Keiko Abe, born in 1937, the legendary marimbist.

She has performed in more than 60 countries around the world. Having established marimba as a solo musical instrument almost single-handedly, she has broadened marimba music by inventing various techniques, by commissioning variety of compositions, and by composing music for marimba herself. Her extraordinary musical expressions, created with powerful concentration, has established her globally as a highly original artist of historical importance and excellence. She has received numerous awards, including Japanese Fine Arts Festival Award (six times). In 1993, she became the first woman marimbist inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.

She has taught at more than 110 conservatoires, universities and colleges around the world. She has written more than 110 compositions and has world premiered more than 190 compositions. She has performed at more than 60 major international music festivals, and has more than 50 CDs, DVDs, and video titles to her credit. She taught as visiting professor at the Utrechts Conservatorium in the Netherlands and at State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart.

She is a professor emeritus of Toho Gakuen School of Music and is visiting professor at Nagoya Music College.