As the head of the Itchu Bushi school of music, Miyako Itchu is busy performing, teaching and recording and working to make Itchu Bushi music and shamisen music in general more familiar and accessible to audiences inside and outside Japan. As Tokiwazu Mojizo, he is also busy as a shamisen player in the Tokiwazu style of narrative music, performing on the kabuki stage and accompanying performances of Japanese classical dance.
Born in Tokyo in 1952, he learned Tokiwazu singing and shamisen playing from a young age from his father, Tokiwazu Nenosuke and then entered the Tokyo School of Arts and Music in 1975, majoring in Nagauta shamisen. He began studying Itchu Bushi music with Miyako Itchu XI in 1975. In 1981, he received his fatherﾕs previous artistic name Tokiwazu Mojizo and in March 1986, performed as lead shamisen player in a kabuki program. In 1991, having been designated successor to Miyako Itchu, he became Miyako Itchu XII and the head of the Itchu school of music.
In addition to his performances, he has organized lecture-demonstrations and CD recordings of Itchu Bushi music and since 1995, has also had lecture-demonstrations and concerts in America, Australia, China and Germany.