William Tokuhisa

WILLy — voice artist

Expanding the voice and its expressive possibilities

Video: Environmental Sound and Improvisation, Matsu no Mori Kugenuma, Fujisawa, May 2026

ARTIST STATEMENT

William Tokuhisa is a voice performer who has pursued the expansion of the voice and its expressive possibilities. For 27 years he has researched, studied, taught and practised traditional extended vocal techniques from around the world, beginning with Tuvan khoomei, applying them to contemporary expression and devising new voices. He has presented the results in live performance, recordings and art works.

Former member of VIONS, SuaraSana and TAIKUH JIKANG. Director of the noise choir Tokyo Voiz Choir and of Koedai Lab Choir, a.k.a. Tenores de Tokyo. Leader of Charlie Williams, Eugene Williams with Ethiopian Friends, and Tom Way-shi.

On stage he has worked continuously with director Hiroshi Koike: co-composer of World Conference (2017), lead role in Galaxy 2072 (2021–22), and in Fading Echoes II (2026) he shaped the structure of the piece with jaw harp and voice. Alongside this he has taught extended vocal techniques for 27 years; the ways of using the body that he has put into words while teaching have become his method of creation.

WORKS

Song, 2026

Eugene Williams with Ethiopian Friends, CON TON TON VIVO, September 2026 — “Chan Chan,” a Cuban song

Prepared Jaw Harp, Noise Voice and “Noizu Karaoke”, 2026

Live at Mama Santos, Kilowatt, San Francisco, 8 August 2026 (59 sec, edited excerpt). Three moments of one evening at a free community music event in San Francisco’s queer arts community: a duet with local artist Tatiana on jaw harps prepared with small vibrators; noise voice with improvised speech in which English and Japanese collide without continuity; and “noizu karaoke,” noise voice sung against a karaoke screen of “I Will Always Love You.”

Improvised Speech, 2026

Improvised trio with Miki Naoe and kat0sh, Oriental Force, Tokyo — voice and improvised speech

Khoo Meditation, 2022–23

Excerpt from a recorded session, Tokyo, winter 2022–23 (59 sec). Khoo Meditation is a voice meditation I developed under the supervision of Suigan Nakajima, a Shugendō mountain ascetic and former chief priest of a Shinto-Buddhist shrine. It uses the sustained, overtone-rich sound of Tuvan khoomei as a way into meditation; in the full session the voice gradually gives way to silence.

SELECTED

2026
Mama Santos, Kilowatt, San Francisco, USA — duet on prepared jaw harps with Tatiana; noise voice and bilingual improvised speech; “noizu karaoke”
2026
Fading Echoes II / Encounter of Asia and the West, dir. Hiroshi Koike, Odyssey Creative Center, Tokyo — solo jaw harp and voice
2025
Invited artist (travel and accommodation fully covered), 10th International Jew’s Harp Congress and Festival, Akan-ko Ainu Kotan, Hokkaido, Japan
2021–22
Galaxy 2072, dir. Hiroshi Koike — lead role (feature film)
2017–18
The Man from the Sea, dir. Koji Fukada — khoomei and voice recordings; voice coaching for lead actor Dean Fujioka
2017
World Conference, dir. Hiroshi Koike — voice and jaw harp; co-composer
2012
Southeast Asia tour with TAIKUH JIKANG (voice) — Museum Topeng, Bali, Indonesia; The Actors Studio @ Lot 10, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (supported by the Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur)
2011
Selected, TOKYO EXPERIMENTAL FESTIVAL, Tokyo Wonder Site, Tokyo — Creating a Forest of Voices, Kurayami no Tones: participatory performance for 20 voices in total darkness
2008
Selected and Audience Award, 3rd Sound Performance Dojo, Aichi Arts Center, Nagoya — VOIZ, solo voice performance

CV (PDF)

TEACHING

Voice coach in traditional and extended vocal techniques, 1999–present. Guest lecturer, Faculty of Letters, Keio University; lecturer, Meiji Univ. Liberty Academy; invited instructor, Performing Arts Institute (P.A.I.), directed by Hiroshi Koike.

Learning page (Japanese)Classes (Japanese)Newsletter (Japanese)

CONTACT

Contact For organizers & press 日本語

YouTube note X Instagram Threads Facebook (personal)Facebook (Koedai)