Yuki Koshimoto: the handpan voice that transcends borders

Have you recently listened to one of Yuki Koshimoto’s musical performances? Would you like to know more about this Japanese percussionist? What was her journey to becoming one of the most renowned artists with a handpan at her fingertips?

I first discovered Yuki Koshimoto’s music through her iconic track New Moon nearly 10 years ago, and I’ve been following her updates on social media ever since. So I can quickly paint a clear picture of this Japanese musician for you.

After reading this article, you will learn:

• How Yuki Koshimoto rose to fame with her Hang
• The most-listened-to tracks by this artist.

This way, you’ll know exactly who Yuki Koshimoto is, and you might discover a few beautiful melodies and interesting facts about her along the way.

Now, let’s take some time together to explore Yuki Koshimoto’s musical career.

How did Yuki Koshimoto become famous with her handpan?

Yuki Koshimoto was born in Japan on March 6, 1987. As a result, at the time of writing, this artist is 38 years old. In 2008, Yuki Koshimoto began travelling to many countries in search of what matters most in life. Her journey first took her to Thailand and then to India, where she says she experienced a revelation that drastically changed her worldview and the way she lives. She describes herself as a globetrotting artist.

Later, in 2009, while travelling in England, she met a duo of street musicians—one playing the didgeridoo and the other the djembe. They explained their lifestyle: making a living from performances and donations from passersby who enjoyed their music. That way of life really appealed to Yuki Koshimoto, and she decided to do the same. Still in London, she met another artist who introduced her to a completely unfamiliar instrument: the handpan. She was instantly captivated by this UFO-shaped sound sculpture, and within the next few months, she set out to buy one.

She purchased a Spacedrum with a 13-note chromatic range, which she would later use in most of her performances. Yuki taught herself the basics of the instrument and started playing for passersby on the street in various countries across Europe and Asia, as well as in Australia. Keeping a fairly low profile for two years, she also played with the Japanese group SunTriTra, which features several exotic instruments such as the didgeridoo, cajón, and djembe. You can watch her play a melody on the beach in the video below:

On October 19, 2011, she posted a video of herself playing a melody called New Moon on her YouTube channel. The video quickly went viral, racking up tens of millions of views and propelling Yuki Koshimoto into the spotlight. She is considered a pioneer of this new kind of percussion instrument, especially since her dreadlocks set her apart from other female artists. She went on to perform at numerous festivals, particularly in Japan, and collaborated with other artists such as Ryohei Kubota and Fugaku Yohei. In recent years, Yuki Koshimoto has remained relatively discreet on social media and has released only a few new pieces. She has also never released any albums or CDs of her original music.

Alongside her musical activities, Yuki Koshimoto has created her own brand of handmade jewellery. These pieces include bracelets, rings, pendants, and necklaces made with macramé and finished with natural stones. Her brand is called "Stones Spirit," and you can buy them at this address if you can read Japanese.

What are the best Hang drum songs produced by Yuki Koshimoto?

As mentioned above, Yuki Koshimoto’s most famous piece is still New Moon, which played a major role in her rise to fame. You can also check out her performance at the 2015 Dance of Shiva festival or her street performance in Singapore, where she’s accompanied by didgeridoo player Taku. Listen to New Moon below:

Reveal your artistic talent with an excellent handpan

Inspiring and inventive—those are the perfect words to describe Japanese musician Yuki Koshimoto. Her handpan compositions have enchanted countless listeners who get lost in her dreamy soundscapes. Thanks to what you’ve learned in this article, you now know much more about the exhilarating journey of this percussionist who specializes in the Hang drum.

That said, if you’d like to get closer to Yuki Koshimoto’s world by creating your own melodies, you’ll want a handpan worthy of the name. That’s why I recommend the quality models sold by the online store Instruments du Monde. You’ll enjoy excellent acoustics that help you express yourself in the best possible way on this percussion instrument.

Start composing on the handpan and discover a beautiful 9-note model by clicking the image below:

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View the 9-note handpan

In Japan, there’s also another player known for his handpan performances: Réo Matsumoto, who has a similar background to Yuki Koshimoto. This instrumentalist is one of the big names on the international handpan scene.