Born into a family of Minyo (traditional Japanese folk music) performers, Koki Nakamura is a Tsugaru Shamisen virtuoso and winner of the Tsugaru Shamisen World Championship. With his unique sensibility, he updates and reimagines folk songs from across Japan to suit the modern era, sharing them with audiences around the world.

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While preserving the traditions passed down by past masters, he explores new possibilities for Tsugaru Shamisen and Minyo by blending them with various musical genres.

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Koki was born into a prestigious Minyo family. His great-uncle, Takashi Nakamura (first generation), was a legendary Tsugaru Minyo singer; his grandfather, Yuuri Nakamura, was Takashi’s younger brother; and his mother, Yumi Nakamura, received the Prime Minister’s Award at the National Minyo Competition.

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At the age of one, Koki made his stage debut singing Tosa no Sunayama at a charity concert hosted by his grandfather’s group, the Yuuri-kai. By the age of two, he was already playing with a toy shamisen at his grandfather’s home, and soon after, he began practicing with a real one. From the age of eight, he studied Tsugaru Shamisen under Takashi Nakamura (second generation).

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In 2024, he released his first full album, TamiUta, on the Nippon Columbia label and embarked on a nationwide tour. In 2025, he performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. That same year, he became the first artist from the traditional Japanese music world to win the Newcomer Award at the Music Pen Club Music Awards. He gained recognition not only within the traditional music scene but also across the broader music industry.

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Instagram：@koki_nakamura_official
X：@koki_nakamura__

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民謡一家に生まれ、津軽三味線世界大会優勝の若き名手。日本各地に伝わる民謡を、中村滉己の感性で、今の時代にあわせアップデート&リメイクし、世界に発信する活動を展開。

先代の巨匠達が紡いできた伝統を継承しつつ、様々な音楽分野との融合を通し、津軽三味線・民謡の可能性を追求している。

 

大伯父は津軽民謡の名人初代中村隆志、祖父はその弟中村優利、母は民謡民舞全国大会で内閣総理大臣賞を受賞した中村優美、といった民謡一家に生まれ育つ。

 

1歳の頃、祖父中村優利が主宰する優利会チャリティー民謡発表会で「十三の砂山」を唄 い初舞台を踏む。2 歳の頃、祖父の自宅に置いてあったおもちゃの三味線で遊ぶようになり、その後すぐに本物の三味線を嗜むようになった。8歳の頃から津軽三味線を二代目中村隆志氏に師事。

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2024年、日本コロムビアよりファーストフルアルバム「民唄 -TamiUta-」をリリースし、全国ツアーを開催。また「題名のない音楽会」等、各メディアへ多数出演。

2025年、東京フィルハーモニー交響楽団と共演。同年、邦楽界で初となるミュージック・ペンクラブ音楽賞新人賞を受賞するなど、和楽器界のみならず幅広く評価を受けている。

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2018年　第12回 津軽三味線日本一決定戦 日本一の部　優勝
2022年　羽生結弦 アイスショー 「プロローグ」横浜公演 & 八戸公演出演
2022年　第40回 津軽三味線世界大会 個人A級　優勝

2025年　ミュージックペンクラブ音楽賞 新人賞受賞

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Instagram：@koki_nakamura_official

X：@koki_nakamura__