Shoko Hikage has studied Koto for decades with notable Koto Masters. She began playing at the age of three with the Ikuta-ryu Sokyoku Seigen Kai in the Akita prefecture of Japan. In 1988, she graduated from Takasaki College with a major in Koto music, and was immediately accepted as a special research student under Tadao Sawai and Kazue Sawai, where she subsequently received her master's certificate. In 1992, she moved to Honolulu to teach at the Sawai Koto Kai Hawaii. Currently she resides in San Francisco, where she continues her concert and teaching activities. Inishie No/Ancient Times is her 2014 release. Employing a variety of traditional and avant-garde approaches, Shoko's unique Koto performances showcase a new and fresh appreciation for the instrument.