Takashi Kokubo is one of Japan’s leading environmental musicians and sound designers. Since the 1980s, he has pursued sound that reconnects nature and human sensibility, earning international recognition that extends far beyond the realm of music. His work is not “music” in the conventional sense, but the design of entire environments—leaving a profound resonance in the hearts of listeners.

Fascinated from childhood by natural sound and the sonic textures of everyday life, Kokubo developed a strong lifelong interest in expressing sound and music in three dimensions. Harnessing electronic instruments and recording technologies, he created his own soundscapes and released pioneering synthesizer-based works in the 1980s, gaining attention as a musician who “visualizes the voice of the Earth.”

His major works include the Ion Series, which offers restorative experiences for both mind and body, and Oasis of the Wind: Awakening of the Forest, a meditation on the harmony between urban life and nature. These albums are now undergoing a global reappraisal.

Beyond music production, Kokubo has worked widely as a sound designer—creating corporate sound logos, designing acoustic environments for public spaces, and contributing to exhibitions at world expos and museums. Among his most recognizable works is the “wee-wee-wee” alert tone used in Japan’s Earthquake Early Warning system, now a nationally known symbol of social sound design.

Equipped with the Cyborphonic, a binaural microphone system he developed for highly immersive spatial recording, Kokubo has traveled to more than 50 countries, field-recording healing natural soundscapes. These recordings form the Poems of the Earth series, beloved by listeners seeking a deep, nature-resonant auditory experience. They also serve as the foundation for his musical works and installations, guiding audiences into the vast landscape of sound.

In 2020, he appeared on Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980–1990, a compilation released by the U.S. label Light in the Attic. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Historical Album and became a major catalyst for global interest in Japanese environmental music.

At his base, Studio Ion, Kokubo employs a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos system, making it a dedicated space for immersive spatial music creation. Works produced in this studio allow listeners to feel as if they are stepping inside the sound itself.

In recent years, he has developed projects such as Gaiaphilia, Mother Tree, and JOMON DIVA, exploring themes of nature and the cycle of life. He presents immersive installations that integrate music with visual media, scent, and light—offering environmental music as a multisensory art form. He actively collaborates with artists across disciplines, including French painter Clément Denis and perfumer Ugo Charron, fostering cross-border creative partnerships.

His upcoming book, Designing with Sound (working title), to be published by Kodansha, will articulate his philosophy and creative journey as an environmental musician.

Kokubo’s work transcends entertainment; it forms a philosophy that reconnects humans with the natural world. Moving fluidly across music, science, and spirituality, he continues to pioneer a new frontier of “environmental art through listening”—and his evolution shows no signs of slowing.

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