Emiko Minakuchi was born in Yokohama, Japan, where she started to study the piano at the age of four. She studied in Musashino University in Tokyo, and later in Paris where she continued studying with Olivier Hutman, Antoine Hervé and Jean Gobinet.
Emiko contributed to numerous jazz groups and was regularly part of the association Musiques sur Cours live performances. During this period, Emiko was the resident pianist for the Sunday jam sessions of the renowned 7 Lézards jazz club in Paris. Since 2003 and after being a student there, she is now teaching piano in the Paris ARPEJ jazz school.
In October 2003, Emiko started her own trio with the talented young musicians Hugo Céchosz on bass and Francesco Pastacaldi on drums. This group plays her own compositions, both airy and full of energy, imprinted with the Japanese roots of Emiko Minakuchi. Her debut album kokolo was released in September 2005, and to promote, she performed at Café de la Danse.
Through the next year, Emiko toured steadily throughout France, and performed at Rhino Jazz Festival in October. By November, the group traveled to Israel, performing at the Zappa Club. In 2007, they only held two performances as their drummer, Francesco Pastacaldi departed the band, leaving the group a duo. He was soon replaced by Archibald Ligonnière, but the band did not resume any activity until 2009, when they picked back up their touring schedule throughout the summer in France, and in September, released their second CD, Mei.
Since the debut of Mei, neither Emiko or the trio has not had any activity, but fans can be sure to see more of her in the future.
