Saori was born and raised in a musical family.  Her father was a jazz musician, mother was a singer and her parents both played the Shamisen.  Her sister even mastered the Koto, a 13 stringed instrument.  Saori began playing the piano at 5 and continued with drums, saxophone, Koto, and organ.  She began teaching after receiving her degree from Kyushu Women's College in 1985 and has taught over a thousand students of all ages and abilities.  In November of 2011, she opened Bunkado with the idea of providing the Atlanta area with a center for Cultural Studies.