Diana Farah

ABU DHABI: World renowned Japanese percussionist Kuniko Kato on April 17 made her debut at the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Festival, where Japan was this year’s country of honor.

Known for her work with the marimba, Kato brought both technical mastery and emotions to the stage, offering audiences a unique experience.

Speaking with Arab News Japan ahead of her performance, Kato shared her thoughts on cultural exchange, musical inspiration and the role of the marimba on the global stage.

“I didn’t expect to perform in Abu Dhabi,” she said. “But when I heard about the festival’s focus on Japan, and how they were anticipating Japanese artists and traditions, I was truly honored.”

Kato is celebrated internationally for elevating the marimba, a folk instrument, to concert stages around the world.

Her mentor, the legendary Keiko Abe, was among the first to see the marimba’s potential as a classical instrument.

“She believed in it deeply and asked composers to write new works for it. That energy helped bring the marimba into academic and professional music scenes,” Kato explained.

Among the repertoire she performed in Abu Dhabi was a piece by Akira Miyoshi, a key figure in Japanese contemporary classical music and a former principal of Kato’s alma mater, the Toho Gakuen School of Music.

“These Japanese marimba pieces are spiritually rich,” she said. “When I play them abroad, I believe people feel that spirit.”

Her performance in the UAE was particularly special, not only because it marked her first time in the region but also because of the fusion of tradition and modernity she observed.

“I see so much contrast here, modern architecture and traditional clothes, old customs and new lifestyles. It really inspires me,” Kato said. “It makes me want to express myself even more.”

When asked what she hopes audiences take away from her performance, her answer was simple: freedom.

“I want them to feel free through music,” she said. “There are no words in what I do, but the sound itself can speak to everyone, it’s borderless.”