Irene Nakasone Irene Nakasone was introduced to the Okinawan kutu after joining Kariyushi Kai in 1993. She had previously studied the Japanese koto in college and for six years in Japan. During trips home to Hawaii after 1993, she received kutuu lessons from Katsuko Teruya sensei. In 1999, Ms. Nakasone was awarded an apprenticeship from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts to study the kutuu under kutuu master, Katsuko Teruya sensei. Under Teruya sensei's tutelage, she received a kutuu teaching certificate from the Ryukyuu Sokyoku Koyokai in May 2002.