Kazue Sawai, a Japanese koto player and musician, died on February 17, 2026.
Born in Kyoto on January 1, 1941, she began studying the koto at age eight with Michio Miyagi and later graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Sawai was noted for her performances of contemporary classical music and free improvisation, played both the 13-string and 17-string kotos, and performed in Japan, North America and Europe.
As a soloist and with her koto ensemble, she worked with John Cage, Toshi Ichiyanagi, Yuji Takahashi, Ayuo, Roberto Carnevale, Sofia Gubaidulina, David Behrman and Carl Stone, among others.
Kazue Sawai (沢井 一恵, Sawai Kazue; 1 January 1941 – 15 February 2026) was a Japanese koto player noted for her performance of contemporary classical music and free improvisation.