Shimoji Isamu

At thirty, Shimoji Isamu began his musical career. He primarily started composing songs while working on a piece for his father’s sixtieth birthday, but it grew to something more than a mere hobby. In 2002, Shimoji recorded an album and debuted with The Island of our Births under an indie label.

Not long after, Shimoji signed to Teichiku Records, a label that dedicates itself to both enka and kayoukyoku music. Shimoji's first release was Tin ~heaven~, back in 2003 and since then, he has released a healthy section of singles and albums under Teichiku Records.

3% was ranked “best album of 2008” in HI-Fi Journal, a Korean magazine.

In the following year, three of his albums - The vibe of the people, 3% and Tin - were released in Taiwan, thus enhancing his presence outside of Japan.

In March 2011, Shimoji performed at Okinawa Churauta 2011, an outdoor free concert held over three days, in Okinawa, alongside shamisen player Ara Yukito, ZUKAN, Tamoshiro Chiharu and Natsukawa Rimi. On May 17th of the same year, Shimoji appeared alongside UK singer-songwriter Paul Davies, film-maker-turned-musician CRY BABY and indie group Sincere Deceivers at the Troubadour Café in the UK.

Shimoji’s most recent album to date is titled No Refuge and offers a sampling of Miyakufutsu throughout the tracks.

Over the years, Shimoji has slowly emerged into the music world, performed in an array of locations and enlightened many with his music.