His work is inspired by the traditional music of his native Japan, incorporating elements of jazz, improvisation, and experimental music. His distinctive ability to fuse Japanese music, literature, and aesthetic philosophies with diverse styles and media has made him a highly sought-after collaborator, working with iconic artists such as André 3000, Yo-Yo Ma, Wes Anderson, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Laurie Anderson, Jason Moran, and the onnagata Bandō Tamasaburō. A musician with a jazz background, he was the first American to become a performer and artistic director of the taiko drum ensemble Kodo.