Michio Miyagi

Michio Miyagi was a blind Japanese composer and koto virtuoso, revered for his profound impact on traditional Japanese music. He innovated the art form by merging it with Western musical elements, a movement known as New Japanese Music. His most famous composition, 'Haru no Umi' ('The Sea in Spring'), originally for koto and shakuhachi, gained global recognition after an arrangement with violinist *Renée Chemet*. Miyagi also invented new instruments, including the 17-string bass koto. He signed an exclusive contract with #Victor Record Company# (now #JVC#) in 1929, which helped propel his work to international fame, solidifying his legacy as a pivotal figure in 20th-century music.