A Japanese Ikebana florist will be calling on one of her other talents as a koto player at the opening of the Bermuda Society of Arts shows this evening.

Mikiko Inoue, who has been involved in workshops surrounding Japanese traditions, told The Royal Gazette about the history of the koto.

Her aim is not lose the spirit inherited from her ancestors and she has played the koto at Ivy League universities such as Harvard University, Princeton University and Columbia University in her college days. The koto is also known as the Japanese harp, zither or lute and it has a 1,200-year history. “Only men in the Japanese Imperial Family were allowed to enjoy the koto,” Ms Inoue said.

“Then about 330 years ago, some professional koto players appeared, but the most famous player in koto history was Michio Miyagi, who is known as the father of modern koto.”

Mr. Miyagi was also blind from the age of eight and when he died in 1956, he had reached the highest level of koto performers. “He composed lots of music for the koto,” she said, “And we still continue to play his music now.”

In the days when Mr. Miyagi played, women began to play the koto, but in modern Japan, it is becoming a forgotten tradition.

At the opening of the Bermuda Society of Arts shows, which will feature artists such as Vernon Clarke, Trevor Todd, Vanessa George and other members in an unjuried show, Ms Inoue will play a selection of songs. “I will play maybe three or four songs, they have left it up to me to choose and I don’t have a time limit either,” she said. “Maybe I will play a song called ‘Spring Ocean’, ‘Cherry Blossom,’ and another called ‘Yugao’.

“I can’t translate it, but it is a name of a Japanese Woman, who about 400 years ago, was the mistress of a general or a samurai warrior. She always waited for him and sometimes she missed him. This song is about those feelings and it is a very old, old song.”

One of the artists in the show, Vernon Clarke, painted a portrait of Ms Inoue playing her instrument.

“He took pictures of me in my garden playing the koto,” she said. “Then he drew me and he will include the painting of me with others in his exhibition.

Another one of the portraits is of her karate teacher.

“I can feel lots of energy from his work. It is very nice and I fortunate to have been painted by him,” Ms Inoue said. “It is fun.”

When describing the tones of the koto, she said: “I always explain that it is like Japanese harp, but the music tunes are different, because I make the sounds by moving the bridge.

“I have to re-adjust my ear to make tunes, there is no electricity, no studio. The sound is very serene and it is very relaxing, so this music has never received complaints from the neighbours.

“When you hear it you feel like sleeping — it is good meditation.”

Ms Inoue enjoys bringing her customs and arts to Bermuda.

“I’d like to keep introducing Japanese culture,” she said. Ms Inoue’s performance will take place between 5.30 and 6 p.m.