Live Calligraphy Performance by Shin-rei Thu., May 4 (holiday), planned to start from 12:45 Live Performance: Improvised Works by Calligrapher/Artist Shin-rei Began studying calligraphy at the age of seven. Superintendent of the Shinka Calligraphy School. Since her prize-winning entry at the 24th Yomiuri Shoho-ten (calligraphy association) exhibition, she has received a number of other honors, including a Traditionalist Recommendation Award and Grand Prize from the Japan Calligraphic Art Society and other prizes from exhibitions open to the public throughout Japan. In 2011, she was granted an exception by the Japan Calligraphic Art Society allowing her to bypass the selection committee. She has held performances and workshops throughout Asia, the US, and Europe, including a calligraphy performance at the Louvre in Paris, demonstrating the global appeal of her unique work. By bringing together traditional writing with imagination and inspiration, she imparts the text she writes with a distinctive sense of feeling, in ways that exhilarate, soothe, and jolt the audience. In doing so, she creates "living writing" as she continues her calligraphy work with each passing day.
About Stage Performers Imagine One World Kimono Fashion Show Thu., May 4 (holiday), planned to start around 13:00 The World Can Unite As One: Creating Kimonos Inspired by Different Countries to Share Japan's Wonderful Culture and Techniques with the World The Imagine One World Kimono Project was created to share the message "The world can unite as one," and aims to create kimonos inspired by the history and culture of each of the 196 countries in the world as a show of hospitality, using the finely honed techniques developed by Japan's outstanding traditional fabric dyers and weavers to create these distinctly Japanese garments. For this event, some of the kimonos will be presented in a fashion show that spreads the message The world can unite as one" through Japanese culture and techniques. Kimono design inspired by the Republic of the Philippines Kimono design inspired by the Federal Republic of Germany
Shakuhachi Jazz by the Reikan Kobayashi Quartet Live Shakuhachi Jazz Performance: Authentic Jazz Performed on the Shakuhachi, a Traditional Japanese Musical Instrument Fri., May 5 (holiday), planned to start from 12:30 Shakuhachi: Reikan Kobayashi Graduate of the Traditional Japanese Music Department of the Tokyo University of the Arts. Graduate of the 55th NHK Hogaku Ginosha Ikuseikai, Japan's premier year-long course for aspiring professional traditional musicians. Performed as a soloist in a big band at the 2014 and 2015 Tokyo Jazz Circuits. Performed at the Tokyo-Manila Jazz & Arts Festival in 2016. The same year, he was also selected as a finalist at the Yokohama Jazz Promenade and the Detroit Jazz Festival Competition. At present, he performs as a jazz shakuhachi player at jazz clubs throughout Tokyo, as well as performing at schools and public facilities, working energetically all throughout Japan on touring, recording, and writing music. Vocals: Akiko Suda Graduated with honors from the Jazz Vocal Course at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. Attended the LA Music Academy (now the Los Angeles College of Music) in the United States as a scholarship student in 2012. Received vocal lessons from Dorian Holley (vocal coach for Sara Gazarek, Tierney Sutton, and Michael Jackson) and drum lessons from Anthony Inzalaco. She has worked with the guitarist Nao Teraya, the singer-songwriter Chika Takahashi, the pianist Ami Fukui Trio, and the duo of the saxophonist Seiichi Nakamura and the pianist Hideaki Yoshioka on the anniversary album of the new label Somethinʼ Cool, as well as other albums. In October of 2016, she released her first album she played lead on, Flowers on the Hill, through Disc Union. Guitar: Akira Sekine Graduate of the Department of Aesthetics of the Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo. Began his pro performance activities while a member of the university's jazz workshop. Played with clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen's 2009 Japan tour. In 2011, he released his first album, Fuzz Jazz, and performed a nationwide tour to celebrate this album release. In 2013, he released his second album, the acoustic guitar-oriented Solitary Phase. In 2015, he released his third album, Wet & Dry. Bass: Yasuhiko "Hachi" Sato Began to play the upright bass in earnest after entering Waseda University, and began playing as a professional before graduation. In 1997, he performed as a band member for trumpeter Duško Gojković, and recorded two albums with him. He has also played with other musicians from overseas, including pianist David Matthews, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, and saxophonist Chris Potter. He has also played with a number of Japan's top musicians, including playing with the Yuki Arimasa Trio. His style as a player expresses the fun, beauty, and freedom of music, earning him wide acclaim.
Live Painting by Hidekichi Shigemoto Live Painting Presented by JFE Engineering: Fusing Japanese Materials and Technique with Global Dynamism Sat., May 6, planned to start from 12:30 JFE Engineering, headquartered in Yokohama, creates the foundations of everyday life in Asia and worldwide. They have invited Hidekichi Shigemoto to perform, using Japan's distinctive black ink and brush, for an unforgettably lively experience. His painting is accompanied by the dynamic rhythms of Tsugaru Shamisen music by Yuji Kubota. Ink Brush Painting Artist: Hidekichi Shigemoto Tsugaru Shamisen Player: Yuji Kubota Lives in Tokyo. Born in Matsuyama, Ehime, and graduated from the Department of Design of the Osaka University of Arts. After working as a designer, he transitioned to working as a free illustrator. His talent for painting with Japanese ink and his swift touch lend themselves to a unique style built around heretofore uncommon motifs, including musicians and athletes. His work has come to be well known both in Japan and in New York, and he has received many offers from overseas. At the same time, he has also held exhibitions and events where he paints as a live performance, demonstrating his ability to paint a number of works in a remarkably short time. In recent years, he has been invited by sports brands during years when the Olympics have been held, performing live events in Beijing and London before the Olympics began.these new ink paintings are found not only at businesses, but can be seen today at temples and shrines as well, in many places. A large painting done in support of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics can be seen today in the area leading into Haneda Airport's domestic flight boarding bridge. After the formative experience of first hearing Tsugaru Shamisen music on atv show at the age of seven, he went on to join the Mitsuyoshi Sasaki Japanese Folk Sangen (three-stringed instrument) group. At the age of fourteen, he won the grand prize at the All-Japan Tsugaru Shamisen Competition. In addition to performances worldwide at venues like New York's Carnegie Hall, he has done session performances with musicians across many genres, and works to create "dance music that can only be created in Japan, for the world."in 2015, he started the dance music unit Hanabi, consisting of Japanese classical musicians; the group has since received Cool Japan certification. He has also worked with the Noh and Kyogen performer Motonari Okura for the Nihon no Kaze project, putting effort into passing Japan's traditional culture on to younger generations. The works of Hidekichi Shigemoto can also be seen at the JFE Engineering display booth in the Networking Area.
Syn Samurai Performance & Senmaru Daikagura Performance Produced by Yokohama Street Performance Sun., May 7, planned to start from 12:30 A Performance of Authentic Swordplay and Daikagura: Watch and Experience the Samurai Performance, and Enjoy Daikagura in the Same Show The duo Syn began in 2012. Using swords made of duralumin, they perform a uniquely dynamic yet realistic show of authentic swordplay that cannot be found anywhere else.they can be seen performing at events, and doing street performances at Yamashita Park in Yokohama and Minato Mirai. In addition to performances within Japan, they have also done shows in Santa Monica, USA, and a variety of other overseas locations, receiving wide acclaim for this variety-rich performance. For this performance, they have teamed up with Senmaru, the inheritors of Japan's 400-year-old traditional Edo Daikagura performing arts, and who have been invited to perform overseas on numerous occasions as well. These performances make a great way to experience the traditional spirit of Japan.