kotomelodies.com | Mitsuki Dazai

Mitsuki Dazai

About Mitsuki Dazai

Mitsuki is a graduate of Japan's renowned Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo, Japan, where she majored in vocal performance in the Western Classical tradition. During the course of her studies, she felt drawn to the non-western traditions of Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia Interested in these areas eventually led Mitsuki on a circuitous route to a discovery of traditional Japanese music and she began intense studies in traditional koto music at the Ikuta School of koto.

Inspired by the cultural veneration of this instrument, she next pursued advanced studies in contemporary koto music at Sawai Koto Conservatory in Tokyo, with instruction by modern Koto Masters Tadao Sawai, world renowned Kazue Sawai and Ritsuko Otawara, from which she graduated and was further honored as a certified koto instructor.

A founding member of the koto ensembles in both the Unites States and Japan, she has performed throughout Japan, and in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and Eugene. A member of "Ensemble East West", founded by flutist Tessa Brinckman. Mitsuki is currently active in solo and ensemble concerts both in the U.S. and Japan and is increasingly appreciated in the regional festivals of our great Northwest.

She is interested in the challenge of performing with talented musicians and has performed with Tessa Brinckman (flute, alto flute, piccolo, baroque flute), Joe Powers (harmonica), Peter Hill, Larry Tyrrell, Teruo Furuya, Kaoru Kakizakai, and Kazushi Matama (shakuhachi), Joe Ross (guitar) and Radim Zenkl (mandolin).

Mitsuki's musical background is both diverse and extensive as a performer and innovator, arranging and composing Koto music in different styles. Not limiting herself to music traditionally associated with the koto, her performances often incorporate western, pop and improvisational elements and arrangements, challenging the many voices of the koto and allowing her to relate the koto's appeal to a variety of audiences.

Photo by Chris Leck