Saeko Koto
Konichiwa
Saeko Kujiraoka is a Los Angeles–based koto artist trained in the Ikuta style in Tokyo, Japan. She holds advanced certification in koto, sangen, and classical Japanese vocal music from the Michio Miyagi School of Koto.
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Her work spans traditional performance and contemporary collaboration, with appearances in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Opening Ceremony, Genshin Impact’s 2022 concert, and recordings for League of Legends, as well as film and album projects including Kung Fu Panda.
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She is the founder of the Koto Eda Group and performs and teaches throughout the United States and Japan.
The Early Years
Saeko Kujiraoka was born and raised in Japan in a musical household. Her mother was a piano teacher, and from a young age Saeko was surrounded by music, often singing along as her mother played. She began studying piano at the age of five, building an early foundation in music.
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In her early teens, her family remodeled their home to include a tatami room for her mother’s ikebana classes. A friend of her mother, an Ikuta-style koto teacher, began renting the space to hold lessons. As Saeko returned home from school, she would hear the sound of the koto coming from inside the house. Drawn to the instrument, she decided to switch from piano to koto and began formal study.
"The sound of the koto would drift through the house each day, filling the space with something unfamiliar yet deeply compelling. What began as a passing curiosity quickly became a quiet pull toward the instrument, one that would shape the course of her life."
My Story
She went on to study the Ikuta style of koto and trained at the Michio Miyagi School of Koto in Japan, where she received advanced certification in koto, sangen, and classical Japanese vocal music.
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After moving to Los Angeles, she continued her studies under Kazue Kudo. In Japan, her performances were primarily limited to formal recitals, but in the United States she began performing more widely, including at festivals, museums, schools, libraries, and private events.
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She has been involved in a range of collaborations, including her harp and koto duo “Harp & Koto Stories,” performances with the Japan America Chamber Ensemble, and work with jazz and bossa nova groups. She has also participated in recording projects, including film soundtracks such as Kung Fu Panda, and album recordings with artists such as Luke Steele (Empire of the Sun) and M.I.A.
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She also arranges contemporary and popular music for koto, including works inspired by artists such as Michael Jackson, The Beatles, and Chick Corea, expanding the instrument’s presence beyond traditional repertoire.
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Her work includes large-scale performances and recordings such as the 2019 Rose Parade in Pasadena, the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Genshin Impact’s 2022 concert, and recordings for video game music such as League of Legends.
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Saeko teaches private koto lessons in the Los Angeles area and continues to perform at cultural institutions and events throughout the United States and Japan.
Get in Touch
For inquiries regarding performances, lessons, recording, or collaborations, please reach out below. Serving the Greater Los Angeles area and beyond.
