MAO SONE
“A central figure who will elevate Japanese jazz to an even higher level.”
— Kiyoshi Koyama, Jazz Critic (NHK-FM Session Tonight, Dec 30, 2017)
“A genius behind the melody” — Highly acclaimed on social media for his piano supervision and compositions that defined the emotional landscape of the Netflix series Beyond Goodbye.
— The Mainichi Newspaper (Feature Article, Jan 29, 2025)
NEWS
ABOUT
Mao Sone began studying the piano in early childhood and took up the trumpet at the age of eight. He graduated summa cum laude as a member of the inaugural class of the master’s degree program at Berklee College of Music. With numerous accolades to his name—headlined by winning the prestigious International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Jazz Competition—he has performed at major jazz festivals worldwide.
Since returning to Japan, Sone has built a diverse career as a performer, composer, arranger, and producer, releasing acclaimed albums, appearing at Blue Note Tokyo, composing for films, and contributing music and serving as piano supervisor for Netflix productions.
In July 2026, he served as the music director for "Hibiki," an innovative musical stage production that seamlessly fuses Shomyo (traditional Buddhist chanting), string instruments, and jazz. This same year, he made his U.S. debut with MAOSHO, a collaborative duo with Tsugaru Shamisen master Sho Asano, introducing global audiences to a groundbreaking sonic landscape where Japanese traditional music meets jazz. Furthermore, through his project "KOBUSHI," he brings the profound allure of Japanese culture to life through a contemporary lens, earning widespread critical acclaim both domestically and internationally.
Learn more about Mao Sone >>click here
PROJECTS
Management / Booking / Interview
