WA is the traditional Japanese music ensemble comprised of artists Gunnar Jinmei Linder on Shakuhachi, Kikuko Sato on Koto and Sangen, Eri Igarashi on Koto, Curtis Patterson on Koto and Jushichigen, Kazuyuki Shiotaka on Biwa, and Kaho Tosha on Kotsuzumi. WA is the Japanese word for Harmony, Peace, and Balance. The WA ensemble perform pre-Meiji era traditional Japanese music on instruments of that time. Their performances include Shin no Kyorei (Spirit of Emptiness), Chidori no Kyoku (The Song of the Plover), and Sokaku Reibo (Yearning for the Bell). Gunnar Jinmei Linder (リンデル 儘盟 グンナル) holds a PHD in Japanology and is a Kinko-ryū Shakuhachi Shihan. His profile is at http://nipponicom.com/ Curtis Patterson (リンデル 儘盟 グンナル) holds a master's license from the Sawai Koto Institute and is the first non-Japanese national to graduate from the NHK training program for young performers of traditional Japanese instruments. His profile is at http://www.curtkoto.com/bio.html Kazuyuki Shiotaka (SHIOTAKA Kazuyuki 塩高 和之) performs on the Biwa from classical works in the traditional vein to modern compositions. Preferring a more intimate solo concert style, Shiotaka performs regularly in halls and salons. He also performs in historic, culturally significant locations, often linked with the biwa, including the sacred Kumano and Koyasan areas, as well as Itsukushima Shrine and the Akama Shrine at Dan no Ura. His profile is at http://biwa-shiotaka.com/ Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.