Shortly to be seen at the F/T09 Autumn festival with their revival of Flowers flow, time congeals, this video from YouTube shows the dance company BATIK in all their animal glory. BATIK’s leader Ikuyo Kuroda will also be presenting another work she developed with a group of other actors and dancers (including men and one BATIK dancer) at the Tokyo Dance Triennale 2009. I covered this new production (and an overall of the whole festival) in an interview with Kuroda for The Japan Times, which you can read here.

BATIK, Flowers flow, time congeals
November 15 to 20 at Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory (F/T 09 Autumn)
See the F/T website for more.

Ikuyo Kuroda, Arrow and Chain
September 30 to October 2 at Aoyama Round Theatre (Tokyo Dance Triennale 2009)

Semi-naked men, shaven-headed, their bodies covered in white make-up, move with intent slowness on the stage: Anyone who has ever seen Ankoku Butoh — Japan’s most famous dance export — will recognize this description. But, as good as the likes of internationally acclaimed dance troupe Sankai Juku are, there is in fact a lot more to Japanese dance.

Dance Triennale Tokyo 2009 is probably as fine as any introduction can be to the range of styles and performers out there. The festival features 18 artists and companies, performing from Sept. 18 to Oct. 8 at the Aoyama Round Theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo, and the nearby Spiral Hall in Omotesando.

This year’s Triennale sees a greater diversity of events than before, with free minishowcases, talk events at the Shibuya Aoyama Book Center and workshops by the visiting foreign artists. There is also the rare opportunity to watch 80 years of dance on film in a series of late-show screenings at Theatre Image Forum, also in Shibuya.

Ikuyo Kuroda's 'Arrow and Chain'. Photo: Non Takagi

Kuroda has a warm and loquacious personality, which is in sharp contrast to the intense and violent work that her all-female dance troupe BATIK is known for. One notable piece, “SHOKU,” featured the performers wearing only their underwear. Her dance deliberately pushes participants to their bodies’ limits and beyond. Kuroda, however, originally trained as a ballet dancer and says she finds her reputation for such intensity a little surprising. “Actually, when I make BATIK works I’m always in hysterics,” she tells The Japan Times.

Ikuyo Kuroda, of dance company BATIK. Photo: William Andrews

“This time is pretty different. It is much more about meaning,” she says. “We are starting from specific moments in the performers’ lives and histories. We have to understand these episodes fully. This idea of really having to get across a meaning in the work is a first for me.”

The multimedia aspects of the production are a first for Kuroda as well. “It’s not really multimedia dance,” she explains, “but we are using all the things we need for it to be a documentary. Dialogue, video, pictures, music, dance. . . . It’s very free.”

By “documentary” Kuroda seems to mean a personal story: “In everyone there is a different documentary. This is inside us and we are living inside others.”

Also pushing the boundaries of dance, this time by mixing it with other types of performance, is Maki Morishita. Like, Kuroda, Morishita’s work is strikingly unusual.

She questions genres and conventions in her dance: comical sketches are frequent; she uses word play during rehearsal improvisation and even sings. “The voice is also part of the body. I’m often asked if my dance is theater, comedy or even singing. I call it dance. Dancing is not just about moving your body,” she says.

Morishita is entertaining in person. When she was a child she moved homes many times, and because of this she had to make new friends at a lot of schools. She became a natural communicator, talented as a comedian and an accomplished dancer.

Maki Morishita, a colourful personality. Photo: William Andrews

Other than the Japanese performers, the Triennale introduces dancers from 11 countries, of which the biggest name is likely famed Canadian choreographer Ginette Laurin with her production based on Steve Reich’s landmark music composition “Drumming.”

One international performer who is no stranger to Japan is Frank Micheletti. Micheletti is currently based at Kyoto’s Villa Kujoyama, where he has been participating in an artistic residency for four months. He first came to Japan from France in 1996 and has drawn inspiration from Japanese music and film, traditional arts and author Haruki Murakami.

“I’m very interested in connections between different languages and worlds. I have a very special attraction to Asian countries. Maybe because the cultural gap is very important. It’s a big chance to discover more opportunities,” he says.

