Taro Wayama’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Taro Wayama and have shared our conversation below.

Taro, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I usually start my day with a cup of coffee while listening to Japanese news—I enjoy beginning the morning hearing Japanese. After that, I spend time either composing music or practicing guitar.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a Japanese-born guitarist and composer whose artistry spans classical performance, original composition, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Recognized for my versatility and expressive range, I have earned distinctions including First Prize at the 2003 Aron Green/American String Teachers Association Guitar Competition and Second Prize at the Thailand International Guitar Competition. My work as a composer has also been recognized, most notably with a “Best Original Score” award from the Los Angeles Movie Awards for the independent film Anne Jennings.

As a performer, I maintain an active international career, appearing as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Japan, Thailand, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, China, and the United States. My collaborative projects span a wide variety of ensembles—violin, clarinet, flute, voice—and my repertoire ranges from Renaissance music to contemporary works, original compositions, and global folk traditions. Known for an interdisciplinary approach, I often partner with visual and multimedia artists to create immersive, sound-driven installations, including a recent commission for Sky Next Door, an installation by Yutaka Sone.

I hold both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from the University of Southern California, where I studied under Pepe Romero, William Kanengiser, James Smith, Brian Head, and Scott Tennant. I have further refined my craft through masterclasses with leading guitarists such as David Leisner, Benjamin Verdery, Dusan Bogdanovic, and Fabio Zanon.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The person who saw me before I could see myself was the artist Yutaka Sone. We met at a party in my 30s and quickly found ourselves deep in conversation about music and art. When he heard my original composition Inside Green, he was deeply moved and encouraged me to pursue composing more seriously. Although I had written music in my 20s, I never believed I had real talent as a composer until he insisted otherwise. Yutaka became my mentor for the next four to five years, bringing me along on his work travels to Mexico, China, New York, and Antwerp. Without meeting him, I don’t think I would have pursued the life of a composer.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, I almost gave up music. In my late 20s and early 30s, I struggled to earn enough income, and I even went back to school to get a teaching credential with the intention of becoming a K–12 teacher. I ultimately didn’t complete the program—I couldn’t afford to stop working for the semester required for student teaching, and I was also discouraged by aspects of the teaching methods being taught.

My life shifted dramatically when I began traveling with the artist Yutaka Sone as a composer. That experience brought me back to music in a profound and unexpected way.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to being an artist, no matter how long the journey takes. As an artist, I’m driven to search for expressions of beauty grounded in my core principle of freedom—a principle shaped by ethics and clear, thoughtful logic.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Through extensive travel since my 20s, I’ve come to understand something many people overlook: the world is an incredibly beautiful place, and even more beautiful are the people in it. Across countries and cultures, I’ve met countless individuals who are good, sincere, and loving. That goodness is far more common than we’re often led to believe.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarowayama/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taro-wayama-920141a0/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=taro+wayama
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Klvl4hPnIaZaTjUs8VLwf