About Rie Asai
About Rie Asai
Rie Asia is a Koto artist, composer, and a producer. She began her stage career at the young age of three and has been actively involved in the entertainment industry ever since.
Throughout her career, she has made numerous appearances on various media platforms, including the television program "Hogaku no Hitotoki" on NHK, "Gigei Seizui," produced by Aichi Prefecture, Bayon TV in Cambodia, and the women's pictorial magazine "Fujin Gaho."
As a composer, she has gained international acclaim for her recent hit, "Annei no Inori," which is celebrated as a prayer song. This has led to invitations for performances around the globe. She has had the honor of dedicating her music to esteemed venues such as the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, St. Stephen's Cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Izumo Shrine, among others.
To date, she has performed in 15 countries, including the performance at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria. Most recently, she has dedicated her music to a peace conference held in Vatican City.
On October 18, 2023, she had an audience with Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of Rome.
On October 20, at Religioni Unite in Musica, she offered a “Pray for Harmony, Peace, and Tranquility ” at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Her approach, balancing both music and academic pursuits, is reflected in her achievements, which include a Master of Business Administration (MBA with distinction) from the University of Wales Graduate School of Management and in her research at the Graduate School of Education, University of Tokyo.
Rie is also active as a NPO fellow at the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, and has received the "Human Power Award, Minister of Foreign Affairs Award" from the Japan Junior Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Member of CBC Club.
original album
“Prayer of Peace” (released on January 25, 2023)
“Once in a Blue Moon” (released March 25, 2023)
“Ai Amore” (released October 6, 2023)

My Mission 
The koto has a history of 1,300 years in Japan, and the sound of the koto is a symbol of harmony.
Cooperation instead of conflict. Peace, not war. Not indifference, but love. Throughout our history, the sound of the koto is believed to lead conflict to cooperation, war to peace, and indifference to love.
While providing humanitarian aid to impoverished areas around the world, I realized the importance of purifying the soul and praying. It is true that providing water and food is very important, but more than that, we need to pray for the eradication of poverty, build peace, and pray for peace for people around the world, and we can do that. This is what I felt when I faced the difficulty of supporting children dying in poverty.
I believe that my mission is to contribute to peacebuilding through the koto, which can integrate differences and create harmony, calm, and peace.
Discography

『Purifiction』
[Released on July 25, 2024]
Now accepting reservations at CD shops nationwide
The second CD in the Ai amore series by Rie Asai, a koto princess who is active all over the world, has been proudly completed.
Performance at St. Stephen's Cathedral, a world heritage site, in Vienna, Austria on September 16, 2022. Audience with the 266th Pope Francis in Vatican City on October 20, 2023. Then, on January 11, 2024, we will return home in triumph to Nagoya for the final tour.
The event will be held at Denki Bunka Kaikan's "The Concert Hall'' to a packed audience.
This time, the final concert of this tour will be packaged with the same excitement as the venue.
The members of Nagoya Virtosen, who were in charge of the orchestra in the previous work "Ai Amore" and also accompanied the Vatican's official invitation performance, will reunite to brighten up the tone of Rie Asai, the world's koto princess.

『Libertango』
[Released on February 10, 2024]
Now available on Apple Music, etc.
The single “Libertango” by Rie Asai, a koto artist who creates peace
Libertango for koto and piano with Yui Matsuda on the piano.

『愛』Amore
[Released on October 6, 2023]
Now accepting reservations at CD shops nationwide
Rie Asai, a koto artist who creates peace, plays the sound of "love" with Nagoya Virtuosen. The exquisite harmony of Japan's proud artists transcends eternity and sends waves around the world. The first installment of modern “Ama no Iwato Opening”!

Once in a Blue Moon ―青い月のよるにあなたに会いたくて―
A modern challenge to traditional classical music.
The blue moon is a rare entity that is rarely seen.
*In response to the Turkey/Syria earthquake disaster, 20% of the sales of this CD will be donated to the Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Nagoya.
Filiz Ozduruk, who is participating in the artwork for the production of this CD, is a charcoal and watercolor artist from Turkey, and has contributed to international aid activities for many years, along with Rie Asai. A charity CD that combines art and international support. Please look forward to the new challenges of traditional Japanese musicians.

『安寧の祈り』Pray for harmony, peace and tranquility
This gem of a work was dedicated to St. Stephen's Cathedral, a world heritage site, and brought tears to many viewers! Artists from Japan and Austria gathered in Vienna and held a memorial concert to pray for peace, and now the CD version has been completed. At the request of Rie Asai, who plays the koto, a traditional Japanese instrument, and performs all over the world, Kurt Schmidt, who conducts the Vienna Musik Seminar Chamber Orchestra, will play the tones of peace. From Japan, Koki Sato'', a shakuhachi player who is making his major debut, andKaneko Reika'', a sho player and active Shinto priest, will also be participating. Japan and Austria, Japanese music and Western music, Japanese instruments and Western instruments, a magnificent ensemble of prayers for human peace that transcends all boundaries. Pray for the peace of all people living on this earth.
*A portion of the sales of this CD will be donated to international peace activities.
[Distributed version] Prayer for peace, Chapter 2
Wishing Jewel in Vienna
[Distributed version] Prayer for peace, Chapter 3
Peacefull Waves -with Buddhist Monk Chanting-




