雨 Rain – Hozan Yamamoto (1954) The song is described by the composer as depicting a rainy day in the monsoon season.  The [more]

みだれ Midare – Yatsuhashi Kengyo (Traditional) The composer was a gifted blind musician from Kyoto who died at the age of 72 in [more]

二つの田園詩 Futatsu no den-en-shi (Two Pastorals) – Katsutoshi Nagasawa (1973) Consisting of two contrasting pieces, “Futasu no den-en-shi” seems to allude as much [more]

飛騨によせる三つのバラード 3 Ballard for Hida – Katsutoshi Nagasawa (1977) Hida is an old town in Japan where ancient hand made goods can still be [more]

春の海  Haru no Umi (The Sea in Spring) – Michio Miyagi (1929) Koto and shakuhachi ‘Haru no Umi’ is one of Miyagi Michio’s [more]

砧 Kinuta – Michio Miyagi (1928) “Kinuta” refers to a wooden block used for fulling cloth by rhythmic beating.  When Miyagi Michio was [more]

イルージョン Illusion – Hikaru Sawai (2000) Koto & bass koto There are two manifestations of illusion, ‘Fantasy/Magic’ and ‘Visions’.  Fantasy is created intentionally, [more]

Okoto – Hikaru Sawai (1999) Two kotos The title ‘OKOTO’ refers to the instrument itself and pays respect to it by adding the [more]

朝のうた Asa No Uta (Morning Praise) – Tadao Sawai (1995) Solo koto The word ‘Asa’ is translated  as morning and ‘Uta’ is translated [more]

Kの為の斗為巾 Toikin for K(Kanako) – Tadao Sawai (1991) The title To-i-kin refer to the highest 3 notes in the koto, they are often [more]

曼珠沙華  Manjushaka – Tadao Sawai (1986) Manjushaka is generally known as the name of the cluster amarylilis . However it is originally a Buddhist term meaning [more]

だちゅら Dachura – Tadao Sawai (1985) 2 kotos & bass koto The first time I encountered the flower called ‘Dachura’, it was on [more]