Governor's Heritage Award - Tazue Sasaki

Tazue Kiyono Sasaki of Seattle, Washington was born and raised in Seattle by Japanese parents. She began taking lessons in Buyo (Japanese classical dance) at the age of four from master teacher Yamamura Fukuko. Soon she was also taking lessons on the traditional instruments, shamisen, tsuzumi, and taiko. By the age of eighteen Sasaki was teaching Buyo to students. After graduating from the University of Washington, Sasaki traveled to Japan to study with the foremost dancer, choreographer, and Living National Treasure, Fujima Fujiko. Sasaki earned the title, Fujima Fujimine and her teaching credential (shihan) from Fujiko. Since then, Sasaki has been in great demand as a teacher of dance and shamisen, especially among third- and fourth-generation Japanese Americans. Keeping a busy teaching schedule, Sasaki performs Buyo in Japan, Canada, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest.