Atsuko Yashima | Japan

Atsuko Yashima has been the producer of the Tokyo International Jazz Festival since its launch in 2002. Atsuko is a senior producer of NHK Enterprises, an affiliate company of NHK, Japan's public broadcast. She has produced various international cultural events represented by Tokyo Jazz Festival, Festival France Glamour, International Robot Contest, Marche de Noel de Strasbourg in Tokyo, and many more.

As the producer of Japan’s largest jazz festival, Atsuko is now mainly in charge of planning, booking and artistic direction of the event. The theme of the festival is “beyond borders” and “beyond generation”. As well as inviting variousinternational and domestic artists, she has also focused on creating international exchange projects introducing music from various countries working with the local community. Tokyo Jazz Festival will mark its 10^th year in 2011.

Recently, Atsuko has also produced Marche de Noel de Strasbourg in Tokyo, in aim to introduce the genuine Christmas culture from Europe and has gathered over 600,000 people in 2010