Everyone at London Metropolitan Orchestra is deeply saddened to learn of the death of our friend and collaborator, Joji Hirota, who died on 6 September 2026 at the age of 78.
Joji was born in Hokkaido, in the north of Japan. He played the flute from the age of five, took up percussion at eleven, and studied at Kyoto Municipal Arts University. In 1972 Stomu Yamashta invited him to England as musical director and percussionist of the Red Buddha Theatre, and he made his home here for the rest of his life. He went on to be musical director of the Lindsay Kemp Dance Company. He also founded the London Taiko Drummers, played at WOMAD and opened Live Earth at Wembley, and recorded for Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. Along the way he did more than almost anyone to bring taiko drumming to audiences across Europe.
For us, though, Joji was a dear colleague. On Japanese Folk Songs II the orchestra was joined by children’s choirs from schools damaged in the 2011 tsunami. After the disaster we shared the stage with Joji many times, including at Beyond the Requiem at St John’s Wood Church and in concerts celebrating the music of Tohoku. In those concerts he sang, played shakuhachi and led the taiko drummers, often all in the same evening.
Joji never thought of what he did as mixing traditions. He drew on all of them to make something that was his own. Working with him meant hearing two musical worlds become one voice. He was generous, precise and full of joy. Whenever he played, the room changed.
We will miss him greatly. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the many musicians he inspired.
Joji’s funeral is set for 1:30pm at Chiltern Parks Greenacres Living Memorial Park on Wednesday 21st October 2026.