Nakamura studied composition and jazz theory at Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory in the United States. As a composer and arranger, he has received commissions from Jan Sibelius String Quartet in Finland, WDR in Germany, and many others. Nakamura's career branched out from traditional Zen music into a wide range of musical genres including rock, jazz, and contemporary music. He has performed throughout the world under the sponsorship of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan Foundation, and other organizations.

In 1988 Nakamura formed the group Forest and produced its first album "Neutral Point." Released in the U.S.A. by JVC through MCA distribution in 1991, it reached Number 8 in FM station WKNC's "World Cafe" chart. Nakamura was the recipient of the 19th Matsuo Performing Arts Prize. His album "The World of Zen Music: Saji," released by Nippon Columbia, was awarded the Prize for Excellence in the Record Category of the 1999 Arts Festival sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, as well as Nippon Columbia's Golden Disc Award. He is a member of the Japan Society for Contemporary Music.