Shota Yanase, viola. Shota Yanase went on to graduate from the faculty of Music of the Tokyo university of the Arts, and completed the Soloist Diploma Course at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.
In 1996, Yanase received a Diploma Prize at the Geneva international Music competition, and in 2002, he studied in Italy as part of the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists provided by the agency for Cultural Affairs. Between 2004 and 2009, Shota Yanase performed with the Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra. He currently serves as principal viola of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra Yokohama, while participating in numerous music festivals including the Saito kinen Orchestra.
Shota Yanase is also the recipient of the Matsukata Hall kobe Music Award as well as the Osaka Cultural festival Award.