For over 50 years, Sachiyo Ito has brought East and West together through her delicate and powerful performance of classical, traditional, and contemporary Japanese dance.
Dear Readers,
We are delighted to share Chapter 13 of Sachiyo Sensei's memoir, titled "New Year Greeting," which opens 2025 with a profound exploration of dance as a mirror of culture. In this illuminating chapter, Sachiyo Sensei reflects on her 55-year journey of using Japanese dance as a bridge between cultures, particularly through her "Japanese Culture through Dance" program. She shares heartwarming stories about teaching diverse students - from young Broadway aspirants to seniors rediscovering their cultural memories. The chapter offers special insight into the tradition of Odori-zome (New Year's Dance), where her international students celebrate their progress. She also explores the deeper meaning of the bow in Japanese dance, revealing how this seemingly simple gesture creates a sacred space for learning and mutual respect. As we navigate our increasingly digital world, her reflections on the importance of human connection through traditional arts feel particularly timely and valuable.
Stay tuned for more chapters as Sachiyo Sensei continues to share her wisdom and experiences!
All the best,
Sachiyo Ito and Company
Memoir
This year renowned dancer, dance educator, and choreographer Sachiyo Ito has been serializing her memoir on JapanCulture•NYC with monthly installments, each chapter revealing a different aspect of her early life in Tokyo and career in New York City.
Ito offers of a profound exploration of the experience of dedicating herself to traditional Japanese dance at an early age, arriving in New York City during the tumultuous ‘70s, and making a successful career in the arts. Each chapter offers a glimpse into the complexities that shaped her journey. It is a literary examination of not only Ito Sensei’s life, but of how New York City’s culture evolved over the decades and what sacrifices one must make to achieve a thriving career in the arts.
The memoir is an invitation to delve into the layers of a creative life and career that has spanned more than 50 years. As a work in progress, it is also an invitation for you to offer your feedback. Your insights will contribute to the evolution of this extraordinary work.
2023 NJ Cherry Blossom Festival
Hudson River Museum 2023
Odori-zome (New Year Dance) 2024
Meet the Founder
Sachiyo Ito is an educator, choreographer, and has performed and taught Japanese dance for the last 52 years in the United States. In 2008, she received Foreign Minister’s Award from Japan in recognition of her work of promoting Japanese arts and culture, and to bridge peoples of the USA and Japan, in 2011 received City's Proclamation commemorating her company's 30 years of community service.
Born in Tokyo, she holds a M.A. and Ph.D. in Dance from New York University, and was awarded the name Sachiyo Fujima from the Fujima School of Japanese classical dance in Tokyo. She has taught at major colleges including the Juilliard School and New York University as Adjunct Professor and has been a visiting professor at colleges around the USA.
In 1981 she founded Sachiyo Ito and Company, a professional dance company and a school of Japanese dance, as well as a non-profit organization, to dedicate community services in New York, and to further choreograph Japanese dances based on traditional Japanese aesthetics.
Extensive performance credits in Japan, USA, South America, and Europe include American Dance Festival, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Japan Society, Asia Society, New York City Center, Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Dublin Theatre Festival, and Bonn International Dance Workshop.
Non-Profit Organization
*Your tax-deductible donation helps us continue our artistic and educational programs successfully. Again, thank you for your support of the work of Sachiyo Ito and Company.
*Founded in 1981 as a performing and educational not-for-profit organization (501-c-3), Sachiyo Ito and Company is dedicated to creating a bridge between Japan and the USA through artistic performances and educational programs.
On October 23, 2011, a Mayoral Proclamation was awarded to Sachiyo Ito and Company for its significant contributions to the City of New York.