Voice · Two Guitars · Four Strings

awai

音と音のあわいに。

Nagoya · 2026.09.11

Yurina Hamano and Hirosato Ito of awai seated with their classical guitars

awai × String Quartet · Kasanari vol.3

Where sound meets,
the heart opens.

Voice, two classical guitars and a string quartet meet in Nagoya for one performance in 2026.

202609.11FRI

Time Doors 18:15 · Start 19:00

Venue Chikusa Playhouse, Nagoya

General admission
Reserve for 11 September

Adult ¥5,000
Students ¥3,500 / Children ¥2,500

01 A Letter from awai

Kasanari vol.3 — layers of resonance

September 11.
Nagoya.
Layered sound opens
a new landscape.

awai

Voice, two classical guitars and a string quartet meet for Kasanari vol.3 — one night only.

Music begins dissolving into the air the moment it is played. Yet a sound from one evening can keep breathing inside us— a quiet embrace, or a small light for tomorrow. We make music because we believe in that invisible resonance.

Kasanari began in a church in 2024. Each year, we have learnt that the audience’s breath shapes the music too. Our third stage is Chikusa Playhouse, a circular theatre where the audience surrounds the performers. Come close, and feel the sound gather and release.

After this concert, we leave for a month-long tour through Portugal, France and the Netherlands. Before that journey, we want to make a sound that can exist only here, with the people in this room. This is the only Kasanari performance of 2026.

ONE NIGHT · ONE CIRCLE OF SOUND

No two nights of live music ever sound the same.
Take your place inside this circle of sound.

Reserve for 11 September

11.09.2026 · Doors 18:15 / Start 19:00 · Chikusa Playhouse, Nagoya · General admission

Six musicians · Seven layers of sound

Six breaths become seven layers of sound.

1Voice
Rooted in Japanese folk song
2Guitars
Classical tone, jazz sensitivity
4Strings
One annual collaboration
6 Musicians
7 Layers of Sound

SCROLL TO RESONATE

01 · VOICE

One voice.

02 · GUITARS

Two guitars.

04 · STRINGS

Four strings, joining.

06 · MUSICIANS

Six breaths. Seven layers of sound.

Kasanari vol.3 · 11.09.2026 · Chikusa PlayhouseReserve for 11 September
Kasanari vol.3 · Nagoya · 11 September 2026
02 This September

Kasanari vol.3

More than sound
meets in the circle.

A voice, two guitars, four string players, and the breath of the audience. Inside a circular theatre, proximity turns one evening into music made together.

Reserve for 11 September
60 SEC. LISTENINGTsuki ga Kirei na Yoru ni Kagitte
2025 Kasanari · awai × String Quartet

Selected songs

  1. 01 Hoshi ni Negai wo
  2. 02 Tsuki ga Kirei na Yoru ni Kagitte
  3. 03 Hachibaachan
  4. 04 Tokyo
03 Our Journey
Yurina Hamano and Hirosato Ito of awai seated with their classical guitarsYurina Hamano / Hirosato Ito

From Japan, across borders

Folk memory.
A modern acoustic language.

Yurina Hamano’s folk-rooted voice meets the expressive classical guitar of jazz guitarist Hirosato Ito. Their music is intimate, nostalgic, and quietly powerful.

Performing together since 2023 and named “awai” in 2026, the duo has brought its music across Japan, Southeast Asia, Korea and Europe—including Muze van Zuid in Amsterdam and Wonderfruit in Thailand.

Selected milestones · 2022—2026

From sold-out rooms to stages around the world.

A sold-out performance at JZ Brat in Tokyo became the catalyst for Yurina Hamano and Hirosato Ito to begin performing as a duo. Since then, their music has travelled from venues across Japan to audiences in Europe and Asia.

SOLD OUTHeadline concerts in Tokyo and Nagoya
EVERY DATE2025 European tour sold out
JAPAN FIRSTFirst Japanese act at Muze van Zuid
  1. 2022THE BEGINNING

    A sold-out Tokyo performance opened the way.

