Born in Tokyo in 1945. Seeking to merge avant-gardism with tradition, Tanaka is active in various areas, including dance, opera, drama, art exhibitions and film, in Japan and abroad. In Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture, he runs Dance Resources on Earth, a research organization, and Tokason, a dance troupe and agricultural cooperative society. He has published a large number of works, including the international joint productions, An end-of-20th-century Version of The Rite of Spring (with Russian dancers) and Mori no Bisho (The smile of woods) (with dancers from various countries). In November to December of last year, he performed solo dance in Indonesia.

Born in KobeCity in 1955.Okura is a hand drum player of the Okura school of Noh musical accompanists and is certified as a holder of important intangible cultural assets.As the eldest son of the late Okura Chojuro, the 15th head of the Okura school, he has established his reputation as an unparalleled drum soloist and sticks to beating the drum with bare hands, an art of extreme difficulty.He has performed for ceremonies and special events in various countries worldwide.Okura is widely covered by mass media, and recently released compact disks of his performances, including one entitled Hiten.

Born in Tokyo in 1964.Isso is a flautist of the Issou school of Noh musical accompanists.He is also active in giving improvised performances.His powerful performance easily incorporates classical and contemporary music, making Issou a promising flute player with unlimited potential.He presides over the group named Ohiyari, which gives flute concerts.His major works include Tokyo Daruma Gaeru and Riyari.

Born in Kyoto in 1944.Matsuoka is the director of the Editorial Engineering Laboratory and the headmaster of the ISIS editorial school.He established his unique methodical view of the world as “editorial engineering” and is active in a wide range of fields from science to art to Japanese culture.His principal writings include Kacho Fugetsu no Kagaku (The science of the beauties of nature), Nihonryu (Japanese style), Nihon Suki (refined Japanese taste), Sansui Shiso (The idea of landscapes) and Yugaku (Studying far away from home).