The Min-On Concert Association proudly presents Ponts Sonores Paris 2025 – A Symphony of Friendship between France and Japan, a special concert celebrating cultural harmony through the universal language of music.
Ponts Sonores Paris 2025
A Symphony of Friendship between France and Japan
December 9, 2025 – Théâtre de la Tour Eiffel, Paris
Four distinguished Japanese artists — Kodo Ishibashi (shakuhachi), Sayo Komada (Tsugaru shamisen & min’yō), Tsuyoshi Maeda (taiko), and Mao Sone (piano) — will join hands with renowned French musicians Mathias Duplessy (guitar) and Ulysse Bonneau (cello) for an evening that bridges tradition and innovation, East and West, heart to heart.
Program Overview
From Japan
1. Tsugaru Jongara-bushi
2. Uo Dōji
3. Sakura Sakura
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From France
1. Ouverture Sidérale
2. Hélas, mon cueur n’est pas à moy
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Joint Performance
1. Libertango (Astor Piazzolla)
2. A Japanese in Paris
* Please note that the program is subject to change without prior notice.
Date & Time:
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Afternoon Concert: 15:00 | Evening Concert: 20:00
Venue: Théâtre de la Tour Eiffel (4 Square Rapp, 75007 Paris)
Tickets: Book your tickets online here
General Admission: €13
Students (under 26): Free (advance registration required)
| Organized by: Min-On Concert Association |
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| Co-organized by: Cercle Âme du Japon |
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| Supported by: Embassy of Japan in France |
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| Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris |  |
Profile of musicians
Japanese Artists
Kodo Ishibashi – Shakuhachi (Bamboo Flute)
Kodo Ishibashi began playing the shakuhachi—the traditional Japanese bamboo flute known for its deep, meditative sound—at the age of nine. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Tokyo University of the Arts. A recipient of several prestigious awards, he has had the honor of performing at the Imperial Palace of Japan. His repertoire spans classical, contemporary, and popular music. Frequently featured in Japanese media, he is regarded as one of the most promising young masters of the shakuhachi today.
Sayo Komada – Tsugaru Shamisen & Min’yō (Folk Song)
Sayo Komada began playing the Tsugaru shamisen—a three-stringed Japanese lute known for its rhythmic and expressive style—at the age of seven, and started studying min’yō (Japanese folk singing) at ten. While studying at the Tokyo University of the Arts, she won the First Prize (Women’s Division) at the 2019 World Tsugaru Shamisen Competition. She graduated from the university in 2022. Her viral video performing a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers has garnered over 18 million views, showcasing her ability to fuse traditional Japanese music with contemporary pop culture. She is now recognized as one of the most promising young artists in Japan’s traditional music scene.
Tsuyoshi Maeda – Taiko Drums
Born in Kobe, Japan, Tsuyoshi Maeda discovered the taiko—the traditional Japanese drum—during his childhood, through community activities supporting reconstruction after the Great Hanshin Earthquake. In 2008, he joined the world-renowned taiko ensemble Kodo, with whom he performed for nearly ten years in Japan and abroad, giving over 100 concerts annually. Beyond performing, he also composes and directs stage productions, including programs for schools. Since leaving Kodo in 2017, he has pursued his own artistic path, exploring new forms of taiko expression.
Mao Sone – Jazz Piano
Graduating with honors (Master’s) from the Berklee College of Music, Mao Sone has performed at major international jazz festivals including Newport and Montreal. Since returning to Japan in 2018, he has become a central figure in Tokyo’s jazz scene, performing three consecutive years at Blue Note Tokyo. In 2024, he composed and supervised the music for the Netflix series What If… Goodbye Never Ends. With his cinematic style and remarkable virtuosity, Sone is recognized as one of the leading pianists in contemporary Japanese jazz.
Guest French Artists
Mathias Duplessy – Guitar & World Music
French composer and multi-instrumentalist Mathias Duplessy blends classical, jazz, and traditional musical influences. He masters rare instruments such as the morin khuur (Mongolian fiddle) and the oud, and performs khöömii (Mongolian overtone singing). Having studied flamenco in Spain, he has developed a uniquely expressive guitar style. Awarded the UCMF Prize (2020) for film music, he leads the acclaimed ensemble Duplessy & the Violins of the World, performing worldwide. In 2024, he captivated Japanese audiences during a tour organized by Min-On.
Ulysse Bonneau – Cello, Piano & Composition
Born in 2001, Ulysse Bonneau is a young French cellist, pianist, and composer. He studied under renowned musicians and earned a degree in musicology from the Sorbonne University. Winner of the Concours Général in Music (France), he is also known for his film music arrangements, performed notably at the Cinémathèque Française. His musical world—at the crossroads of classical and cinematic sound—reveals a rare and poetic sensitivity.
