Cultural Performance: Koto by Mitsuki Dazai with students

• Mitsuki Dazai, koto
• Amy Shoemaker, koto
• Miyuki Sakiyama, koto

Enjoy a free koto performance by Mitsuki Dazai at 1:15pm at the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center. Koto player Mitsuki Dazai invites her advanced students, Amy Shoemaker and Miyuki Sakiyama for her performance.

The program will include both classical Japanese music and some Western pieces:

- Chidori no Kyoku ("Song of Plovers"): This piece is in Jiuta genre, music from Edo period for singing accompanied by kotos with an instrumental part in-between.

- Sarashifū Tegoto (Instrumental Interlude in Sarashi-style): composed by Michio Miyagi (born in the Meiji period for two kotos

- A song by the Beatles

About the Koto Harp

The standard Koto harp is a thirteen-string plucked zither. It was introduced to Japan from China through the Korean Peninsula in the 7th Century. The instrument has been part of the Gagaku court ensemble for over one thousand years, gradually becoming popular among the merchant classes of the Edo period (1600-1868). An important member of the traditional Sankyoku ensemble, along with the three-string Shamisen and Shakuhachi (bamboo flute), the Koto developed further in a solo capacity, eventually gaining its place as one of Japan’s most prominent musical instruments. Today a varied repertoire along with a wide range of playing techniques provides a wonderful palette of sound textures, making the Koto appealing to audiences the world over.

About Mitsuki Dazai, koto

Mitsuki Dazai is a graduate of Tokyo's prestigious Kunitachi College of Music, studied koto with the world-renowned virtuoso Kazue Sawai, and received her certificate in koto instruction at Sawai Koto Institute. Dazai moved to Oregon in 2002, serving as a guest lecturer at universities in Oregon, as an artistic director of new koto ensemble group, Oregon Koto-Kai (Japanese Koto Society of Oregon), and touring throughout the U.S., Europe, South America, and Japan.

About Amy Shoemaker, koto

Amy began playing koto in 2011 when she taught English in Japan and had the good fortune to be neighbors with a koto teacher. She joined Oregon Koto-Kai after moving to Portland, continuing to learn different styles and techniques during individual and ensemble lessons. She currently holds an intermediate level certificate from the Sawai Koto Institute. Her dream is to build community through music.

About Miyuki Sakiyama, koto

Miyuki Sakiyama began playing piano at the age of four in her native Japan. She graduated from Hokkaido University with a DDS, and was a certified physician of orthodontics at the University of Tokyo. After moving to the US, she began working at the Sycamore Strings Academy and the Crowden Music Center both in California as a piano accompanist. Currently, Miyuki is part of the Community Music Center faculty and plays for various instruments and ensembles for recitals and competitions, along with choirs. She loves music and enjoys working with young musicians! She has also studied koto with Fujiko Yoneta and Kotoe Tada, and is a certified koto instructor of Soumei Ongaku-kai and a current member of Oregon Koto-Kai. She is a mother of two violinists who have both studied through the Suzuki program. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with her family.