Tadao Sawai

Who was Tadao Sawai?

Tadao Sawai was a Japanese koto player and composer. He was renowned all over Japan for his skill at the Koto and also received big acclaim from his compositions. He was married to Kazue Sawai, a koto player, and had son Hikaru Sawai, who is also a musician.

Born in Aichi Prefecture, Sawai graduated from the prestigious Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1958.

Sawai worked with a number of Western musicians, including Wadada Leo Smith and also released a CD of himself playing Jazzy Bach on the Koto.

Sawai also invented a Koto of his own also called as the Tadao koto which also creates good sounds.