TANABE Shozan was born in Okayama in 1961 and started learning shakuhachi under his father when he was a child. While at Waseda University, he continued his shakuhachi study under the Living National Treasure, the late HOZAN Yamamoto. He was awarded his Tozan School grand master license and in 1993 received the top prize in the first Nagatani Kengyo All Japan Competition for Traditional Music. He then graduated from the 27th NHK Traditional Japanese Music Training School and also passed the NHK audition. He performed for Pope John Paul II, and in Carnegie Hall, and in numerous other international venues, and has received accolades for his performances with artists from a wide range of genres both inside and outside of Japan. TANABE also contributed to the production of the middle school curriculum guidebook, ‘The Gift of Music: for Middle School Instrumental Music’, Kyoiku Shuppan publishers. He is a part-time lecturer at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and a Tozan School Chikurinken Grand Master. He is active in a wide range of activities, including stage performances, recordings, and teaching, while respecting the originality of the shakuhachi and not being restricted by genres. He won the Grand Prize at the Hase Kenshu Memorial 1st National Traditional Japanese Music Competition (1993). He has released four CDs to date: ”Quiet Time", "Voyage", "Den3", and "Oto Kofu".