Ishigure Masayo: Bringing Traditional Japanese Music to New York

Ishigure in Hollywood to record the score for the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. From left: John Williams, Ishigure Masayo (koto), Yoshikawa Masakazu (shakuhachi), Itzhak Perlman (violin), Yoyo Ma (cello). (Courtesy Ishigure Masayo)

Ishigure answers questions from audience members after a 2018 performance. She likes to encourage audience members to take the time to see the instrument for themselves up close. (Courtesy Ishigure Masayo)

After a concert at a private library in 2016, Ishigure demonstrates two different styles of musical notation: traditional koto notation and the familiar Western musical staff also used for koto music. (Courtesy Ishigure Masayo)