Takao Minemoto

Japanese handpan performer, traveller and teacher whose calm melodic style grew from years of street music, international travel and community workshops.

Takao Minemoto is a Japanese percussionist, handpan player and educator based in the Azumino area of Nagano. He discovered the instrument in 2015 through a Sonobe handpan and, in 2016, left his previous employment to travel and perform as a street musician across thirteen countries. That period shaped a musical language centred on direct human contact, gentle improvisation and the ability to adapt to changing places and audiences. Minemoto later released recordings, performed at festivals and developed workshops, private lessons, rentals and other ways for newcomers to encounter the instrument. He also collaborates with other artists and has continued to broaden his ensemble work. His music generally favours lyrical repetition, soft dynamics and an atmosphere of quiet attention, reflecting both a travelling performer’s flexibility and a teacher’s interest in creating welcoming musical spaces.