    • A sold-out performance at JZ Brat in Tokyo became the catalyst for Yurina Hamano and Hirosato Ito to begin performing as a duo the following year.

      SOLD OUT
  2. 2023DUO STARTS

    The duo begins. Nagoya fills the room.

    • Sold-out performance at Chikusa Playhouse, Nagoya.

      SOLD OUT

    • Performed with cellist Hiroshi Kondo at Theater aio Hall.

  3. 2024ACROSS BORDERS

    The music travels across Asia and Europe.

    • Successfully completed tours of Europe and Asia.

      TOUR

    • Presented their first string-quartet concert at Nagoya Matthew Church.

      FIRST QUARTET

    • Concert at Kita Cultural Playhouse.

    • Concert at Clara Saal Concert Hall, Gifu.

    • Released the first album Yurina Hamano × Hirosato Ito (Tower Records).

      1ST ALBUM

    • Performed at Osaka Public Hall.

  4. 2025A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR

    A sold-out European tour. Festival stages worldwide.

    • Featured in the January issue of MUSIC MAGAZINE.

      MEDIA

    • String-quartet performance at Chikusa Playhouse.

    • Appeared at Muze van Zuid in Amsterdam as the festival’s first Japanese act.

      JAPAN FIRST

    • Every performance on the European tour sold out—an exceptional achievement.

      ALL SOLD OUT

    • Appeared at Wonderfruit, one of Thailand’s largest music festivals.

      FESTIVAL
  5. 2026THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

    From Korea to the Netherlands, the next chapter unfolds.

    • Sold-out hall concert at Salone Fontana, Tokyo.

      SOLD OUT

    • Concert-hall performance at SA Hall, South Korea.

      KOREA

    • Concert-hall performance confirmed in the Netherlands.

      NEXT
04 Letters from the Audience

Past concert surveys

Small letters,
carried from the room.

After the final note, audience members left us these words. Together they hold a little of what the music felt like in the room.

Anonymous excerpts, selected and lightly edited for clarity, then translated from Japanese.

I was in tears from the very first song. I was so happy to be at this concert. I hope we meet again.

Anonymous post-concert survey

This was my second time. From the very beginning I felt close to tears. The beautiful voice and its power overwhelmed me. I felt restored.

Anonymous post-concert survey

The music moves me every time. The CD is wonderful, but hearing the voice live is something else. The stories make it even more affecting.

Anonymous post-concert survey

This was my fourth time. I look forward to every performance. Thank you again for the beautiful singing and playing.

Anonymous post-concert survey

No matter how many times I hear the performance, it leaves my heart feeling clear. I also connect deeply with the way you speak about life.

Anonymous post-concert survey

Travelling all the way to Nagoya was worth it. The sound inside Chikusa Playhouse was beautiful. I became an even bigger fan.

Anonymous post-concert survey

The songs felt different from the last time I heard them, and I could feel that I, too, had begun to move forward. I left peaceful and at ease.

Anonymous post-concert survey

I had never heard a voice with so many colours. Everything was portrayed vividly and true to life. I am grateful our paths crossed.

Anonymous post-concert survey

Swipe to read

01/08

THE NEXT LETTEROn 11 September, a seat is waiting for you.

View concert and tickets
05 Nagoya Concert

Friday, 11 September 2026

Join the circle
of sound.

Adult¥5,000
Junior / Senior high school¥3,500
Primary school¥2,500
Reserve on Peatix

General admission seating. The performance has two parts; late entry is possible.

Email enquiry
06 Sponsors & Partners

For companies, organisations & regions

Become a sponsor
of awai’s journey.

We welcome financial sponsors, in-kind partners and organisations who want to help carry live music and Japanese culture to audiences in Japan and abroad.

01

Concert Sponsor

Support for our Nagoya concert and future performances in Japan.

02

Tour Sponsor

Help carry Japanese music and your organisation’s story across Europe and Asia.

03

In-kind & Cultural Partner

Travel, venues, wardrobe, craft, regional and product collaborations.

A fixed format or budget is not required. We can send an activity overview and discuss the right form of support.

Enquire about sponsorship
Reserve for 11 September