Born in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture | March 2, 1990
Graduated from Sendai Daiichi High School | Keio University

Influenced by his grandfather, he began playing Japanese drums at age 3 and the Tsugaru shamisen at age 5.
He later studied under the second-generation master of the Shamisen Odashima School, Tokuei Odashima.
At age 7, he became the youngest participant in the Tsugaru Shamisen National Competition held in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. From the following year, he successively broke the youngest winner records in each grade.
2004: Won the highest-level A-class division of the Tsugaru Shamisen National Competition as the youngest winner (age 14 at the time). He then achieved consecutive victories until 2006, completing a three-peat. Under the competition's rules, he was inducted into its Hall of Fame. *Tsugaru Shamisen World Competition (Formerly: Tsugaru Shamisen National Competition)

In 2007, at age 17, he made his major debut with Victor Entertainment through the single “Shōfū”. Since then, he has actively promoted his art internationally, performing concerts at venues such as the Concertgebouw (Netherlands) and the Kennedy Center (USA), and touring extensively across the United States, Europe, Canada, and various Asian countries.

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His genre-defying performance style—spanning folk songs, classical, rock, jazz, pop, and flamenco—has led to collaborations with diverse artists including Sayuri Ishikawa, Yosuke Yamashita, Kazufumi Miyazawa, and yama. In junior high school, he formed a band with Makoto Takahashi (drums), formerly of BOØWY.

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For his own albums, he collaborates with world-class musicians, working with jazz legends like bassist Will Lee, rising jazz star Marcus Gilmore (drums), and two-time Grammy winner Richard Stoltzman (clarinet).

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As the first traditional Japanese instrument player to perform at Japan's largest music festival, ‘MONSTER baSH’, for three consecutive years, he has appeared at various rock and jazz festivals.
He was also featured in the 2025 edition of the “Junior High School Instrumental Music” textbook (Kyoiku Geijutsu Sha).

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In recent years, he has actively engaged in uncovering and promoting Japanese culture, including participating in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' ‘NOBODY KNOWS’ project, themed around “Japan Heritage × Performing Arts.” He also participates in the “MIKAGE PROJECT,” which arranges and composes folk songs from across Japan with a contemporary sensibility, and the “ART Kabuki Orchestra,” a group of multiple traditional Japanese musicians, pioneering new musical scenes.
 
His cherished shamisen is the “Shidan” from Sangen Kobo.
In 2023, he became the first shamisen player in the world to sign an endorsement contract with Sangen Kobo, one of Japan's foremost shamisen manufacturers.

 

His efforts to promote the appeal of the Tsugaru shamisen, a traditional Japanese art form, both domestically and internationally, have been recognized. As a result, Asano's activities were officially designated as an approved program under the government's official “beyond2020” initiative starting in Reiwa 1 (2019).

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A solitary young Tsugaru shamisen player who pursues the potential of the instrument to convey its appeal to a wide range of generations, while also pursuing authentic folk songs and classical performing arts.
In 2025, he formed the unit “MAOSHO” with Mao Sone (jazz piano, trumpet, composition). They performed in New York to a standing ovation and great acclaim.

◆Regular Program: NHK FM “Encounter! Min'yōbi” Airing every Friday at 11:25 AM
◆Regular Program: TBC Tohoku Broadcasting “Mori no Miyako Shinkin Bank Presents: Shō Asano Radio 'Shō'case” Airing every Tuesday at 4:40 PM
◆Regular Program: AuDee “TOKYO FM & JFN Network 38 Stations” ‘Igina!! Mikage Min'yo!!’  Airing every Friday at 8:00 PM
◆Regular Program: NHK Radio 1 ‘Please Enjoy Min'yo’ (Program Writer: Shō Asano)  Airing every Friday at 12:30 PM

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