Over his long and established 30-year career as a musician and composer, Kitaro has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide.

Born Masanori Takahashi in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan, the 58-year-old received a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album (Thinking of You) in 2001 and a Golden Globe in 1993 for Best Original Score (Heaven & Earth).

Kitaro splits his time between Japan–where he visits family–and his home on the Petaluma-Santa Rosa border in Sonoma County.

Patch spoke with Kitaro during the press conference on the eve of the Musicians United for Safe Energy concert on Sunday, Aug. 7. He shared his thoughts about the dangers of nuclear energy and its impact on his beloved Japan and children around the world.