Greetings from the Sky

Daichi Yoshino could certainly change the entire atmosphere of a large concert hall, not with the volume of his voice, but probably with its unmistakably spiritual quality. That's why I sometimes feel honored to back him up. Right before this Christmas, on the 23rd of December (national holiday), I am sure you can relax and experience something you haven't at our gig. Please check this out!

吉野大地は、声量で圧倒するのではなく、魂からとしかたとえようがない声質で大きなコンサートホールの空気全体でさえも変えてしまう。そんな彼の伴奏役ができるのは、とてもありがたい。今年のクリスマスの直前（12/23 祝日）、ゆったりと今まで経験したことのないライブの過ごし方はいかが？詳しくはこちらのフライヤーをどうぞ。

Mother Forest Gallery

Deep in the forest located on the foothills of Tsurugi Mountain, Shimizu, Hokkaido was an experimental outdoor gallery which was opened by some young Ainu artists who usually live in Tokyo area.

The forest was named "Hapo Ne Tay" which means Mother Forest in Ainu language. The owner, Rumiko Ehara offers her property as a place and opportunity for the young artists who are trying to find their own ways of new artistic expressions based on the long-lasting tradition of the tribe.

Her daugher, Utae Ehara has been producing such events, exchanges, promotions and exhibitions in the metropolitan area as well as in Hokkaido.

Exhibited as Forest Gallery in September were impressive work by Shogo Yoshino and Sayo Ogasawara. Shogo creates his style of hand-drawn lines to symbolize celestial bodies (photo: "Sun") and animals while Sayo demonstrates unique and colorful illustrations of the gods = animals and traditional Ainu patterns.

In the quiet white birch and larch forest where you can hear the sound of streams and birds echoing, surrounded by their handmade works of art displayed here and there, the entire gallery itself was standing as if it were also a piece of art. I hope my gallery conveys such atmosphere too.

北海道清水町の剣山の麓の森の奥深くに、首都圏に住むアイヌアーチスト達による実験的なアウトドアギャラリーがオープンした。「ハポネタイ」（アイヌ語で「母なる森」）と名付けられた森、代表の惠原るみこさんが、民族の長い伝統を受け継ぎながらも新しい表現を見いだしていこうとする若いアーチストたちに場所と機会を提供している。

惠原さんの娘さん、詩乃（うたえ）さんは、このようなイベントや交流、普及活動、展示会を首都圏や道内でプロデュースして回る。

9月に「二人展」として展示されていたのは、芳野省吾さんと小笠原小夜さんの美しい作品の数々。省吾さんは手描きのラインで天体や動物たちをシンボライズし、小夜さんは神様である動物たちとアイヌの伝統模様を個性的でカラフルに表現する。

せせらぎの音と鳥の声が響く静かな森の中に、人間の手でつくられた作品が点在するギャラリー全体そのものが作品のようだった。そんな雰囲気が私のギャラリーからも伝わるといい。

(Special thanks to Ms. Ehara, Utae, Shogo and Sayo)

For more information:

http://www.hokkaido-nl.jp/detail.cgi?id=1535

Celebration Echoing in the Mountains

The view from the outdoor stage which was built in the middle of the bumpy meadows of Saito Farm (see ***) was like a big Sunday picnic of reportedly 700-800 people.
On sunny September 27th, about 20 minutes from central Asahikawa, Hokkaido's second biggest city, deep into its rural area, in the mountains where they say the ancient gods live, gathered the virtuosos of various musical instruments from African drums to Japanese flute from all over Japan for "Celebration of Oneness 2009 in Asahikawa."

The grand finale was performed by (photo 1: from the right) Shunsuke Kimura (Japanese flute & Shamisen, from Saitama), Etsuro Ono (Shamisen, Miyagi), Kosei Yamamoto (saxophones & other wind instruments, Osaka), Esoh (percussion, piano & vocal, Awaji Island) and joined by Daichi (vocal) and me (piano & keyboard), and each of them brought his musical treasure to raise the awareness of life and the planet, all in carefully hand-woven natural costumes which were designed, prepared and dressed by Usaburo Sato, the executive producer of the event.

Then we all get together for our joint session to play the beautiful theme "Ai wo Yoru, Omoi wo Tsumugu ("Twist Thread Of Love To Weave Our Hope" written by Shunsuke K.)" which was sung by Daichi, and also covered my piece "Mother Earth."

That's when Chakkiri (percussion & vocal, Shizuoka: left, photo 2), the incredible improvisor of spontaneity, joined us from the back end of the audience area, singing and drumming on a wireless microphone, who cranked up the jam into a higher ground.

When the session began, the sun fell behind the mountain and the cold dew immediately covered my keyboards and other instruments, but the heat from the united audience kept us playing.

