1985 graduate from the Music Department of Osaka University of Arts, majoring in piano.
1988 graduate in composition with a Master’s Degree from Tokyo College of Music.
1989 – present: A student of Shomyo, the ancient Heian period (781-1192 AD) form of chant associated with the Tendai sect of Buddhism, with Genshin Nakayama.
1986 – 1996: A student of ryu-teki (gagaku flute) from Sukeyasu Shiba.
1988 traveled to Israel to study Jewish religious music.
1990 studied the Itako music of the Tsugaru area of southern Aomori, Japan.
2008 traveled to Israel to study Yemenite ritual music “Deawan” from Gira Beshari.
Grants
1994 Asian Cultural Council (ACC), to study the Navajo language at Navajo Community College in Arizona and the music of the Navajo and Hopi peoples.
2000 The Helene Wuriltzer Foundation to study the music of The Taos Pueblo.
2008 Israel Government Sponsored Fellowship to study at Tel Aviv University Theater Department.
Award
2006 Kawaguchi Cultural Award to Makiko Sakurai in acknowledgement of her Noh play “Bamboo Princess” which she wrote, directed and performed in.
Discology
(Source/Author/Title;Label/Order No./Year)
CD "Sakurai Makiko / Inzei Amitada Sutra;" Bamboo / BCD-001/1993
CD "Mamoru FUJIEDA / The Night Chant;" TZADIK / TZ-7003/1995
CD "AYUO / IZUTSU;" TZADIK / TZ-7227/2000
CD "Sakurai Makiko / water Shirabyoshi;" Bamboo / BCD-035/2001
CD "REAL JAPANESE UNDERGROUND 2006 / VA" LOST RIVERS PRODUCT / LRP015-017 / 2006