"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
Project Overview
[Outline of the whole long-term grant project]
"Ukiyoe with Shakuhachi" which existed in each city of NY, Prague and Tokyo through 3 years was investigated. He stayed in each city, conducted field research at local museums, met with composers and filmmakers working in each city, and produced music and video works based on 'ukiyo-e with shakuhachi' (Japanese woodblock prints depicting shakuhachi) in each region. He created works by relating and developing works from the three cities, and premiered each work in New York and Prague. At the final performance in Tokyo, he premiered the Tokyo work and reperformed two works in New York and Prague, connecting the three cities through sound and ukiyoe.
He also created "How to play the shakuhachi and glossary for composers" (how to play the shakuhachi) and made it available for free on his website. The Japanese version was completed in the first year, the English version was made in the second year, and in the third year, the text and videos were linked to make it easier to understand.
[1Year Project Outline]
We made contact with ukiyo-e specialists in New York, Prague, and Tokyo, and investigated the ukiyo-e with shakuhachi (bamboo flute) in each city. The result of 1 year was reported in the lecture performance on "Ukiyoe with Shakuhachi" held in June, 2024. Then, he collected information on potential composers and filmmakers in each city, selected them, commissioned them, and negotiated with them. He also completed a Japanese version of the shakuhachi instrument method.
(1)「3Survey of Ukiyoe owned by cities」Business
Contents:
They contacted ukiyo-e experts in each city and started 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 with Akane Fujisawa 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)「3Selection and negotiation of urban composers and filmmakers」Business
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)"Creation of Shakuhachi Gakushiho (Japanese version)"Project
Description:
A new 'Shakuhachi Gakushiho' (Japanese version) was created in line with the current situation, and it was released 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." He also 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: ― ―
[2Year Project Outline]
Regarding the "Ukiyoe with a shakuhachi" that we studied in the first year, we actually went to the local art museum (Prague, NY) and looked at the real thing. They then met with composers, filmmakers, and performance organizers who would work with them and held meetings. Finally, he gave a performance (Prague, NY) and premiered his new work. In New York, a performance was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to promote this performance. He also created an English version of the completed Japanese version of 'Shakuhachi Musical Instrument Method' and made it available for free on his website.
(1)"Overseas performances" project
Description:
The new work (music + video) based on "Ukiyoe drawn on a shakuhachi bamboo flute," which has been performed since the first year, will be presented in Prague, NY, and will lay the foundation for the third year in Tokyo. 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 main performance, we conducted a survey of ukiyo-e, 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, he met with Jana Ryndová (curator of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Prague) to see and research works in the National Museum of Fine Arts, Prague. He also had a meeting with composer Miroslav Srnka and filmmaker and organizer Marek Matvija. A pre-show was held at New Town 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)'Shakuhachi Gakutsuho Creation (English)' project
Description:
Based on the completed Japanese version of the Shakuhachi Gakutsuho, he requested American composer Kanya MIURA to translate it into English. In fact, he actively incorporated things that came out of communication with the composer he was commissioning.
Date: September 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Venue: ― ―
[3Year Project Outline]
Based on 'Ukiyoe with a shakuhachi (bamboo flute)' existing in Tokyo, the work was created with the selected composer and the person in charge of video, and the first performance was held. At the Tokyo performance in March, he performed his three works in New York, Prague and Tokyo. In addition, a video linked to the completed 'Shakuhachi musical instrument method' (Japanese and English) was created and linked.
(1)「Tokyo Main Performance"Business
Contents:
This performance is the culmination of three years of research and production. Ukiyoe collected in each city were combined into three new musical and visual works in one performance. In the first part, he performed his repertoire: 'Kannon Anatomy' (by Kyo Mochizuki), 'Choreography' (by Nozomi Kaneda), 'Five' (by John Cage), and 'Shika no Distant Sound of the Quintet' (classic Honkyoku/arranged by The Shakuhachi 5). In Part 2, NY's "Invitation 2.0" (Lisa Bielawa) + film (Tei Blow) were re-performed, Prague's "Berorin Ai" (Miroslav Srnka) + film (Marek Kimei Mativjia) were re-performed, and Tokyo's "Henfu + for 5 shakuhachi players (2024 -26)" (Keiko Harada) + film (Akio Ota) were re-performed.
Date: March 3, 2026
Venue: Toyosu Civic Center Hall
(2)"Making Shakuhachi Gakki ho (Video)" Project
Description:
In order to explain the playing techniques described in the completed "Shakuhachi Gakki ho" (Japanese and English) in a video, individual playing techniques were filmed and edited. Then he linked the Web page with the video (YouTube) and completed it.
Date: September 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
Venue: ― ―
Profile
[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.
Since its formation in 2020, the group has commissioned Masaru 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 and performed at the World Shakuhachi Festival Texas, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Japan Society, and the International Shakuhachi Festival Prague.