Kazue Sawai (沢井一恵), born 5 March 1941 in Kyoto, Japan, is a koto virtuoso known for contemporary classical and free improvisation. She studied koto under Michio Miyagi and graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. She released several albums with his husband, koto player and composer Tadao Sawai, including RCA releases 和洋合奏 日本の組曲 = Suite of Japanese Traditional Music (1965), 琴 / 日本の詩情 (Japanese Poetry In Koto) (1969), 琴 名曲選 (1970), and 琴・クラシック名曲集 = Koto Plays Classic Favorites (1970). Subsequent releases include Eye to Eye 目と目 (1987), 沢井一恵プレイズ高橋悠治～風がおもてで呼んでいる (25 January 1991), followed by ポエム・ソング (21 July 1991), John Cage: Three Dances ジョン・ケージ:3つのダンス(プリペアド箏ヴァージョン) (1992), Ta‑Wa‑Go (21 July 1995), 八重山游行 (12 September 1996), JOHGEN‑NO KYOKU 沢井忠夫へのレクイエム 沢井一恵 絃の世界 (23 July 1998), オーガニック ミネラル (30 June 2005), THE SAWAI KAZUE[十七絃] (18 July 2011), Point and Surface 点と面 (12 October 2011), 沢井一恵 箏 リサイタル (5 August 2015), and the 2016 ゴールデン☆ベスト「雅(みやび)」和楽器 Meets 叙情歌 and ゴールデン☆ベスト「雅(みやび)」和楽器 Meets クラシック. She has performed worldwide and recorded works from John Cage, The Beatles, Yuji Takahashi, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Sofia Gubaidulina. She has collaborated with Toshi Ichiyanagi, Hozan Yamamoto, Tetsu Saitoh, Joseph Jarman, Joëlle Léandre, Michel Doneda, Benat Achiary, Kim Suk Chul, Lê Quan Ninh, and has taught at her own school in Japan. Kazua Sawai died on 15 February 2026 at the age of 85.
