Shiori Sakurai

Marimba player and composer.

At the age of five, she encountered a marimba at an acquaintance’s home and was captivated by its sound. She began taking lessons and, from childhood, drew inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki’s films and the music of Joe Hisaishi.

Determined to become a musician, she studied marimba at Nagoya College of Music. Her honors include Second Prize in the General Percussion Division at the National Finals of the Japan Classical Music Competition, along with awards in competitions in Japan and abroad.

In 2018, she joined the taiko and marimba ensemble GONNA as a marimba player. She now performs throughout Japan and has appeared on Nippon Television’s annual program 24-Hour Television.

In 2023, she presented her first solo recital, SAKURAI SHIORI 1st RECITAL, which was featured by multiple media outlets.