Suzuka Kokubu

Suzuka Kokubu has a unique background that merges artistic vision with advanced technology. She began piano and vocal training at the age of four and continued her musical education at Kunitachi College of Music through middle and high school. Suzuka has received international recognition for her musical talent, winning prizes at piano competitions, including the Chopin International Piano Competition in Asia in Saitama (2011), the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition (2016), and performing at Carnegie Hall (2016).

Despite her strong musical foundation, Suzuka expanded her horizons into science and technology, earning a B.S. in Applied Physics from Columbia University and an M.A. in Music Technology from McGill University. Her master’s research focused on Optical Music Recognition (OMR), which led her to work on AI and cutting-edge technology projects at IBM and several other companies. Currently, as a research fellow at Keio University’s School of Medicine, she is involved in research on well-being and stress.

In 2024, Suzuka founded a health tech startup focused on improving well-being in the workplace, driven by her vision of creating a world where everyone can appreciate themselves and their lives. Alongside her entrepreneurial endeavors, she continues her musical journey as Suzica, blending acoustic, vocal, and electronic elements to create a distinctive sound.

She has also appeared in musical productions of Les Misérables (2003) and Musical Annie (2002) in Japan.