Ryoko Imai

Born in Kawasaki, Japan, she was influenced by a musically-involved family from an early age. Her journey began with classical piano at three, later choosing percussion in her school’s wind band. She studied at Tokyo College of Music, continued at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, earning BA (cum laude) and MA degrees.

As a freelance multi-percussionist, she embraces genres from contemporary and classical to world music, baroque, improvisation, and Latin jazz, constantly pushing artistic boundaries. She has collaborated with artists in dance, fashion, video, and painting.

After 10 years in the Netherlands, she moved to Portugal. She has performed with renowned orchestras like the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Gulbenkian Orchestra, and ensembles such as Asko|Schönberg, Slagwerk Den Haag, and Drumming GP. She has also played in Drums United and toured with the Tap Dogs Germany show.