Nippon Kobo Presents Kobo Sessions, an Enchanting Evening of Multi-Sensory Cultural Immersion at the SF Conservatory of Music” Kobo Sessions #1: Del Sol String Quartet x Sake Masters x Hana Izumi Bento Box

Curated by Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble’s associate artistic director Haruka Fujii, Nippon Kobo’s intimate setting collaboration series: Kobo Sessions #1 offers an evening of chamber music by Del Sol Quartet and Haruka Fujii, paired with sake by Bay Area local brewers and a bento box dinner by Hana Izumi Japanese Restaurant. Kobo Sessions is Nippon Kobo’s premier event series, held in an intimate venue with a limited audience of up to 100 and offering a deeply immersive experience of contemporary Japanese music and culture. This inaugural Kobo Sessions event blends chamber music, sake tasting with the masters, and a bento box dinner offering a dynamic and interactive exploration of the sounds and tastes of Japan. The chamber music program is curated by Haruka Fujii, founder and creative director of Nippon Kobo, a renowned percussionist, and associate artistic director of the Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma and now led by Rhiannon Giddens. Centered around Nippon Kobo's debut year theme “Seasons,” attendees will experience compositions such as Autumn Leaves by Toru Takemitsu and In Spring by Eiko Orita. The program also showcases works by Andy Akiho and UC Berkeley professor Ken Ueno, culminating in a world premiere performance of Divisions by Haruka Fujii for string quartet and marimba. Nippon Kobo was founded by a small group of passionate, award-winning artists from the San Francisco Bay Area who believe that in-person artistic and cultural collaborations are vital to a healthy community. Nippon Kobo is an event series that brings together diverse artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and the local community through collaborations that combine chamber music with contemporary Japanese culture, including art and food. The organization’s mission is to build a new community where people meet, learn, and experience cross-cultural dialogue through curated music concerts paired with contemporary Japanese art and culture. We look forward to sharing this special event with all Bay Area arts and culture enthusiasts.

Kobo Sessions #1: Del Sol String Quartet x Sake Masters x Bento Box Date: May 17th, 2025 6pm Location: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Barbro Osher Hall Admission: $150 with Sake Tasting, $120 without Sake Tasting. All tickets include Sake Master talks, music, and a bento box by Hana Izumi Japanese Restaurant.