箏曲 = Koto Music - Mitsu No Minyō-Chō / Hokkai-Minyō-Chō

This recording captures the artistry of Michio Miyagi, a pivotal 20th-century composer and koto virtuoso who revolutionized traditional Japanese music. As the founder of the shin-nihon ongaku movement, Miyagi sought to bridge the gap between traditional aesthetics and Western musical structures. These folk-based pieces, or minyo-cho, reflect his lifelong commitment to making the koto accessible and relevant to a modern audience, blending heritage melodies with his signature refined technique.

Released under the Victor label, this record serves as an archival representation of Miyagi's mid-century output. The production design reflects the mid-century Japanese record industry's approach to presenting classical and traditional arts with a balance of technical clarity and cultural reverence. During his lifetime, Miyagi was widely received as a visionary, credited with the invention of the 17-string bass koto and the introduction of Western-style notation to the instrument, which allowed for the preservation and dissemination of these specific arrangements.