Tag Archives: Edo

Tokyo, Japan: Traditional Music in Mejiro

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : CULTURE / MUSIC

Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Lost in the Mejiro small streets

where live aristocrates, I hear the sound. Through a narrow window, the frame of a distant green kimono surrounded by red, amphitheater. Shyly we get in, I take my shoes off to surf to a bunch, the hall is almost empty.

Few scattered people looking at the stage. We are watching a Hogaku concert rehearsal, the Japanese traditional music, Edo music. The exciting meeting with percussionists musicians and the green kimono actress. Picture below: the Uchiwa-ame plays the rain sound.

Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-5-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Harumi Mochizuki, the excellent Hayashi player (Japanese traditional drums) cames from an artist family: a percussionist mother and a singer father. She played around the world.

On the picture below, a Kotsuzumi on the Harumi‘s shoulder. Kotsuzumi is a small drum shaped like an hourglass and used in Nô theater

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Katada Kisayo, the gifted percussionist, is gratued of Tokyo University in Music, like all the musicians of Ayairobako (the band presented in this post). No “great sound” without “guitare hero”: on picture 5, two Shamisen players.

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Picture above: a traditional gift for Hina Matsuri, the Doll Festival or Girls’ Day (picture above). Mayuko Nakamura is the beautiful actress in the green kimono who declaims on music (picture below).

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Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés. 

Domo arigato gosaimasu to the Ayairobako band and my tomodachi N for the great translation! 

Informations

How to go to Mejiro by metroMejiro is a district in Tokyo.

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Tokyo, Japon: Musique traditionnelle à Mejiro

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : CULTURE / MUSIQUE

Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Perdus dans les petites rues de Mejiro,

quartier résidentiel discret de la noblesse, j’entends le son. L’image d’un kimono vert cerné de rouge, lointain au travers d‘une étroite fenêtre, l’amphithéâtre. Timidement nous entrons, me déchausse, glisser silencieux vers un banc, salle vide.

De rares personnes disséminées, regards rivés sur l‘estrade éclairée. Nous assistons à la répétition d’un concert d’Hogaku, musique traditionnelle japonaise, musique d’Edo. 

Rencontre passionnante avec les musiciennes percussionnistes et l’actrice au kimono vert. Photo ci-dessous : l’Uchiwa-ame reproduit le son de la pluie.

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Harumi Mochizuki, excellente joueuse d’Hayashi (tambours traditionnels japonais), vient d’une famille d’artistes, mère percussionniste et père chanteur. Elle se produit partout dans le monde.

Sur la photo ci-dessous, un Kotsuzumi sur l’épaule d’Harumi. Le Kotsuzumi est un petit tambour en forme de sablier utilisé dans le théâtre Nô.

Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-7-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-9-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

La facétieuse Katada Kisayo est une talentueuse percussionniste diplômée de l’Université de Tokyo en musique, comme toutes les autres musiciennes de la formation Ayairobako. No “great sound” without “guitare hero”: on picture 5, two Shamisen players.

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Photo ci-dessus : cadeau traditionnel pour Hina Matsuri, la fête des petites filles et des poupées. Mayuko Nakamura est la belle actrice au kimono vert qui pose sa voix sur la musique (photo ci-dessous).

Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-12-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-13-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Toyo-Japan-Traditional Music in Mejiro-14-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés. 

Domo arigato gosaimasu à l’ensemble Ayairobako et à mon tomodachi N pour la superbe traduction! 

Informations

Mejiro est un quatier de Tokyo. Comment se rendre à Mejiro en métro

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Antwerp: “Paper Fashion” Exhibition at MoMu, the Fashion Museum

Till August the 16th 2009, at the Antwerp Fashion Museum, MoMu: “Paper Fashion“. A samll museum with really refined exhibitions. Who’s ever known Tapa? Me absolutely not! Tapa is the pioneer of paper, made by the Ituri, Pygmy of Congo. Matter softer than Papyrus, painted by women under hallucinogenics. Wow! A resume of men history in an exhibition gathering pop art, artists, fashion designers, restoration of Japanese Edo era’s clothes etc… A real pleasure! The scenography is simple and fun. An eclectic walk in times and cultures for our eyes. « Light » as a sheet of paper! And for all like me who doesn’t read captions at exhibitions, enjoy reading the small booklet at a table outside, under the spring sunshine! Quick and interesting! MoMu: Nationalstraat28/B, 2000 Antwerp 

The letter: “Airmail Dress”, Hussein Chalayan

The underground: Travis Hutchison’s pictures 

Pleats: Issey Myake’s “8 Dresses In Pleats Paper”

Poetry: “Uptown NY”, Allen Ginsberg 

The tribute: to Anna Piaggi (dress: JCDC, cape: Angela et Giovanni Grimoldi, hat: Stephen Jones and vintage stick)

The restoration: Edo era Kamiko coat, Japan

Pop animals… Lost the caption: Mademoiselle you‘re not seroius!

Sixties: Fancy Color, dress to color (inspired by Warhol and Nico) 

The symbol: Twins Towers, picture of Sara Caplan

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