In a parallel with this movement, Miki invented 20-string koto(two years later became 21-strings) with Keiko Nosaka in 1969. He composed variable pieces for this instrument, but main solo works are Tennyo, Venus in Spring and Autumn, From the East and 20 Ballades for koto solo including Hanayagi (Greening). His next four records album "Minoru Miki- Keiko Nosaka/Music for 20-string koto" won the Prize of Excellence in 1979 Festival.
He composed Kyu-no-Kyoku (Symphony for Two Worlds), commissioned by the Leipzig Gewandhous Orchestra for its bicentennial celebration and world premiered in 1981 conducted by Kurt Masur (American premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1994). Thus completed Eurasian Trilogy (Jo-no-Kyoku, Ha-no-Kyoku, Kyu-no-Kyoku) which links Japanese instruments with a symphony orchestra.
In 1993, when Orchestra Asia(ORA) was founded combinding Japanese-Chinese-Korean instruments, he was installed as Artistic Director and composed Folk Symphony ŅDen-Den-DenÓ , Loulan as a Dream, Pipa Concerto, and Soul 2000. Its Japanese instrumental section has started activities as ORA-J in 1998 under MikiÕs direction.
In 1975, he wrote his first opera Shunkin-Sho and won the Giraud Opera Prize. Shunkin-Sho had many productions in Japan, and also performed successfully at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in 1990. In 1979, he wrote next opera An Actor's Revenge, which was commissioned by the English Music Theatre and world premiered in London in English ('81=American, '84=Japanese in Japanese, '87=German premiere in German ). In 1985, Miki composed his third opera Joruri, commissioned and premiered by the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis(OLSL) in English for their tenth anniversary season (Japanese premiered in 1988 by OTSL), thus completing an opera trilogy which treats as its theme Japan's Edo Period. Then, his following serious operas directed their themes toward ancient and medieval ages. 1991's fourth opera Wakahime and 1993's fifth opera Shizuka & Yoshitsune were composed as grand operas. 1995Õs sixth opera The River Sumida / Kusabira was written as a twin chamber opera. His 1999Õs latest opera The Tale of Genji, commissioned by the OTSL for their 25th anniversary season, had the world premiere by the theatre in 2000, and its Japanese premiere will be done in September 2001 by OTSL. After completing his next eighth opera, which scheduled in several years later by the JapanÕs National Opera Theatre, his opera series along Japanese history since 5th century to 19th century will be connected.
In 1986, he founded Uta-Za, an opera theatre to create folk-operas like 1990' government prized The Monky Poet, and Yomigaeru, Terute & Oguri. He also created ŅKarakuÓ style as narrative-opera like Berodashi Chomma, Tsuru and Visions of Rice.
He also composed a choral opera Toge no mukau ni naniga aruka, Taro, an operetta Husband the Hen, a mini anti-nuclear opera In the Flower Garden etc.
In 1990, Miki founded Yui Ensemble with both instrumental and vocal soloists who esteem and play his works highly together. He is also pushing forward the project Minoru Miki and Asian soloists specially with Yang Jing, a gifted pipa player who is learning composition from him. In his latest orchestral work Memory of the Earth world premiered in 2000 by the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra and the Asian Soloists including Yang Jing, Reiko Kimura (koto), Seizan Sakata(shakuhachi), Chi Bu-Lag (Mongolian Morinxaur) and I Ketut Sewentra(Bari Gamelan percussion) conducted by Kurt Masur.
Miki's international repertory includes other compositions for orchestra, like Symphony from Life, Marimba Concerto, Beijing Requiem, Z Concerto, Mai, a full-length ballet music From the Land of light, as well as chamber works such as String Quartet, Piano Trio, Autumn Fantasy ,
Miki is one of the most famous composer in the international percussion society by his marimba works like Time for Marimba and Marimba Spiritual and concerto pieces. Specially Marimba Spiritual has played thousands times in Europe and US, and also produced handred more CDs.
In his young period, he wrote many choral pieces like Requiem, Choral Poem-Awa, Ode to Oceanide, Jodo, Kurudando, Ki-Do-Ai-Raku, Choral Hannya-Sutra, and in relatively recent years composed song collections like Noharauta (21 small songe), Flowers' Story (14 songs).
He also wrote cinema scores like well-known L'empire de sons.
In 1996, Miki published a book "The Theory of Composing for Japanese Instruments" (Its Chinese translation published in 2000). He awarded the Cultural Prize of Tokushima Prefecture in 1991 and an honorable Purple Ribbon Metal in 1994.
Miki Serves as a Director of the Japan Federation of Composers. He is a visiting professor of the Shikoku University, a lecturer of the Tokyo College of Music.
Management: Japan Arts