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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.

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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.

Related posts :  

Tokyo, Japan: A walk and coffee in Omotesando and Aoyama  

DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE 

Four amazing restaurants in Tokyo

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : RESTAURANTS / DINNER

Tokyo-Japan-Restaurant-Keyakizaka-Grand Hyatt Tokyo-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Keyakizaka

is one of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo‘s restaurants. This innovative Teppanyaki (literally “grilled on iron sheet”) features fresh seasonal meats, seafood and vegetables. The cuisine is a meeting between Japan and the world. I’m not a gourmet, but I can recognize an amazing quality of food. The cooking respects the original flavours of ingredients. Everything is light and tasteful, so perfect, including the dishes presentation. The atmosphere of the Keyakizaka is chic and laid back, with a cosmopolite young crowd. More: HERE.

DISTRICT: ROPPONGI HILLS

Kozue

Tokyo-Japan-Restaurant-Kozue-Park Hyatt Tokyo-Fuji San View-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

I was invited for a dinner at the 40th floor restaurant of the Park Hyatt Tokyo (yes, the famous hotel of “Lost in Translation”!), Kozue. I really enjoyed the delicious Japanese cooking and the fantastic view of Fuji San and Tokyo! Could you imagine eating in front of  Fuji San? This is an outstanding culinary experience. I also had a huge crush for the superb earthenware plates and dishes created by craftsmen throughout Japan. Beautiful dinner. More: HERE

DISTRICT: SHINJUKU 

Design Festa Gallery & Café 

Tokyo-Japan-Restaurant-Design-Festa-Gallery-Cafe-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Two friends brought me in this crazy space (very organized too): the Design Festa Gallery & Café. This gallery building looks like an arty squatt with a café-restaurant. Exciting paintings on walls. Uplifting vibe, we felt so comfortable. The speciality: Okonomiyake that you cook on the hotplate in the center of tables. Well to be honest, I‘ve never liked Okonomiyake (lol), especially the Japanese mayonnaise. But I have to post a video showing how to cook it, because everybody loves Okonomiyake and I’m sure you will!

DISTRICT: HARAJUKU

Small Alley Near JR Shibuya Station

Tokyo-Japan-Restaurant-Shibuya Small Alley-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

As recommended by the insider, Dan Ushikubo, I went to “a very small alley near the main exit of the JR Shibuya station, where salary men drink sake and have dinner after work. Less famous, but very local”. I had a dinner with a westerner friend, expat in Tokyo, in a tiny restaurant: great experience! The food was okay (lots of tofu). Go there for the local vibe! More: HERE.

DISTRICT: SHIBUYA

Itadakimasu: bon appetit!

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

I was a guest of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo and Park Hyatt Tokyo. Do I need to mention that all my opinions are mine? Yes they are!

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DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE 

Japan: Learning Japanese in Tokyo Subway

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : TRANSPORTATION

Japan-Tokyo-Metro-1-Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Following many of your emails, here’s an updating of my Tokyo posts : check out this useful city guide to help you prepare your trip (in a very Mademoiselle Le K’s way, lol)! Let’s start with the famous chiketatsu (subway): here are some pictures to give you the mood (lol) …

The Chiketatsu is THE safest and cheapest way to move in Tokyo.

Don’t panic, indications and station names are translated in English! It is a world with huge stations where several companies officiate on different metro routes (wide range of prices, lol).

And for the more active, you can even learn Japanese … on the wharf, decrypting the ideograms (and their phonetic) sticked on graphic cars (photo below).

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I revised verbs before the train leaves.

Time is precious. Once in the train, I will be sleeply between stations like every Tokyo people. Sat, stand-up, young and old, women, children, salary men or hypesters: everybody falls sleeping!

Lulled by the sweet female voice that dis-tinc-ly announces the next station, I could improve my pronunciation, “Shin-ju-ku, Shin-ju-ku“, “Taka-dano-baba” (I love it!). Not to mention in the endless corridors,  I practised the classics: “leftO“, “rightO!”! Tokyo forever …

Japan-Tokyo-Metro-3-Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

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

Informations

More about Tokyo subway & trains : http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html  

Related posts : DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWSLIFESTYLE