"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, he has created "How to play the shakuhachi and glossary for composers" (how to play the shakuhachi) and will make it available for free on his 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]
Contact with ukiyo-e specialists in New York, Prague, and Tokyo, and conduct a survey on ukiyo-e with shakuhachi (bamboo flute) drawn in each city.
The results of 1 year will be reported at a lecture performance on "Ukiyoe with Shakuhachi" 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 Three Cities" Project
Contents:
They will contact experts in ukiyo-e in each city and start a 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, and Akane Fujisawa was invited as a guest speaker.
(Performance Program)
① Sakura (2) Koden Nukago (3) Talk 1 (Akane FUJISAWA) (4) Kinuta Nukago (5) Crane Nukago (6) Talk 2 (Akane FUJISAWA) (7) Miyakoyama Style 'Crane Nukago' (8) Sukaku Suzuen
⑨ Talk 3 (The Shakuhachi 5) (10) Shakuhachi Five
*Ukiyoe prints linked to each piece were projected behind the performers.
Date: August 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
Venue: Ota Memorial Museum
(2)"Selection and negotiation of composers and filmmakers in three cities" project
Contents:
We gathered information on candidate composers and filmmakers introduced by the NYJapan Society and NEIRO in Prague, scrutinized and selected them, and conducted negotiations. Here are the final decisions:
[NY] Composer: Lisa Bielawa/Filmmaker: Tei Blow
[Prague] Composer: Miroslav Srnka/Filmmaker: Marek Matvija
[Tokyo] Composer: Keiko Harada/Filmmaker: Akio Ota
Notes (1) New song by Lisa Bielawa of NY was finally co-commissioned with Japan Society.
Date: August 1, 2023 to May 30, 2024
Venue: ― ―
(3)"Shakuhachi Gakushiho" project
Description:
A new shakuhachi gakushiho (shakuhachi musical instrument method) (Japanese version) was created and made available for free on the Official Website.
The content describes the basic knowledge of shakuhachi, the history and structure 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 to June 30, 2024
Venue: ― ―
[Outline of the Second Year Project]
In the first year, the team investigated the "ukiyoe with a shakuhachi" and visited the local art museum (Prague, NY) to see the real thing. 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. In New York, a performance will be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to promote this performance. In addition, an English version of the completed Japanese version of the 'Shakuhachi Instrument Method' will be made available for free on the website.
(1)"Overseas Performance (Prague, NY)" Project
Description:
The new work (music + video) on the subject of "Ukiyoe drawn on a shakuhachi bamboo flute," which 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. He also played 'Shika no Enon in the Quintet' (Classical Honkyoku/arranged by The Shakuhachi 5), 'Sarasoki' (Sarasoki) (Akira NISHIMURA), 'Kannon Anatomy' (Kyo MOCHIZUKI), 'Five' (John Cage) and others. They also performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a promotion for the New York concert.
Before the performance, we conducted a survey of ukiyo-e prints, a meeting, and a preliminary performance. Kohama, Kominato and Tajima are staying in NY. In New York, he will meet with John Carpenter (curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York) to see and research works in the collection. They also met with composer Lisa Bielawa, filmmaker TeiBlow, and organizer Japan Society to preview the venue. A pre-show was held at the Tenri Cultural Institute.
Kohama, Kawamura and Kuroda stayed in Prague. In Prague, she will meet with Jana Ryndová (curator of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Prague) to see and study the collection. He also had a meeting with composer Miroslav Srnka and filmmaker and organizer Marek Matvija. A pre-show was held at NewTown Hall.
(Main Performance +MET Performance)
Date: May 15, 2025 to June 25, 2025
Venue: NY Japan Society, Prague DOX +, Metropolitan Museum of Art
(Preliminary research and pre-performance)
Date: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Venues: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Prague National Museum, NY Japan Society, Tenri Cultural Institute, New Town Hall
(2)Project to create shakuhachi musical instrument method (English)
Description: Based on the completed Japanese version of the shakuhachi musical instrument method, he asked American composer Kanya MIURA to translate it into English.
We actively incorporate what comes out of the communication with the composer who actually commissions.
Date: September 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Venue: ― ―
[Outline of the third year project]
Based on "Ukiyoe with a shakuhachi (bamboo flute)" existing in Tokyo, the work will be produced and performed for the first time with the composer and the person in charge of video. At the Tokyo performance in March, he will present his three works in New York, Prague and Tokyo. In addition, a video linked to the completed 'Shakuhachi musical instrument method' (Japanese and English) will be created and linked.
(1)"Tokyo Main Performance" Project
Description:
Together with composer Keiko Harada and video director Akio Ota, I will create the works to be presented at the Tokyo Main Performance. In addition, in order to perform the works presented in Prague, NY again in the Tokyo main performance, and to create a stage performance where the works of the three cities resonate together, he will be in close contact with the writers in Prague, NY (Lisa Bielawa, Tei Blow, Miroslav Srnka, MarekMatvija).
Date: September 1, 2025 to March 10, 2026
Venue: ― ―
(2)Tokyo Main Performance Project
Contents:
This 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 composer Keiko Harada and film producer Akio Ota.
Date: March 3, 2026
Venue: Toyosu Civic Center Hall
(3)Project to create a video of how to play the shakuhachi instruments
Description: To explain the playing techniques described in the completed "How to Play the Shakuhachi Instruments" (in Japanese and English) in a video, film and edit individual playing techniques.
Then, the web page and the video (YouTube) are linked and completed.
Date: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
Venue: ― ―
- Period of Activity / Project
- Venues
Profile
【The Shakuhachi 5】
A super school shakuhachi group formed by Akihito Kobama, Aoyama Kawamura, Suzon Kuroda, Akihisa Kominato, and Kenichi Tajima who continue to pursue not only classical but also modern expressions.
Since its formation in 2020, it has commissioned Dai FUJIKURA, Akira NISHIMURA and Kyo MOCHIZUKI to write music for the first time.
In 2024, they released their 1st album.
In 2025, he left Japan to participate in the World Shakuhachi Festival Texas, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Japan Society in New York, and the
Performed at the International Shakuhachi Festival Prague.