Biography
- Koto and Jiuta Sangen Musician/Instructor
- Grand Master, Ikuta-ryu Seiha School of Traditional Japanese Instrumental Music (Seiha Hogaku-kai)
- Head Director of the USA Branch of Seiha Hogaku-kai
Ms. Handa began studying koto at the age of 50 years old after moving to the USA by marriage. Before then, she worked as a researcher/educator of Science at a national university in Japan for 24 years. Ms. Handa was fascinated of koto music & sound when met it at an impressive gala concert held in San Francisco where the prominent koto musicians participated from Japan including the Seiha-Iemoto Ms. Yasuko Nakashima and the late composer/virtuoso Mr. Shin-ichi Yuize. Ms. Handa studied koto under the late Grand Master Ms. Sato Masazuka and obtained a teaching credential in 2000. Ms. Handa continued studying koto and sangen under Ms. Sato until 2015 when Ms. Sato abruptly succumbed to cancer. With other students Ms. Handa stood taking over Ms. Sato’s mission to promote and advance the beauty of koto music.
Ms. Handa currently resides in San Francisco, CA, enjoys teaching and performing koto and sangen music, classic and contemporary, together with fellow and future koto performers.