Today's playlist. This 31st installment features "Tadao Sawai".
I bought it at Flash Disc Ranch, my favorite record store in Shimokitazawa.
This is a record store I've been going to ever since I first moved to Setagaya. It's popular because of its amazing point card system, which is valid as long as the store is open. Once you collect 50 stamps, you can buy any number of records under 15,000 yen for half price.
Tadao Sawai: The Koto Revolutionary and His Musical World
A Musician's Journey
Tadao Sawai (December 16, 1937 – April 1, 1997) was a renowned Japanese koto player and composer, and the founder of the Sawai Koto School. His musical journey began when he was born into a prominent family of shakuhachi players in Nakajima District, Aichi Prefecture (present-day Bisai City). He started playing the koto in the fifth grade of elementary school and initially studied under Michio Miyagi, but Miyagi passed away soon after, marking a turbulent start to his career.
Education and early success
In 1960, Sawai graduated from the Department of Traditional Japanese Music at Tokyo University of the Arts, and completed the postgraduate course in 1962. While still a student, he was honored to be selected as NHK's "National Hope of the Year." He also began composing in high school, creating his first work, "Snow Story." Afterwards, he honed his compositional skills under the tutelage of Shimizu Osamu.
Folk music society and original activities
In 1964, he formed the "Folk Music Society" with Suzumu Aoki, Matsuhiro Ito, Kazuyuki Takano, Eizaburo Kineya, and Kunizan Yamamoto. This group pursued the fusion of traditional music with jazz and classical music, opening up new musical horizons. In 1971, following the success of the "Tadao Sawai Koto Solo Concert," he received the Arts Festival Excellence Award, and his talent was widely recognized.
Establishment of Sawai Koto School and Media Appearances
In 1979, together with his wife, koto player Kazue Sawai, he established the Sawai Koto School and trained many students. Furthermore, in 1985, he appeared in a commercial for Nestlé's "Nescafé Gold Blend," which made him known to the general public.
Later life and its legacy
In 1997, Tadao Sawai passed away due to a recurrence of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. His death was a great loss to the Japanese music world, but his innovative style and contributions to education are still remembered today.
The innovativeness of the style
Tadao Sawai's style, while making extensive use of traditional melodies and motifs, explored the possibilities of the koto in a modern way. He composed many works using not only the traditional Japanese pentatonic scale but also the twelve-tone scale, and incorporated diverse techniques such as playing the koto percussively and using drumsticks. As a result, a diverse repertoire was created, ranging from short practice pieces to works demanding advanced performance skills.
In conclusion
Tadao Sawai was a musician who blended tradition and innovation, making a significant contribution to the development of Japanese koto music. His music continues to inspire many people to this day.
Many people may be familiar with it because it was used in the famous Gold Blend coffee commercial with the jingle "Dabada dabada♪".
WAITER-U offers not only camping gear, but also a curated selection of music, books, and movies.
I've also created a playlist on Spotify, so please feel free to listen to it in the car on your way to a camping trip.