Micheletti’s dance plays with contradictions and oppositions. “There is an impulse you can find in contrast. We perceive opposites but actually it is duality. I would like to offer audiences the idea that there is not an opposition or contradiction between categories.”

Frank Micheletti's 'Espaco contratempo'. Photo: LAURENT THURIN-NAL

“I would like to find a system between dance and music. I would like to find density, variations between the sounds and bodies. . . . The musicality of the bodies. I’m looking to see if I can dance with the air, with the floor,” he says.

Like Morishita, and many other artists at the festival, Micheletti mixes media and genre. “I don’t make a distinction between the performer and the musician,” he says. However he’s not looking for a fusion project. “Every medium has a vocabulary,” he continues. “I’m not looking for a melting pot. Together we have a strong dialogue.”

Japanese performing-arts festivals always have a theme and the Dance Triennale has chosen “infinite moments.” In this information age we often find ourselves drowning in a endless stream of data from the Internet, mobile phones, RSS feeds. If live performance is one way to make a single moment eternal, then Tokyo has plenty to offer this autumn.

Dance Triennale Tokyo 2009 runs till Oct. 8 at the Aoyama Round Theatre and at the Spiral Hall, Tokyo; admission for Aoyama Round Theatre is ¥4,500 (¥4,000 in advance); admission for Spiral Hall is ¥4,000 (¥3,500 in advance). For more information visit www.aoyama.org or www.spiral.co.jp

This article originally appeared in The Japan Times on September 18 2009. See here for the online version.

Has to be seen to be believed.

I really should have seen this collaboration between Asa-Chang and Masako Yasumoto when it was in town a while ago:

Looking forward to this. I heard about it at TPAM and I know that Tsuyoshi Shirai’s blue Lion performance at Festival/Tokyo Spring was said to be very good.

It’s at the Setagaya Drum Theatre August 6-9.

Tokushima is situated in the north-eastern region of Shikoku.  It is the major gateway to the island from Kansai.  It is connected via Awaji Island to Kobe.   Unfortunately, this city is very small and easily visited within a day or two.  You can easily get out of Tokushima city and head to Naruto in the north; Iya Valley in the west; and towards Muroto in the south. 

Sudachi-kun. An unknown character found at the foot of Mt. Bizan.

Tokushima is primarily known for one thing, and only one thing, the Awa Odori.  It is a summer festival held in August.  It is one of the most distinct and unique festivals in Japan.  The Awa Odori is literally a traditional dance of the region.  People dress up in the regions unique festival clothing and the dance can be heard for blocks.  It is very difficult to describe the dance and it is something that must be seen in video to truly understand how complex, active, and interesting it really is.  All over Tokushima city, you’ll be able to see statues, banners, art, and videos of the Awa Odori.  You can even take a dance class at the base of Mt. Bizan.  While the Awa Odori is the most famous thing about Tokushima, sudachi is the most famous gift from Tokushima.  It is a small green citrus fruit that is similar to limes and lemons.  It has a slightly stronger taste, but very refreshing.  Beware that buying any sudachi sweets can be dangerous.  They last a long time, but once opened, they “could” expire within a day or two.  I would recommend buying sudachi alcohol and drinks, which are very popular. 

Mt. Bizan

There are only a few things to do in Tokushima itself.  The most famous thing to do is to head up Mt. Bizan.  There is a gondola that will take you from the base to the peak, but it runs every 15 minutes.  You can also get a discount if you go in the evening.  The top of the mountain is very beautiful and gives you a great view of the city.  Heading up in the evening is worth the price, however heading up at full price may not be worth it for those on a budget.  You can also hike up the mountain, and the peak offers various hiking paths.  If you are an avid hiker, this is a great place to get started for a short day hike.  Routes tend to be well marked and wind their way around the mountain.  In May, you will also be greeted with beautiful flowers blooming around the peak station.  If you are lucky, Mt. Bizan has over 1000 cherry trees, so the cherry blossom season is supposed to be extremely beautiful.  