Music is just like the air we breathe. Let the songs go on even after we have left the venue.

齋藤牧場（記事参照）のでこぼこした草地に設営されたステージ上からの眺めは（報告によると）700〜800名の人々が巨大なピクニックをしている日曜日を見ているような感じだった。

北海道第2の都市、旭川市の中心部から20分ほどの、田園地帯の神々が居る（神居）という山の中、いのちの響宴2009 in 旭川のためにアフリカンドラムから和笛の名手まで様々なアーチストが日本全国からやってきた。

フィナーレには、＜写真1右から＞木村俊介（笛・三味線：さいたまから）、小野越郎（三味線：宮城県）、山本公成（サクソフォンおよび他の管楽器：大阪）、慧奏（打楽器、ピアノ、ボーカル：淡路島）に吉野大地と私が演奏。それぞれが命と地球への思いを広げようと、主催者のさとううさぶろう氏がデザインし、準備し、着付けまでしてくれた手織りの自然素材の衣装をまとって、宝物のような音楽を持ち寄った。

最後のジョイントセッションは、吉野大地の歌う美しいテーマソング「あいをよる おもいをつむぐ」（作詞作曲：木村俊介）、そして私の書いた"Mother Earth"。

そこへ、観客席の後ろからワイヤレスマイクで歌いながら太鼓を叩くチャッキリ（吟遊音楽家、パーカッション、ボーカル・写真2左：静岡）が登場して、音楽はめくるめくハイヤーグラウンド（絶頂）へといざなう。

セッションの始まった頃に太陽が山陰に沈み、あっという間に冷たい夜露が鍵盤やその他の楽器に降り注いだが、みんなで観客の熱気に応えて演奏を続けた。

音楽はわたしたちにとって空気のようなもの。会場を立ち去ったあとも響き続けてほしい。

(photo by T. Kawamura)

Veggies in Roppongi, Yum!

I visited a new restaurant/bar in Roppongi called "Soul Village STATION - Roppongi Nouen (Garden)" that my friend successfully renovated his entire house into.

Most of the core staff members are the sons and daughters of farmers who live in other places in Japan. Fresh and good veggies they serve are carefully grown by the farmers or the ones my friend or the staff know personally, while other selections of wines, other food and drinks seem to have been chosen in the same fashion. Yum!

Also, the walls, floors and ceilings in the restaurant, bars, entrance and stairways were carefully designed and handmade with natural clay which were brought from some places in the country.

He took me to the bar in the basement, and with his affable and mischievous smile he uncovered his old piano he hid in the wall-cabinet there. I improvised several pieces and hopefully contributed to that organic and comfortable atmosphere.

It was full house even though it was Thursday, and my friend told me it was booked up until October. If interested, give it a call and take a chance...

友人が自宅を改装して六本木に出現した「SoulVillageSTATION 六本木農園」に行ってきた。

主なスタッフはみんな地方の農家の息子や娘たち。出されている新鮮な野菜は、その農家またはオーナーや彼らが直接知っている生産者から仕入れているようだ。そのほかのワインやドリンク、料理も同様のようだ。おいしい。

レストラン、バー、入り口、階段など、全ての壁、床、天井は国内数カ所から運んできた「土」を使って、丁寧に手作りされている。

彼は私をバーに連れて行くと、こっそりと壁の中にしまってあった古いピアノをニコニコしながら出してきた。即興で数曲弾かせていただき、（願わくば）お店のオーガニックで心地よい空気に貢献してきたかも。

木曜というのに満席。10月まで予約でいっぱいとのこと。ご興味の方はダメもとで電話をしてみて。

Down in Shinjuku

Until this weekend I am working and staying at JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Tokyo International Center near Shinjuku, fortunately on the 10th floor!

It's quite a view, but ironically I have heard Bosozoku (motorcycle gang) roaring up and down the Koshu-Kaido street some 300 meters away.

However, I am pretty happy that I could buy a new super-thin filter for my camera at one of those camera shops in crowded Shinjuku today.

I can hardly find both such an noisy Bosozoku and the same filter in my hometown.

今週末までJICA東京国際センターへ出張滞在中。なんと10階の部屋。

なかなかの眺めだけれど、300 mほど離れた甲州街道で轟音をうならせる暴走族一軍が...。

でも今日は、混雑する新宿の某カメラショップで念願のカメラ用薄型フィルターを手に入れて、とりあえずはよしとしよう。

帯広では、こんなににぎやかな暴走族も同じフィルターもお目にかかれないし。

Relax and Enjoy!

Wouldn't it be nice to have soothing and relaxing "live" music in the middle of a formal public convention or such an occasion?

