Born in Tokyo in 1980, and being the grandson of Jin Nyodo, who compiled classical honkyoku pieces, Rei Jin was immersed in Japan’s classical performing arts from childhood. He studied shakuhachi under his father Jin Nyodo, as well as under Aoki Reibo, Kawase Junsuke, Yamamoto Hozan, and Tokumaru Jumei.
Rei completed the undergraduate course at the Institute for Contemporary Japanese Music and graduated from the Department of Japanese Music (specialising in shakuhachi), Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts. Furthermore he completed the Master’s Programme in the Graduate School of Music (specialising in shakuhachi), Tokyo University of the Arts,
Building upon his foundation as a transmitter of classical shakuhachi pieces, he actively collaborates with diverse artists across genres, both domestically and internationally. Most recently he performed as an invited artist at WSF Texas 2025. and the WSF Kyoto in 2012. Other performances include e.g. the Saint-Riquier Music Festival in France in 2015, the concerto ‘Luminous’ (composed by Teruyuki Noda) for shakuhachi and koto with the China National Symphony Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing), China. (2008) and a concert organised by the Milan Japanese Cultural Centre, Italy, in 2007. (sponsored by the Miyagi Sōke)
As a recording artist he participated in the recording of a CD album by MUSO, a Dutch bass clarinettist active with ensembles including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. (200*), released the duo CD album Amalgam ~ Shakuhachi and Piano ~ (Fontec) in 2009 and released the solo CD album Shakuhachi Classical Repertoire: Kami Rei (Japan Traditional Culture Promotion Foundation) in 2012.
Rei works as a teaching and research assistant in the Department of Japanese Music, Faculty of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts: between 2007–2009, 2015–2020, 2025–present. He also lectures at NHK Gakuen National Open School. And is a Master Instructor at Waseda University’s Chikuyukai. He is the standing Director of the Kinko-ryū Association; a member of the Japan Sankyoku Association (Public Interest Incorporated Association), the Komuso Research Society and the Society for Oriental Music.