She performs across a wide spectrum—spanning black music from the 1960s to contemporary jazz, all while maintaining a dedicated focus on vinyl records—at venues and festivals ranging from Europe, New York, Mexico, and Tokyo Jazz to Fuji Rock and the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Japan. Beyond her performance career, she contributes articles to newspapers and music/audio magazines. She has established the role of the DJ within Japan’s unique jazz landscape—which encompasses not only club scenes but also historic jazz clubs and "jazz kissas" (jazz listening cafes)—by actively collaborating with critics and musicians from both Japan and abroad. In addition to supervising music selection for major jazz labels, she runs her own label, Key of Life+. She is also active in the media as a leading voice advocating for the popularity of vinyl records. She is a mother of two.
HIROKO OTSUKA