Toru KakuToru Kaku

Toru Kaku was born in Fukuoka, Japan. He graduated at the top of his class from the master’s degree program of Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School, earning the graduate school’s Akansas Award and Mai Muto Scholarship. He graduated as valedictorian from the Nikikai Opera Institute’s master class program, receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award and Shizuko Kawasaki Award.

Kaku won Second Prize in the 20th Yuai German Lied Competition, and was a Chanel Pygmalion Days Artist for 2014.

Toru Kaku has a diverse repertoire ranging from Baroque to modern music. With Bach Collegium Japan, he participated in a CD of the St Matthew Passion, and in January 2021 earned acclaim for his performance in the title role in Elias.
In the recital series “B→C,” produced by the Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation, Kaku gave dazzling performances of songs in ten languages to full houses in both Tokyo and Fukuoka.

In the field of opera, Kaku has performed numerous roles including, with the Nissay Opera, the title role in Don Giovanni, Guillermo in Cosi fan Tutte, and Enrico in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor; and with Nikikai, Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos, Achilla in Giulio Cesare, Tsurukawa in Toshiro Mayuzumi’s Kinkakuji, and Falke in Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II.
In the Nikikai production of Lulu, Kaku stepped in on short notice as substitute in the challenging role of Dr. Schön, and captivated the audience with his richly expressive performance. In November 2023 he performed Number One in the Nikikai production of Henze’s The Betrayed Sea and receive accolades for his singing and acting.
In addition to opera, Kaku has earned praise for his performances in stage musicals. He toured Japan in the role of Prince Aladdin in the Nissay Opera’s Aladdin and the Magic Violin.

Kaku appeared as emcee in the 2018-2019 Weekday Matinee Concert Series, presented by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and Suntory Hall.
He is also expanding his work in TV and radio, appearing on TV Asahi’s “Untitled Concert,” as well as programs such as NHK E-TV’s “Sukusuku Kosodate” and NHK-FM’s “Recital Nova” Kaku currently appears in a commercial for Figaro Engineering.

Toru Kaku’s fourth album, A Time for Us, was released in July 2023. In addition to three solo album releases, he has performed on other CDs including in the role of Figaro on the Mozart Singers Japan CD Le Nozze di Figaro. In April 2024, he performed a program of early Italian Baroque music on the Promusica Baroque Academy’s CD Italian Songs with Toru Kaku.

Known as an enthusiastic supporter of the J-League team Avispa Fukuoka, Kaku performed solo renditions of the Japanese national anthem at the 2021 and 2022 Meiji Yasuda J-League opening games.

Kaku is Music Director of the women’s choir Sana Texere and the mixed choir Chor Glauben Fukuoka. He is a part-time lecturer at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.