Atsushi Kato is a returning veteran of Nagata Shachu, having performed with the group from 2005 to 2011, playing numerous concerts in Canada and the U.S. Atsushi was born and raised in Japan where he was introduced to koto (Japanese harp) at an early age and also played trumpet as a member of his school marching band. He was involved with school choirs through junior high school, after which his passion became sports. He finds taiko to be an ideal art form which combines music and athleticism. His full time profession is introducing Japanese culture to Canadians, and he wishes to continue promoting taiko and other Japanese traditions internationally in the future.