Ken-ichi Furube graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts. In 1991, just twenty-two years old and still a student, Mr. Furube won the position of Principal Oboe with the New Japan Philharmonic (Honorary Music Director, Seiji Ozawa).

From 1995 to 1996, sponsored by the Affinis Arts Foundation, Mr. Furube took a leave-of-absence to study at the Hochschule für Musik in München (Germany). And for many years, Mr. Furube studied and worked closely with Szymon Goldberg.

Mr. Furube is active as a member of the Euros Ensemble, Izumi Sinfonietta Osaka, and Japan Chamber Orchestra, in addition to his duties as Principal Oboe of the New Japan Philharmonic.

King Records released Ken-ichi Furube's debut solo-recording (entitled "Dolce") in March 1999, which features, among others, the works of Saint-Saëns, Hindemith and Schumann. His second recording, with I Solisti Italiani performing the Marcello and Albinoni Oboe Concertos, was released in October 2000.

Recent season - engagements with the New Japan Philharmonic/Michiyoshi Inoue to perform Toru Takemitsu's Vers, l'arc-en-ciel, Palma with renown guitarist, Manuel Barrueco; and performances of the Mozart Oboe Concerto under the baton of Seiji Ozawa.