We will make it happen. Daichi, who have appeared in this blog several times, and I am going to perform on Thursday, 3rd September from 12:45 to 1:30 at one of the best concert halls in the area for Hokkaido Public Health Convention 2009. (No admission, Free!)

Although I am also running some slideshows while we perform, I recommend that you close your eyes and listen carefully to his voice.

ちょっと堅苦しい「公衆衛生大会」のようなイベントの真ん中に、気持ちがなごむようなゆったりとした音楽が聴けるなんてどうでしょう？

やってみせます。何度かこのブログに登場している吉野大地さんと、9/3（木）地域でも最高のコンサートホールで開催される「第58回北海道公衆衛生大会」の最中、12:45 -1:30に登場しますよ。入場無料ですよ!!

演奏中にスライドショーも流すつもりだけれども、ゆっくりと目を閉じて彼の声に聴き入るのもいいかも。

Hanabi: Fireworks

One of the most extravagant firework festivals in the nation, "Kachimai Hanabi Taikai" is an annual function here. Thanks to my friends who own a house near the less crowded side of the riverbanks, I could relax and enjoy a nice summer evening this year.

But I just wonder why they needed those "laser beam show" and "dance music" in the main stage which was fortunately away from where I was... They probably spoiled the peaceful and quiet evening with the beautiful starry skies above, didn't they? Am I just getting older?

国内でも有数の絢爛豪華な花火大会「勝毎花火大会」は、ここでは年中行事。メインスタンドの反対側の混雑していない河原の近くに家を構える友人のおかげで、今年はゆっくりと夏の宵を楽しめた。

しかしながら、なぜレーザーショーやダンスミュージックをがんがんやっているのかがよく理解できなかった。すでに美しい星空に平和で静かな夕闇があるのに...。年をとっただけかな？

Four-Leaf Clover

Here is my recent discovery of a four-leaf clover in response to my friend's posting. Take a close look and find another one behind it too. I found this in Obihiro-no Mori (Forest) when I was testing my new (second hand) camera last week. Will this be a sign of "double" good luck?

It also reminds me of the front page of "lonely planet" Ireland, country of clovers.

友人のブログ投稿に応えて、私の見つけた「四つ葉のクローバー」もこちらに。先週帯広の森で新しい（中古）カメラをテストしていて見つけたけれど、よく見るともう一つ後ろにありますよ〜。ダブル幸運の前兆だといいけれど。

lonely planetのアイルランド版の表紙も思い出す。

Something Unusual?

Earlier in August, I visited Saito Farm on the outskirts of Asahikawa, where another music festival called Celebration of Oneness 2009 is going to be held on Sunday, September 27th.

I am very happy to find this farm very peaceful and full of lives. It will surely be great for me to perform music "outdoors" here with a whole bunch of great artists.

Great smile! The owner, Akira Saito has been practicing his own way of sustainable farming style consistently and stubbornly for more than 60 years!

The milk produced here is thick and rich, which instantly reminded me of that good old flavor of Trappist Monastery Butter Candy.

However, there are some things very unusual with the cattle grazing on this farm. Look at this photo!

In Japan, it is hard to find such dairy farms. Have you noticed?

For more photos, please visit my gallery page on this farm.

8月初旬、旭川郊外の「斎藤牧場」を訪ねた。ここでも9/27（日）に音楽祭「いのちの響宴2009」が開催されるからだ。

とても平和で生命力にあふれた牧場。こんなところで野外ライブ、それも名だたるアーチストたちと一緒にできるなんてきっとすばらしいに違いない。

この笑顔！牧場主の斎藤晶氏、60年以上もこだわりの（今でいう）持続可能な牧畜スタイルを貫いてきた。

牛乳も一飲みで懐かしいトラピストバター飴の風味を思い出させるほど、濃くてリッチ。

そして、この牛の写真。日本の牧場ではかなり普通じゃない風景。気がつきましたか？

他にもたくさん写真をこちらでどうぞ。

Come feel the music in the air!

Sorry, it's been a long time since I updated last. So many things have been going with me that I couldn't work on my own publication. However, this surely will be your lifetime experience. Please don't miss it!

Daichi "Voice from the Sky" Yoshino & ken live at laugh-la

Saturday 11th July 2009 from 7:00 p.m.

しばらく更新をサボってしまいました。すみません。自分のPRにまで手が回りませんでした。でも、きっと思い出に残るライブになります。ぜひお越しください。

吉野大地 & ken プレミアライブ

at laugh-la（ラフラ・帯広市西1条28丁目4番地 0155-25-1455）

開演 7 p.m. (開場 6 p.m.）

Daichi's Website: TURIYA MUSIC

Blog: http://turiya-music.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/06/post-bd9a.html

for further information, please check out this flier:

詳しくはこちらのチラシをご覧ください。