Sayaka is a talented Japanese Irish harp player. She started to play aged eleven and a few years later learnt from various harp players during short stays in the USA, Scotland and Ireland including Philip Boulding of Magical Strings (USA), William Jackson of Ossian (Scotland), Patsy Seddon of Sileas (Scotland) and Laoise Kelly of Bumblebees(Ireland). Between 2000 and 2002 she studied in Ireland, especially Irish harp under Kathleen Loughnane in Galway, Ireland. After returning to Japan, she watched the anime film by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away and loved not only the movie but the music. This music and other tunes on the anime films of Hayao Miyazaki were composed by Joe Hisaishi and Sayaka started to play these tunes by Japanese composers that she found impressive and attractive. Sayaka's first album, includes her original arrangements of Irish and Scottish tunes and her arrangements to suit the harp of music from Miyazaki's films. She has found her own original style and selection of repertoire which she interprets in her unique way. A beautiful meeting of Japan and the Celtic music world. Timeless melodies played with finesse and skill.