Cascading Flowers in Mt. Bizan Park

After Mt. Bizan, Tokushima Central Park is the next best place to visit.  It is located on a hill behind the station.  It can be a little difficult to reach as the station has only one entrance, to the south.  The park is located north of the station.  Once you find the park, it is a very nice place to visit.  The entire park is the site of the ruins of Tokushima Castle.  There are two routes to the top of the hill.  While both routes are equally difficult, be aware that the main route may have some school kids running up as part of their training exercises.  In all honesty, this park is better served to the locals.  There isn’t too much to see.  The view from the top of the hill, while nice, isn’t that great.  It’s difficult to see much of the city as there are large trees surrounding the old courtyard.  However, it is a good way to enjoy an afternoon in Tokushima. 

Shinmachi River

Finally, walking along the Shinmachi River, south of the station, is a lot of fun.  The parks along the river are very beautiful, and there is a lot of outdoor art to enjoy.  You can even take a boat cruise around the city for only 100 yen.  It takes about one hour to go around the city.  You can also take a 4 hour cruise up to Naruto.  The river is also conveniently located near the main shopping area.  Shopping in Tokushima is sparse, to say the least.  It is probably the smallest major city in Shikoku, so finding any major name brands would be very difficult.  If you are looking for something to eat, I would recommend ramen.  It is a local specialty and the local food maps, available in most hotels, show the locations of famous ramen shops.  While it isn’t very different from other ramen shops in Japan, they tend to add slices of meat, and the soup base tends to be a little thinner and saltier, in my opinion.

Overall, I couldn’t say there is a lot to do in Tokushima city itself.  However, there is enough to make it a good weekend trip.  If you are just backpacking around Japan, timing a visit to coincide with the Awa Odori is the best way to go; otherwise it’s best to skip this city.  I would definitely like to return someday.

このblogは英語のblog。もし私の英語は難しい、日本語のquestionは大丈夫。

Miyuki

At a recent wedding we photographed, everyone, including ourselves, were thoroughly entertained by a Japanese dancer.  Miyuki is the creator of a very intense dance called the Geta Dance. Geta are a type of traditional Japanese wooden sandal.  As you can see from her video below, it is hard to imagine walking in these shoes much less dancing in them.

Miyuki was absolutely amazing.  She was so graceful and powerful sweeping across the dace floor. The drums of the music and her strong emotion drew you into her dance.

Not only is she immensely talented, Miyuki was so sweet and good natured. We would love to recommend her if you are looking for creative entertainment for your next event or party.

You can find out more about Miyuki here and make sure you let her know you heard about her and Geta Dance from 643!

Being Japanese I love seeing all the cute Hello Kitty dolls in kimonos. In particular, I studied Japanese dance for over 25 years and some of the dolls are shown doing famous Japanese dances. Kind of a thrill for me to see!

Courtesy of Nemo’s great uncle

Courtesy of Futako Tamagawa

Courtesy of Nemo’s great uncle

Courtesy of buck82

Courtesy of exo_duz

If you like my blog, please…

Woah sorry for the delay guys, I’m super busy these days! Here’s a video that I took from a festival which I just discovered whilst I was taking a walk one summer night in Tokyo. I have no idea what the name of the dance is but if anyone out there does, please do let me know! You can see the high quality version of this video on my youtube page: Japanese festival video

On Sunday, November 9, at Old First Concerts in San Francisco, koto players Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto and her son, Brian Mitsuhiro Wong, along with traditional Japanese dancer Bando Misayasu will present Hidden Legacy: A Tribute to Teachers of Japanese Traditional Arts in the Internment Camps.

Sixty-three years have passed since the end of World War II and the incarceration of approximately 112,000 Japanese national and Japanese Americans in “relocation camps.” Though much has been researched and written about what happened in these camps, the story of the brave artists who practiced and taught Japanese traditional arts remains a “hidden legacy.”

