Thank you for finding my website!

I hope you found your way here because you are interested in a small island country in the Far East.

Or is it because you wanted to connect through music with someone who lives quietly somewhere in the world?

We welcome you for either reason!

You will find both here. We have the typical Japanese landscape of Japan.

There are historical temples, artifacts, and Buddhist statues. There are towns with traditional Japanese houses.

We have beautiful nature and traditional crafts. And there is music.

Why don't you spend a great holiday with a wonderful view of Yoshino Town, surrounded by pleasant jazz music?

Nice to meet you. My name is Komay Shibata, a jazz pianist.

I usually teach jazz to my students in this house.

After graduating from Berklee College of Music in the United States, I worked as a jazz pianist in New York City, and it was 1995 when I returned to Japan and opened a one-on-one jazz school in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.

Over the next 25 years, I sent more than 3,000 graduates to Osaka.

Osaka was a very big city where I lived. Buildings lined the streets without gaps, the sky was narrow, and the sound of cars during the day and air conditioning at night was constant. I was too busy and tired every day to take a good rest.

I talked with my wife and decided to live somewhere, in a village in the countryside. Then we started looking for a house.

We found our current house in Yoshino-cho, Nara Prefecture, and although it was 100 years old and in need of repairs, it was a sturdy house with thick pillars.

Yoshino-cho is a village in the mountains, 90 minutes by train from Osaka, where we lived.

It is not far from Osaka, but before the opening of the tunnel, it was an unexplored town that could only be reached by crossing a steep mountain road.

Yoshino, with its famous cherry blossoms planted all over the mountain, its forestry industry that has continued for 500 years, and its history related to the Emperor's family, has remained largely unaffected by outside influences, leaving the town's scenery and nature as it was in the past.

When I moved to Yoshino in 2020, I felt as if I had been reborn.

Fresh air comes from Ryumon-dake, a mountain that rises in the village where I live, and drinkable well water springs from underground.

The beautiful nature, with its scenery changing from season to season, is a pleasant release for my soul.

Playing the piano with a gentle breeze, I feel free.

I am 70 years old now, but my piano playing is more dynamic than when I was younger.

After three years of living in Yoshino, with the support of the villagers and teaching music to my students, I have come to realize that I want many people to see this beautiful village.

And nothing would make me happier than if I could give you a small taste of the freedom I felt.

With this in mind, my wife and I opened a private residence.

We have not only a grand piano, but also bass, drums, and a PA, so you can have a jam session at any time. If you order in advance, we will set up a jam session on the day of your stay and announce it to you. If you are not able to play an instrument, you can still enjoy watching the jam session (free of charge). (Both performance and viewing are free of charge).

We also have mountains and lakes just a 10-minute walk away, so you will be able to enjoy the outdoors.

Of course, you can also spend a quiet time in your room. Especially at night, as the sun goes down, you will feel the quietness of midnight.

There are also many events and attractions to experience the culture of the area, making it a great place to create fun memories. I hope you will stay at my facility and enjoy a luxurious travel experience.I will help you to make this time in your life, which you will never have again, a wonderful time.

I sincerely look forward to meeting you.

Ko-may

Ko-may Shibata
OWNER

jazz pianist. Jazz theorist.After graduating from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, he moved to the United States. He graduated from Berklee College of Music.In 1983, he won the gold medal at the New York Bacchus Music Competition in the jazz category.He is active as a pianist in New York. he returned home.In 1995, he founded the jazz school "SPOONFUL MUSIC" in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.In 2013, he released his solo album "JAZZ ROCKET". He will release 6 more albums.He has a reputation for his sensual sound backed by his endless ad-libs, multifaceted expressiveness, and natural sense of rhythm.Moved to Yoshino-cho in 2020 after moving to Abeno-ku, Osaka in 2015.