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Hiroshima

Hiroshima is an American jazz fusion band formed in 1974 by Sansei Japanese American Dan Kuramoto (wind instruments and band leader), June Kuramoto (koto), Johnny Mori (percussion and taiko), & Danny Yamamoto (keyboards and drums). Named for the Japanese city of Hiroshima, they are best known for the fusing of Japanese music and other forms of world music into their playing. Their early jazz-pop R&B sound gave them a huge following among the African American community and they are regarded as musical pioneers amongst the Asian American and Japanese American community.

Hiroshima became popular in the smooth jazz community upon the release of their 1985 album, Another Place, which spawned their crossover hit “One Wish.”

The highlight of Hiroshima's career was being the opening act for the Miles Davis 1990 world tour. Since then, despite moving towards new age music, Hiroshima continues to gain a wider audience for their music.

June Kuramoto is the only founding member who is not American-born. She was born in Saitama-ken and moved to Los Angeles at a young age.

The band was featured in a 1976 documentary titled Cruisin' J-Town, directed by Duane Kubo. They wrote an original song entitled “The Moon Is a Window to Heaven” for the 1989 film Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

Tags

Album Review

Departure by Jeff Winbush
Legacy by Jeff Winbush
Little Tokyo by Woodrow Wilkins
Little Tokyo by Jeff Winbush
Obon by Woodrow Wilkins
Spirit of the Season by Woodrow Wilkins
Between Black & White by Dave Hughes

Read more articles

November 12, 2002

Hiroshima Signs Deal With Heads Up - Debuts with June 2003 Release

Albums

Recent Releases

Album Departure by Hiroshima

Departure

Self Produced
2012

Album Legacy by Hiroshima

Legacy

Heads Up International
2009

Album Little Tokyo by Hiroshima

Little Tokyo

Heads Up International
2007

Album Obon by Hiroshima

Obon

Heads Up International
2005

Album Spirit of the Season by Hiroshima

Spirit of the Season

Heads Up International
2004

Between Black & White

Windham Hill Records
2000

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