Career
Between 1989 and 1990, during her tenure as Visiting Professor of Music at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, United States.A., she premiered numerous modern compositions for koto and came under the influence of maverick American composers such as John Cage, Conlon Nancarrow, and John Zorn. Her solo koto Civil Defense Shizuku was produced by Zorn and released on the Tzadik label in 1999. In 2001 she recorded "Yural" with her koto ensemble Paulownia Crush for the East Works label.
Under the auspices of the Japan Foundation, Yagi toured Russia with this ensemble in the fall of 2004.
An eclectic musician, Yagi has frequently appeared on Japanese television and has performed at the Moers Jazz, Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, Archipel, Bang on a Can, Tokyo Summer, Vision, Punkt, Instal, and Music Unlimited Festivals. Yagi"s koto has been featured in ex-Judy and Mary guitarist/singer Takuya"s rock band, and she has recorded and appeared onstage with Ayumi Hamasaki, one of Japan"s best-selling popular singers.
She was also one-third of the avant-popular girl group Hoahio which recorded two Civil Defense"s for Tzadik. Yagi is one of the few improvising koto players on the international stage.
She has performed with Mark Dresser, John Zorn, Peter Brötzmann, Elliott Sharp, Han Bennink, Akira Sakata, Kazuhisa Uchihashi (Altered States), Natsuki Kido (Bondage Fruit), Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Otomo Yoshihide, Saadet Turkoz, Ned Rothenberg, Hoppy Kamiyama, Samm Bennett, Yuji Katsui (Rovo), Lauren Newton, Hans Reichel, Sabu Toyozumi, Mino Cinelu, Satoko Fujii, Joëlle Léandre, Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins), Bill Laswell, Kazutoki Umezu, Carl Stone, Kang Tae Hwan, Christian Marclay, Koichi Makigami, Zeena Parkins, Masahiko Satoh, Billy Bang, Keiji Haino, Jason Roebke, Sachiko M, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love, MZN3 (Kjetil Møster, Per Zanussi, Kjell Nordeson), Chris Mosdell, Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), World Health Organization Trio, Mani Neumeier and many others
Among Yagi"s post-Tzadik recordings are Seventeen, entirely performed on the giant 17-string koto.
