Embassy hosts Japanese Drum Night
on October 30th, 31st 2013 |
On Wednesday 30th of October, 2013 the Embassy of Japan in Malawi in collaboration with the Japan Foundation hosted a Japanese traditional musical performance at the Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe. The performers who traveled from Japan were Ichitaro, a Taiko (Japanese drums) players; Masaki Nakamura, a Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) artist; and Masakatsu, a Shamisen (Japanese guitar) master.
The trio playing together
Ichitaro
Masaki Nakamura
Masakatsu
The artists are all well known musicians who have played widely both in Japan and abroad. Their talents and skills were highly appreciated at the Lilongwe show, which saw more than three hundred and fifty guests showing up for the event. The artists performed Japanese traditional rhythms with modern arrangements. Some of the pieces they played were composed by the performers themselves. One such piece was a composition by Masahaki Nakamura, which was titled ‘Africa’ and was composed especially for this tour. Masaki Nakamura explained that for a very long time he had longed to visit Africa and had composed this piece by imagining the beauty of Africa with its vast wilderness filled with various kinds of animals and the warmth and splendor of its vibrant people. This piece captured the hearts of the audience who gave a standing ovation. The very last piece was the Malawian national anthem, which had the audience singing along happily.
The audience giving standing ovation
At the end of the performance, the audience was asked to fill in a questionnaire on the performance and on people’s general expectation about future performances by Japanese artists. About 103 people filled in the questionnaire and more than 80% of the respondents rated the performance as excellent. Some of the comments made were: 'I enjoyed the instruments and it was my first time to ever watch a Japanese performance'; 'Musicians were of a very high standard, the music was varied and I enjoyed the explanation of the instruments'; and 'Amazing! I really enjoyed the enthusiasm and the Malawian national anthem'. It was especially pleasing to read a comment that said the event was 'An honest attempt at bridging cultures' as this was the very reason why the music event was held. In fact, one of the pieces of the night was a composition by Ichitaro titled ‘Bridge,’ which he (Ichitaro) said had been composed with the hope of bridging the Malawian culture and Japanese culture through music, and in this case through the musical performance by the trio.
The artists being interviewed by TV crew
On the subsequent day, the three musicians visited Bishop Mackenzie International School where they held an hour long workshop with grade 6 and 9 students. The students enthusiastically listened to the music and in some cases played along with their individual instruments. Some students also got to try playing the Japanese Taiko drum. The workshop was also a grand success as evidenced by the eagerness and lively spirit of both the teachers and students.
Students practicing with Ichitaro
Ichitaro
Masakatsu
Masaki Nakamura
Students playing together with the trio
Saying good bye to the students
Students handshaking with Ichitaro after the workshop
Students handshaking with Masaki Nakamura and Masakatsu |
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[Artists Profile]
- Ichitaro (Japanese Taiko drums)
In 1990 Ichitaro joined the Ondekoza drumming troupe and studied under the troupe’s founder, the late Den Tagayasu. As a core member of the troupe, he performed onstage 2,000 or more times, not only in Japan but around the world also. In 2004 he became independent of Ondekoza and began performing solo. As well as Japan, he also gives performances in other countries around the world, including Sweden, Estonia, Turkey and Algeria.Ichitaro is an energetic producer, composer and performer, and in addition to working on collaborations involving Japanese musical instruments such as the shamisen (three-stringed Japanese guitar), shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and whistle, he also collaborates with orchestras, and jazz and rock musicians.
- Masaki Nakamura (Shakuhachi)
Masaki Nakamura first encountered the shakuhachi at the age of 17. Enchanted by the instrument, he pursued a major in shakuhachi at the Department of Traditional Japanese Music in the Tokyo University of the Arts’ Faculty of Music.Mr. Nakamura won the 6th Shakuhachi Rookie of the Year Competition, the 3rd Tokyo Japanese Music Competition, and the 2nd Western and Japanese Instruments Ensemble Competition. He is also the recipient of a Yomiuri Shimbun Award, a Japan Folk Song Association Award, a Komoda Encouragement Prize and an Uwajima Grand Prize. Since graduating from university he has performed as a guest performer at the Suntory Hall, the Ryogoku Kokugikan, the Embassy of the United States of America in Japan and other venues, and has performed overseas in Turkey, Algeria, China, America and elsewhere.Mr. Nakamura is highly renowned for his original compositions that bring forth the true resonance of the shakuhachi and project the world of nature and the self.
-Masakatsu (Shamisen)
Masakatsu began studying folk music and the shamisen (three-stringed Japanese guitar) due to the influence of his grandfather. He studied the Tsugaru shamisen under Minoru Uchida and Toyoaki Fukushi. Masakatsu has won the Tsugaru-Shamisen Japan Championship and has been awarded prizes in numerous Tsugaru shamisen contests. In addition to the world of Japanese classics, Masakatsu also actively pursues collaborations with artists in various genres, including participating in groups such as Tokyo Saizensen, Ryoma Quartet and HALE to KE. He performs successfully overseas in Spain, China, America, Taiwan and elsewhere, and is currently active in a broad range of domains both at home and abroad, including on television and radio, such as NHK programs on folk music and in soundtracks for commercials.
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