Miki Saito

Miki Saito is a Japanese-born, U.S.-based musician who bridges her Western classical training with the expressive voice of the shinobue, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute. A pianist and vocalist with a background in Western classical performance and education, Miki began studying the shinobue at age 54. The instrument, deeply connected to Japanese festivals and folk traditions, opened a new artistic path and reconnected her with her Japanese roots. Her performances have been featured at venues including the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, the University of Wyoming, and the Denver Botanic Gardens, as well as cultural festivals across the United States. 

Through her performances and educational workshops, she introduces audiences to the expressive and cinematic possibilities of this rarely heard instrument. Her debut album, "Tales of Shinobue," blends traditional Japanese sonorities with cinematic soundscapes, creating immersive instrumental music centered on breath, storytelling, and atmosphere.