Meet The Japanese Artist Using Irish Music in Video Games: Kozo Toyota

Words: Rachel Hannon

Kozo Toyota may not be a name you immediately associate with trad ceoil, but he is defining what it means to keep Irish traditions alive. Kozo is an exceptional Irish Trad musician, hailing from Tokyo, Japan. This week, he travels to Dublin as the face of Smithwick’s new ‘Originals Find Originals’ campaign, to play Tradfest’s Smithwick’s Sessions.

Smithwick’s wants to connect with communities who are seeking out and re-inventing old Irish traditions through these sessions. Find out more here.

Kozo Toyota has no connection to Ireland except for his love of Irish traditional music. Born in Tokyo in 1981, Kozo is a virtuoso flute-player. Having discovered Irish traditional music, he founded the Toyota Céilí Band in Tokyo, in response to an increasing demand for céilís in Japan.

Since then, Kozo has taken part in recordings with many renowned Irish musicians, as well as written music for TV dramas and even video games. He has also founded numerous Irish music groups in Japan involving all generations, such as g-celt, Intercollegiate Celtic Festival, FisdaM, and more. We caught up with Kozo to find out more about he discovered his passion for Trad.

Catch Kozo joining The Murphy Sisters on stage from 6pm in the Old Store House this Thursday as part of the Smithwick’s Sessions.

The Smithwick’s Sessions Temple Bar are a series of over 50 free curated Trad & Folk concerts which take place in only 12 premium venues across Temple Bar. These concerts feature some of the best-established folk and trad artists from across the island of Ireland along with some of the most exciting emerging talent. More info and the full line-up can be found here.