What is KOTO

KOTO is one of the traditional music instruments of Japan, made from Paulownia wood, or often called as The Empress Tree. The shape of KOTO is said to resemble that of the dragon and even the names of various parts of the instrument correspond to parts of dragon’s body. Most KOTO has 13 strings stretched lengthwise over bridges and tied at each end of the body. However, in this concert, KOTO with 17 strings will also be played. The strings were once made of silk but nowadays nylon is used. A moveable bridge, called a “ji”, which is made of ivory or hard plastic is placed under the length of each string.

Players

Sawai Kazue

Sawai Kazue began studying the KOTO at the age of 8 under the legendary Michio Miyagi, and is a graduate of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.

In 1979 she and her husband Sawai Tadao established the Sawai Koto Academy. A leader of the contemporary Japanese music movement, she took a new and relatively unconventional approach to performing with an extensive Japan tour, playing anywhere, for anyone with an interest in the KOTO. These early touring performances along with the “Triangle Music Tour” collaborations with composer Ichiyanagi Toshi and percussionist Yoshiwara Sumire numbered upwards of 70 stages.

Sawai’s album with Takahashi Ayuo, Ohta Hiromi, and Peter Hamill, along with concerts and recordings produced by the likes of Takahashi Yuji and John Zorn, attest to the multifaceted approach she takes to her music.

Since 1989, beginning with New York’s Bang on a Can Festival, Sawai has performed at various music festivals throughout Europe and the Americas with venues including Vienna, the Mels Jazz Festival, and the Paris City Theater.

The Sawai Kazue Koto Ensemble travels extensively, and with approximately 10 international performances a year as part of its continuing world tour, the group can be found making appearances on various diverse musical stages around the globe.

Sawai is also active with projects such as “Sawai Kazue 360 Degrees” and France’s “Music Action”, working with young artists of varying genres in seeking innovative experimental performance situations. Through such activities, she is opening doors for whole new groups never before having had the opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of the koto’s sound.

In other areas, Sawai has done improvisational work with Indonesian dancer Sardon Kusumo, and Korean shaman artist Kim Sokchul. Sawai’s work with renowned Russian composer Sophia Gubaidulina began with improvisation, leading to CD collaboration and performances of the composer’s works for koto. The most recent product of their relationship is the koto concerto commissioned by Japan’s NHK Symphony Orchestra to be premiered and recorded by Sawai in Japan and America in the spring of 1999. She also performed with The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra in 2001.

Since 2003 Sawai has worked with a world famous violinist Goto Midori, on the Music Sharing Project, to give lecture concerts for school students throughout Japan.

Sawai Hikaru

Sawai Hikaru began his musical studies at the Toho Academy of Fine Arts School for Children. With instruction on the koto by his father, the renowned Sawai Tadao, shakuhachi training from distinguished artist, Yokoyama Katsuya, and flute lessons with Yoshida Masao, he took a turn away from tradition and in 1985 formed the rock band “Mephisto Pheles.” With Sawai’s composing and playing guitar, the group gained a strong following.

From 1986, the young performer was gradually drawn back into the world of koto through appearances in his father’s all Japan concert series. In 1990 Sawai performed at 18 different venues around the country in commemoration of the Sawai Koto Academy’s tenth year anniversary. In the same year he accompanied his father and shakuhachi great, Yamamoto Hozan on their North America tour, appearing on stage at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and The Asian Society in New York City.

In 1991, under the auspices of The Japan Foundation, Sawai was part of a concert tour to venues in Italy and Portugal. 1992 saw the fruits of his compositional efforts when “Shaei,” a work for solo koto, won the 14th Ministry of Cultural Affairs Performing Arts Grand Prix Award for an original work. A recital of various Hikaru Sawai works, performed by the composer himself at Tokyo’s ABC Hall in the following year, was widely acclaimed and was followed by a similar program at Osaka’s Ishihara Hall in 1994. Sawai’s striking performance of “Shaei” during the NHK Hall New year’s Concert of Traditional Music was broadcast by satellite to all parts of the world, and the response shown by a growing interest in the koto has been great.

Sawai had performed at the City Theater in Paris in 1995, and toured 11 cities in Japan and abroad for concerts of Sawai Koto Academy’s 20th commemoration in 1999.

In 2001 he took a part of soloist in a concerto performed by Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa. Moreover in this year, “Mephisto Pheles” was reunited and its new album “Metal on Metal” had been released from VAP label. They hit the road on a concert tour in 21 cities in Japan.

In 2005 Sawai held a recital of his own composition in Tokyo, and also his self-produced CD “OKOTO” was released from Victor label in 2006.

Today he continues with busy performance and composition schedules, working to bring the sound and enjoyment of the koto to a wider and wider audience.