On Sunday, November 9, at Old First Concerts in San Francisco, koto players Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto and her son, Brian Mitsuhiro Wong, along with traditional Japanese dancer Bando Misayasu will present Hidden Legacy: A Tribute to Teachers of Japanese Traditional Arts in the Internment Camps, a concert featuring Japanese traditional music and dance as a tribute to those teachers of Japanese traditional arts who taught in the camps.

Muramoto and Wong are granddaughter and great-grandson respectively of internees who encouraged the study of the koto at the Topaz and Tule Lake internment camps. Bando Misayasu is continuing a legacy of Japanese dance taught by Bando Mitsusa, who taught traditional Japanese odori to over 140 students at Tule Lake. Although she will not perform, Bando Mitsusa will make a special appearance as part of this tribute. Throughout the program, which will also feature historical photographs, information about the artists who taught in camps and how they were able to sustain their arts in such depressed circumstances will be highlighted, as well as the impact these teachers have had on present day artists and future students.

“The reason for organizing this concert,” stated Muramoto, “is that the subject of Japanese traditional music and dance in the camps has been largely overlooked. There appears to be a lingering stigma about this chapter of camp life, possibly due to the fact that practicing Japanese traditional arts in the camps was considered ‘un-American’or disloyal, so former internees continue their silence on the subject.”

Also appearing in this program will be Reiko Iwanaga, who is the daughter-in-law of Rev. Yoshio Iwanaga who brought Obon odori to the United States, Kazuhiro Watanabe (koto instructor, Miyagi School), Kanow Yofu Matsueda (shakuhachi), and dancers Bando Misamie and Bando Misashizu.

Hidden Legacy:  A Tribute to Teachers of Japanese Traditional Arts in the Internment Camps

Sunday, November 9, 2008 @ 4pm

Old First Concerts

1751 Sacramento St., at Van Ness

San Francisco

www.oldfirstconcerts.org

415-474-1608

Tickets: $15/general, $12/seniors and students w/ID

]]> http://yesbuts.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/musical-precision/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:58:43 +0000 yesbuts http://yesbuts.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/musical-precision/

Yesterday afternoon the National Theatre Square stage was graced with an elegant performance of traditional Japanese dance.

Crop following a suggestion by Cristian

In this photo, Hello Kitty is dancing a famous traditional Japanese dance called Fujimusume for some preschoolers in Japan. I couldn’t resist posting this because I did the same dance over 20 years ago. The purple flowers in Japanese are called Fujinohana (not sure what the flowers are called in English) and the “musume” part just means mistress. Apparently, the goal was to attract young people to traditional Japanese dance or “buyo” which is loosing popularity. This was taken back in September of 2007.

Courtesy of Nemo’s great uncle

Sorry for the over-logistical and rather clinical orientation lately, but family and other stuff has prevailed. But now so shall the eternal quest to bring Japanese things to public eye, without costing an arm and a leg!

I’m passing on some info about a talk and exhibition coming up at LACMA, which are really wonderful. The talk is at 2 on June 21st. Above, an image from photographer HOSOE Eikoh, whose exhibit will be opening the 22nd. Info is thanks to John Solt. Hosoé is one of Japan’s greatest living photographers, and has won numerous awards over his half-century career, including the prestigious Mainichi Photographer of the Year for 2008. (The Mainichi is the most populist of the 4 major newspapers in Japan, and its photo-journalism has a great deal of integrity.)

Hosoé is a big documenter of the butoh dance scene. Born after/because of the bombs, butoh has 2 founders, Hijikata Tatsumi and Ohno Kazuo. Ohno just turned 100 and is still dancing. His son Yoshito is also a dancer, and will be at the talk.

Below is a bit more background, and the specs of the talk, featuring major dance dignitaries as audience members, and the exhibit itself. At LACMA, the big-ticket Japanese art items tend to be from the Price Collection. So it is a big step to have an exhibition from the 20th-21st c. on show, as is happening here.

More from John: “…Hosoé will be coming to town for the exhibit arranged by LACMA astute curators Hollis Goodall (Japanese dept.) and Charlotte Cotton (photography dept.). The Japanese Pavilion has shown quality art over the years, but it’s great that they are now also focusing on the 20th and 21st centuries, allowing viewers to see that Japanese culture is dynamic and not stuck in the wonders of ukiyo-e and then jumping to manga/anime without anything in between (this perception is prevalent in USA consciousness, but not in Japanese culture itself).”

