"Three Cities in the World Linked by the Shakuhachi" Project - Around the Shakuhachi Painted in Ukiyoe -
*Information at the time of adoption.
- Name of the organization or individual
- The Shakuhachi 5
- subsidy category
- Creation Grant
- Grant Type
- long-term
Reiwa 5(2023) Creation Grant Category II Long-term Grant
Business Overview
He investigated 'Ukiyoe with a shakuhachi' that existed in the cities of New York, Prague and Tokyo throughout the three years. He will stay in each city, conduct field research at local museums, meet directly with composers and filmmakers working in each city, and produce music and video works based on "ukiyoe with shakuhachi" in each region. He creates works by relating and developing works from the three cities, and premieres each work in NY and Prague. In the final performance in Tokyo, the Tokyo production will be premiered and the two productions in New York and Prague will be re-performed, connecting the three cities through sound and ukiyoe. In addition, 'How to play the shakuhachi and a glossary of terms for composers' (how to play the shakuhachi instruments) will be made available for free on the website. The Japanese version will be completed in the first year, the English version will be made in the second year, and the text and video will be linked in the third year to make it easier to understand.
[Outline of the first year project] We will make contact with ukiyo-e specialists in New York, Prague, and Tokyo, and conduct a survey on ukiyo-e with shakuhachi paintings existing in each city. The results of the year will be reported at a lecture performance on "Ukiyoe with a shakuhachi" to be held in June 2024. Then, he collects information on potential composers and filmmakers in each city, selects them, commissions them, and negotiates with them. He also completed the Japanese version of the shakuhachi instrument method. (1) "Survey of Ukiyoe in the Three Cities" Project Description: Contact Ukiyoe specialists in each city and start the survey. Experts include Akane Fujisawa (Director of the International Ukiyoe Society), John Carpenter (Curator, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY), and Jana Ryndová (Curator, National Museum of Art, Prague). The plan of this project and the results of the survey were reported at the lecture performance (talk and performance) on "Ukiyoe with Shakuhachi" held on June 9, 2024. The edited version was later posted on the Web. The event was held at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art with Akane Fujisawa as a guest speaker. < Performance Program > (1) Sakura (2) Koden Nukago (3) Talk 1 (Akane Fujisawa) (4) Kinuta Nukago (5) Tsuru no Nukago (6) Talk 2 (Akane Fujisawa) (7) Miyakoyama Style "Tsuru no Nukago" (8) Suzuru Suzuko (9) Talk 3 (The Shakuhachi 5) (10) Shakuhachi Five * Ukiyoe prints linked to each piece were projected behind the performers. Date: August 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 Venue: Ota Memorial Museum (2) "Selection and negotiation of composers and filmmakers from the three cities" Description of the project: We collected information on candidate composers and filmmakers introduced by the NYJapan Society and NEIRO in Prague, scrutinized and selected them, and negotiated with them. Here are the final decisions:. [NY] Composer: Lisa Bielawa/Filmmaker: Tei Blow [Prague] Composer: Miroslav Srnka/Filmmaker: Marek Matvija [Tokyo] Composer: Keiko Harada/Filmmaker: TBD Notes (1) New music by Lisa Bielawa of NY was finally commissioned jointly with Japan Society. Notes (2) We examined several filmmakers in charge of the Tokyo performance, but no decision was reached. Date: August 1, 2023 - May 30, 2024 Venue: ― ― (3) Creation of the Shakuhachi Instrument Method (in Japanese) Description of the project: Created a new version of the Shakuhachi Instrument Method (in Japanese), which is suitable for the modern age, and released it for free on the Official Website. The book describes the history and structure of the shakuhachi, the basic knowledge of the instrument, followed by the fingering chart and range chart. After that, he explained the techniques of the neck, "meri/kari" and "yuri (vibrato)," which are unique to the shakuhachi, and the techniques of the breath, "muraiki and kazaiki." Then, he mentioned 'techniques used in classics,' 'techniques unique to each school,' and 'special techniques.'. In addition, the "Harmonics Collection," which shows the harmonic structure of the instrument, has been added to make it unique. Date: August 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 Venue: - -
[Outline of the Second Year Project] In the first year, the participants visited a local art museum (Prague, NY) to see and investigate the ukiyo-e with a shakuhachi. They then meet with the composers, filmmakers, and performance organizers who will work with them to have a meeting. Finally, he gave a performance (Prague, NY) and premiered his new work. An English version of the completed Japanese version of the 'Shakuhachi Musical Instrument Method' will be made available for free on the website. (1) "Overseas performance (Prague, NY)" Business description: The new work (music + video) based on "Ukiyoe drawn on a shakuhachi" that has been performed since the first year will be presented at the performance in Prague, NY, and will lay the foundation for the main performance in Tokyo in the third year. The NY show premiered works by composer Lisa Bielawa and filmmaker Tei Blow. Prague premiered works by composer Miroslav Srnka and filmmaker Marek Matvija. Other works to be performed include "Shika no Distant Sound of the Quintet" (Classical Honkyoku/The Shakuhachi 5 arrangement), "Sarasouki" (Akira Nishimura), "Kannon Anatomy" (Kyo Mochizuki) and "Five" (John Cage). (2) "Preparation of shakuhachi instrument method (English)" Project Description: Based on the completed Japanese version of the shakuhachi instrument method, we will request an English translation from a specialist specialized in music and score (currently being selected). We will actively incorporate what comes out of communication with the composers we actually commission.
[Third Year Project Outline] Based on the "ukiyo-e with a shakuhachi" that exists in Tokyo, we will create a work with selected composers and filmmakers and perform it for the first time. At the Tokyo performance in March, he will present his three works in New York, Prague and Tokyo. Also, a video linked to the completed 'Shakuhachi musical instrument method' (Japanese and English) will be created and linked. (1) "Tokyo Main Performance" Project Description: The performance is the culmination of three years of research and production. Ukiyoe collected in each city will be combined into three new musical and visual works in one performance. For the first part, he selected pieces from his repertoire, such as' Shika no Distant Sound of the Quintet '(Classical Honkyoku/The Shakuhachi 5 arrangement),' Shakuhachi Five '(Dai Fujikura),' Sarasoki '(Akira Nishimura),' Kannon Anatomy '(Kyo Mochizuki),' Five '(John Cage) and others. The second part is a reprise of the work presented in Prague, NY. It will also premiere a new work by Keiko Harada and a filmmaker. (2) "Production of shakuhachi musical instrument method (video production)" Description of project: In order to explain the playing method described in the completed "Shakuhachi musical instrument method" (Japanese and English) in a video, film and edit individual playing methods and others. Then, the web page and the video (YouTube) are linked and completed.
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[The Shakuhachi 5]
Akito Kohama, Aoyama Kawamura, Suzon Kuroda, Akihisa Kominato, and Kenichi Tajima form a super school shakuhachi group that continues to pursue not only classical but also modern expressions. In 2020, a telework piece by composer Masaru Fujikura was recorded with his own conducting and released as a video. This is his practical debut. In the same year, he appeared on the cover of the Japanese music journal and was interviewed at the beginning of the magazine. After that, Dai FUJIKURA, Akira NISHIMURA, and Kyo MOCHIZUKI were commissioned to compose music for the first time. In 2024, they released their 1st album.