The Sawai International koto ensemble is consisted with Sawai kotoists who studied under Sawai School, and active profesionally on abroad.
In keeping with the Sawai teaching philosophy, the Sawai believe koto is not something that should be limited to Japan.
They encourage and welcome students from all over the world at their school in Tokyo, and are establishing Sawai Koto School branches in various countries.
The Sawai Koto School was founed by Tadao Sawai and Kazue Sawai in 1979 to promote their efforts to expand the koto world. They are also pioneer in spreading koto music around the globe, with branches of their school in the United States, Australia, Europe and elsewhere. Their goal is to take the koto beyond the boundaries of traditonal Japanese music and develop new means of expression through the instrument. In pursuing this goal they have worked not only with other Japanese musicians from the traditional genres, but major performers from Western classical, jazz, avant-gard, and other world music traditions.
