Meet the Team
Board of Directors
Mitsuki Dazai
Member since 2012
Mitsuki graduated with a degree in Western Classical music at the Kunitachi College of Music, then became a student of the Koto at the Sawai Koto Institute in Tokyo. She continued her studies under Koto Master Kazue Sawai after completing the ensemble music course. Moving to the US in 2002 she started to teach and perform throughout the US, Europe, South America and Canada. Mitsuki is a founding member and instructor of Oregon Koto-Kai.
Nobuko Chalfen
Member since 2012
Nobuko started koto lessons in her early twenties in Japan. In 2012, she restarted taking lessons after about a 30 year break and received an Intermediate Level Certificate from the Sawai Koto Institute. She loves the gentle, nostalgic, yet dramatically dynamic koto sounds. In addition to the koto, she practices chado (the tea ceremony) to calm herself. She is one of the founding members of Oregon Koto-Kai.
Josh Faber-Hammond
Member since 2015
Josh started learning music at an early age with piano, trumpet, and drums, and throughout his music education he developed an appreciation for music from all over the world. After seeing several performances by Mitsuki-sensei, learning and performing koto has become his primary musical pursuit. Josh is also a member of the Sawai Koto Institute and has his intermediate level certification.
Amy Shoemaker
Member since 2016
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.
Lily Liu
Member since 2020
When I attended OKK’s 2019 spring concert (invitation by Miyuki Sakiyama), I was hooked. Fortunately Mitsuki sensei graciously agreed to teach since March 2019. I am learning to play the instrument, but most importantly I am learning the significance of Japanese tradition, respect, dignity, discipline, mindfulness and unity. The very same aspects I hope to achieve in my art. I am profoundly grateful for the support and guidance from Mitsuki sensei. It is my great honor to join OKK and be part of the important effort to carry on the tradition to bring joy and peace to the world. Besides playing Koto, I am a mix media artist strive to make every minute count and make near zero waste. I am also a die heart tennis enthusiast.
Players
Rena Takahashi
Member since 2016
Rena was born and raised in Japan, and moved to RI in 1996. Inspired by Mitsuki’s performance at Portland Japanese Garden, she joined OKK in 2016, and has been loving it since. Her wild dream is to have jazz jam sessions with her son, who is a young aspiring bassist.
Miyuki Sakiyama
Member since 2017
Miyuki has studied koto with Fujiko Yoneta and Kotoe Tada. She is a certified koto instructor of Soumei Ongaku-kai. Alongside her koto studies, she is a professional piano accompanist in the Portland Metro area, and enjoys playing music with other people.
Lily Lockwood-Keil
Member since 2017
Lily has been playing the koto since second grade, when she was introduced to it by her father. Mitsuki’s excellent guidance and the intricate sheet music drew her in, and the satisfaction of making unique music kept her engaged. She hopes that koto remains a whimsical way to explore other cultures and help to keep unique parts of history alive. Now a high school student, she is grateful to have become more disciplined and curious because of her time spent with Oregon Koto-Kai.
Kayo Kondo-Cox
Member since 2018
Kayo grew up in Japan hearing her mother play Koto. She started her lessons with Mitsuki-sensei in 2017. It’s just so wonderful to connect with my heritage and share the culture through Koto. She is a photographer and loves being out in nature.
McKenzie Robeson
Member since 2018
McKenzie started to take lessons with Mitsuki in November 2018. She saw the koto being played at the Japanese Gardens and fell in love with it. She enjoys the challenge of learning and mastering new pieces. She has always loved different kinds of music and can also play the piano.
Adam Eason
Member since 2019
When Adam was young, he learned one of his great-grandmothers played the koto. After moving to Portland in 2018, he soon learned of the Oregon Koto-Kai, and began taking lessons not long after seeing one of their Fall concerts. Currently a teacher, composer, and cellist, he hopes to incorporate the koto more thoroughly in his music career.
Miwa Satoh
Member since 2019
Miwa started to take the Koto lessons in 2017 and joined OKK in 2019. Since she moved to the U.S., she has always been missing Japanese culture and found her desire to learn a Japanese instrument. Now, she has been discovering her joy to play the Koto with other players in the ensemble. Besides playing the Koto, she enjoys Japanese flower arrangement and dancing Gospel Hula. She also enjoys doing Karate and playing Golf with her husband and their son.
Yasuko Snyder
Member since 2020
Yasuko has always had a love and appreciation for music either while playing the piano, Electone, or as a local Taiko performer. She began to truly appreciate the Koto after seeing performances by Mitsuki-sensei and Drum Tao. She was so impressed with the beautiful sounds that in 2019 she decided to take lessons. Yasuko also enjoys playing the piano, Fue, and Tsugaru Shamisen and creating craftworks while knitting, sewing, or weaving.
Lindsay Emiko Brooks
Member since 2021
Miko started her musical journey as a child in the public schools of Clackamas County. She has enjoyed playing trumpet, piano and participating in choir over the years. Her family connections to Japan sparked interest in learning the koto as an adult. She began working with Mitsuki Sensei in November 2020.
Mayumi Rogers
Member since 2024
Mayumi began her Koto lessons with Mitsuki in 2021 and recently participated in her debut concert with OKK in spring 2024. She takes delight in playing the Koto, finding its melodies incredibly soothing. The concert proved to be a delightful experience, fueling her passion and instilling the courage to explore the enchanting world of Koto music further.
