The screening of Japanese Paper Film (music by Duo YUMENO) was featured on a Spanish film website, ENCADENADOS. (By Laura Bondia) Photography by Valerio Greco
Goma
October 5, 2025 / Silent London
The Japanese paper films, abbreviated, often adorable, all made between 1932 and 1938 were accompanied superbly by Yoko Reikano Kimura on the koto and Hikaru Tamaki on cello. (Pamela Hutchinson) – Japanese Paper Film screening at the 44th Pordenone Silent Film Festival Photography by Valerio Greco Silent London
May 2025 / Fanfare
The performances are especially strong and strikingly expressive, which, one can speculate, reflects a mutual respect between the artistry of the performers and Hagen’s strong appreciation for the aesthetic sensibilities of Japanese musical and dramatic customs. (Peter Burwasser) – Heike Quinto (composed by Daron Hagen, commissioned by Duo YUMENO) Fanfare
May 2025 / Ritmo
…The Duo Yumeno’s performance is crystal-clear and showcase an excellent exercise in expressiveness. (David Lima Guerrero) – Heike Quinto (composed by Daron Hagen, commissioned by Duo YUMENO) Ritmo
September, 2025 / American Record Guide
…Though the tone and aesthetic sometimes call to mind traditional Japanese chamber music…the music for both instruments is written idiomatically, so it doesn’t end up sounding wholly Japanese or western. It’s certainly one of the more convincing fusions of the two traditions that I have heard from a western composer. (Nathan Faro) – Heike Quinto (composed by Daron Hagen, commissioned by Duo YUMENO) American Record Guide
Koto Comes Alive
As a Japanese koto performer, Yoko Reikano Kimura is honored to be featured at the special concert, “Koto Comes Alive” presented by Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. with awards-winning string performer and Kimura’s long-term collaborator, Hikaru Tamaki (Vc) and Keiko Tokunaga (Vn). For the details of the concert, please visit JICC website.
May 23, 2024 / NAXOS Japan
Duo YUMENO’s new album, “Heike Quinto” was released from NAXOS on Friday, May 24th, 2024 worldwide. Celebrating new release, NAXOS Japan featured duo’s extensive interview on their note. This article is written in Japanese, but you can check the detailed information on the NAXOS’s website too.
Best Album of 2024
Time Will Tell (Andy Milne and Unison) was selected as one of the Best Albums of 2024 by Downbeat Magazine. Yoko Reikano Kimura joined this album as the guest Japanese koto performer. This album is available at many kinds of platforms worldwide. The details about this album is here (Sunnyside Records.)
For Your Grammy ® Consideration
Please accept Duo YUMENO 夢乃’s world-premiere recording of Daron Hagen’s CD-length work for koto, cello, voice, and fixed media “The Heike Quinto” for your GRAMMY® nomination consideration in the category of Best Chamber Music / Small Ensemble Performance. (September 20, 2024)