There will also be some very cool avant-garde visitors, on site at the talk. They are:

“…three other great avant-garde friends of Eikoh Hosoe’s from Japan [who] will also be flying in to grace his opening. They are: (1) the renowned butoh master Yoshito OHNO, flying in after a performance in Montreal; (2) Yoshie YOSHIDA, the great critic of art/dance/culture who has been closely associated with Yukio MISHIMA, Tatsumi HIJIKATA, Kazuo OHNO, and the avant-garde for over half a century. He usually wears a kimono and a Panama hat like a pre-WW2 dandy and might be the hippest old man you’ll ever meet; (3) artist Takashi SHINOZAKI, whose gorgeous new book UTSUROBUNE (which means a boat hollowed out from a tree, with Buddhist connotations of “Empty Boat”) has just come out.”

Youtube is ceirtainly a source for a lot of fun, and I would like to share to delightfull videos I´ve found.

The first is a musicvideo from Snoop Doggy Doggy Dog:

He´s truly captured the estetics of 1970´s TV! Quite beautiful I most admit:)

-

Video nr 2 is a Japanese dance troup, get groovy and check it out:

Anyways thats all folks! Cheerio, and goodbye.

Today was judgement day, after all our dancing practises we were finally on stage at the EXPO park showing off our wonderful dancing skills to a very cheesy pop Japanese song!It was an early start for a Saturday and wasn’t welcomed by those who had been heavily drinking at Hard Rock the night before. Mid year seminar had finally come around and we ended it in the usual JET style with a few drinks in a very un-Japanese post. Luckily I got the chance to escape from a round of heavy drinking (although the effects of Happy Hour prices had already taken some effect) as I disappeared to Juso in the North of Osaka to attend a friend’s nabe party.

Nabe is a great way to eat food  it not only warms you on the inside but also on the outside: a perfect combination for a winter’s evening in cold Japan. Nabe is prefect winter food because it is cooked on the table in a pot as a result those around the table can feel the warmth which radiates out from under the fire where the soup like meal is cooking. Nabe can be best described as a stock and once bubbling you add ingredients such as vegetables, meat, seafood, tofu, noddles and boil them together. Once the ingredients are cooked you serve the food into a bowl and can eat away until your stomach desires…..or until the food has run out!

Anyways, back to the dancing. We were scheduled to meet at 8.45am at the station and made our way to the room where we could change, practise, talk and eat. To be honest, our dance was very elementary and our frequency of practising had been very low therefore we were just in it for the laugh but what strikes me the most was how accommodating the Japanese were. They had provided us with beautiful kubatas to wear (a Japanese style gown), drinks, chocolate and lunch boxes. They looked after us and made us feel more than welcome. We were provided with a guide who could speak English and were cheered by many spectators. Lots of people were taking pictures of us at this traditional dancing event and needless to say, we were too! I can only imagine that we must have been the equivalent of seeing a group of Japanese competing at a Morris dancing competition, we didn’t expect to be any good but we had lots of fun! 

After rounds of practising in the morning we finally got to practise live on the small stage. Everything went well and we were all happy, the next task was to speedily walk over to the big stage and do it again. Pepped up, genki and ready we went onto the stage, did our dance and then all got confused half way! The music was different from the one we had been practising to so the middle finished earlier than expected and so did the end! We waddled through the routine and took our bow at the end and ran off the stage to drink the water which the previous team was holding in their hands for us!

Once again, the beauty of the Japanese culture was really seen today. Before the competition the competing teams offered each other presents as a gesture of good will and then let balloons fly into the sky. At the end of the day they Japanese didn’t just run home but everyone immediately turned around and started putting away benches and picking up any rubbish on the floor. Never in a million years could I imagine a crowd of English people staying behind after a concert to help clear up. It’s such a amazing sight and so heart warming!