You can order our album ‘Kin’ on Bandcamp now, digitally or physically. Alternatively you can skip the shipping fees and pick up a CD at select Oregon Koto-Kai live performances or in person at Enthea Teahouse and Portland Japanese Garden.

*Shipping of CDs is limited to US only

Oregon Koto-Kai is proud to present our debut album, Kin, featuring some of our favorite pieces for Japanese koto ensemble. Established in 2012 by our artistic director Mitsuki Dazai, we are entering our 13th year at the time of this album’s release. As such, the title Kin refers to the name of the 13th and highest string on a standard koto and symbolizes our progress over the years.

The calligraphy featured on the cover, by our own Nobuko Chalfen, is a fusion of the kanji for Kin and enso ('circle'). This symbol in Japanese Zen is the revelation of a world of the spirit without beginning and end.

Oregon Koto-Kai looks forward to many more years of sharing koto music and Japanese culture with our community while striving to reach new artistic heights.

Tracklist

  1. Sakura Sakura for Three Kotos - Arranged by Kaoru Wada, 2017

Koto 1 - Amy Shoemaker

Koto 2 - Miyuki Sakiyama

Koto 3 - Josh Faber-Hammond

2. Tsuchi Ningyo つち人形 (Clay Dolls) - Composed by Tadao Sawai, 1972

Koto 1 - Rena Takahashi

Koto 2 - Josh Faber-Hammond

3. OKOTO - Composed by Hikaru Sawai, 1999

Koto 1 - Miyuki Sakiyama

Koto 2 - Amy Shoemaker

4. Hana Ikada 花筏 (Flower Raft) - Composed by Tadao Sawai, 1968

Koto 1 - Nobuko Chalfen

Koto 2 - Miwa Satoh

5. Midnight Rain - Composed by Elizabeth Falconer, 1989

Koto 1 - Miyuki Sakiyama

Koto 2 - Amy Shoemaker

6. Koto 古都 (Old Capital) - Composed by Shin Miyashita, 1977

Koto 1 - Nobuko Chalfen, Rena Takahashi

Koto 2 - Amy Shoemaker, Mitsuki Dazai

7. Ginyuka 吟遊歌 (Song of the Troubadours) - Composed by Hikaru Sawai, 1998

Koto 1 - Rena Takahashi

Koto 2 - Josh Faber-Hammond

Bass Koto - Amy Shoemaker

Album Credits

All songs © Muserk Rights Management

Except Midnight Rain © Elizabeth Diane Falconer

Recorded at Black Diamond Studios in Portland, OR

Mixed and Mastered by Andrew Shartle

Album Art by Kayo Kondo-Cox

Kin Calligraphy by Nobuko Chalfen

Produced by Mitsuki Dazai & Josh Faber-Hammond

2024

Oregon Koto-Kai’s debut album ‘Kin’ released June 9th, 2024