KGNU’s Musica Mundi host Doug Gertner welcomes Denver-area musician and educator Miki Saito for a conversation about her journey from Yokohama, Japan, to New York City and eventually Colorado. Trained as a classical pianist and opera singer, Saito shares how she discovered the traditional Japanese bamboo flute known as the shinobue during the pandemic and began studying the instrument with a master teacher in Japan over Zoom.The interview features live in-studio performances on several different shinobue flutes, along with stories about Japanese musical traditions, improvisation, and the creation of her upcoming album Tales of Shinobue. Saito also discusses her teaching work, online tutorials, and mission to introduce more people to traditional Japanese music and culture. (Air Date 2/25/26)