Kuniko Katō is a Japanese marimbist and percussionist from Aichi. After completing postgraduate studies at Toho Gakuen School of Music, she continued her training in Europe and graduated with highest honours from the Rotterdam Conservatory. Her repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary music, and her collaborations have included composers and performers such as Tōru Takemitsu, Steve Reich, and Franco Donatoni.
Arrangement and recording are central to Katō’s work. Her first solo album, To the Earth, appeared in 1999. Later releases include kuniko plays reich (2011), CANTUS (2013), made in collaboration with Arvo Pärt, and J. S. Bach – Solo Works for Marimba (2017). She has arranged music by Reich, Pärt, Xenakis, and other composers for percussion, extending their work into new instrumental settings.
In 2016 Katō founded the artist-incubation project inc. to foster emerging professional musicians and continues to serve as its artistic director. She is representative director of the nonprofit Arts Works and an international artist for Pearl and ADAMS.
She is scheduled to give a concert at the Arvo Pärt Centre in Estonia on October 31, 2026.