.D. had the pleasure of being featured as a kabuki-bayashi artist on TV Tokyo’s “Sekai! Nippon ni ikitai hito ōendan.” This experience propelled him to begin sharing his passion for kabuki-bayashi with the expat community in Japan, as well as the rest of the world.

In 2023, he shifted his focus toward ohayashi, eventually founding Taiko Unit Tsuzumiboshi in 2024, a Tokyo-based ensemble that brings together taiko, hōgaku-bayashi, and matsuri-bayashi.

In August 2025, he participated in “Ma vs. Groove,” Kenny Endo’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi as a performer, workshop leader, interpreter, and organizer, collaborating with artists such as Sho’on Shibata Sho’on Shibata Honolulu, HI (U.S.A.) A former fellow and current member of Taiko Center of the Pacific, as well as an independent artist in taiko and fue. Visit Website (taiko), Fujima Saeka Fujima Saeka Honolulu, HI (U.S.A.) A talented performer of Nihon Buyō, or Japanese classical dance, of the Fujima School, and a member of Taiko Center of the Pacific. (Classical Japanese dance), Sakio Kineya Sakio Kineya Tokyo, Japan & Honolulu, HI (U.S.A.) A professional nagauta shamisen performer and teacher of the Samonkai Kineya School of Nagauta. A native of Hawai‘i, he started shamisen at a very young age and operates schools in both Japan and Hawai‘i. Visit Website (shamisen), and Kiyora Okayasu Kiyora Okayasu Tokyo, Japan A nagauta vocalist of the Okayasu school and a natori in Hanayagi-style dance. She actively performs and promotes traditional arts internationally. (nagauta vocals).

During his time in Japan, J.D. has had the pleasure of performing in a variety of notable venues such as the National Theatre of Japan and Suntory Hall, as well as touring internationally, including a 2017 performance in Turkey with the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble for a hospital opening ceremony alongside collaborators Abe Lagrimas, Jr. Abe Lagrimas, Jr. Los Angeles, CA (U.S.A.) A leading western drummer and ukulele player and composer who studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He collaborates regularly with Kenny Endo and others domestically and abroad. Visit Website and Kaoru Watanabe Kaoru Watanabe New York, NY (U.S.A.) Independent taiko artist and flautist, and former artistic director of Kodo. Known for his collaborations with artists such as Kenny Endo, Yo-Yo Ma, and Living National Treasure Tamasaburo Bandō. Visit Website .