Miyuki Sakiyama

Even though Miyuki’s mother played the koto, Miyuki grew up playing the piano. It wasn’t until after her mother passed that she started learning to play the koto. Originally, she played with her mother’s teachers, learning a different school of koto than she does now with Oregon Koto-Kai. Although the different branches teach different techniques for playing the instrument, Miyuki didn’t find it too difficult to switch once she moved to Oregon and started taking lessons with Mitsuki. This may have been because of her experience playing the piano, which gave her a strong background in musical techniques. She still plays the piano and can be spotted accompanying concerts around town.

Miyuki enjoys the process of learning and loves working on challenging pieces and techniques. She says the hardest part of playing the koto is carrying and transporting it around - especially the 17-string bass koto, which can be up to seven feet long. Her favorite part of playing the koto and being part of OKK is playing in ensemble pieces. Playing in an ensemble teaches you to focus on the larger picture. She says that working within the boundaries of the koto’s 13 strings means that a lot can change when you factor in the strengths, weaknesses, and different styles of other players.