Tsugaru Shamisen live concert by SHO ASANO

Tsugaru Shamisen live concert by

SHO ASANO

Introduction:
The Japan Foundation organizes a concert tour and lecture workshops featuring Tsugaru shamisen player Sho Asano and his troupe of young and talented hogaku [traditional Japanese music] performers in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, designed to appeal especially to younger generations. Scheduled from February 21 to March 1, 2013, this tour celebrates the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. During the tour, Sho Asano will perform together with Tsugaru shamisen player Hikari Shirafuji, Tsugaru shamisen player and teodori [hand dance] performer Sachie Asano, wadaiko drummer and narimono-shi [percussionist] Koki Miura, and keyboardist Syoji Morifuji. While bringing the best of traditional Japanese music and its instruments, the performances will also provide contemporary insight into the explorations of traditional Japanese music today. The performers will also play local pieces and appear with local musicians in each country. In addition, lecture workshops will introduce the history and playing techniques of traditional Japanese instruments, and offer an opportunity to interact with the traditional music of each country, aiming for further development of mutual understanding and friendship through music.

Message:
"The Japan Foundation organizes a concert tour and lecture workshops featuring Tsugaru shamisen player Sho Asano and his troupe of young and talented hogaku [traditional Japanese music] performers in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, designed to appeal especially to younger generations. Scheduled from February 21 to March 1, 2013, this tour celebrates the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. During the tour, Sho Asano will perform together with Tsugaru shamisen player Hikari Shirafuji, Tsugaru shamisen player and teodori [hand dance] performer Sachie Asano, wadaiko drummer and narimono-shi [percussionist] Koki Miura, and keyboardist Syoji Morifuji. While bringing the best of traditional Japanese music and its instruments, the performances will also provide contemporary insight into the explorations of traditional Japanese music today. The performers will also play local pieces and appear with local musicians in each country. In addition, lecture workshops will introduce the history and playing techniques of traditional Japanese instruments, and offer an opportunity to interact with the traditional music of each country, aiming for further development of mutual understanding and friendship through music.gs evolve over time, while newer things tend to catch our attention. But when we completely forget good old things, we sometimes lose sight of what is really important.
I think minyo [Japanese folk music] is one such example. Nowadays, people rarely listen to minyo songs, saying they are old-fashioned or not cool. But minyo songs were originally written to express the Japanese spirit of appreciation for the things around us, and they often incorporated local specialties, dialects, landscapes, or what was in fashion at the time. Living in this contemporary period where everything seems to change with every hour, I believe it is important for more people to know how wonderful these songs are, and to be grateful to our ancestors and predecessors, and to pass on these songs, which symbolize our precious heritage, to future generations.
Whether we live in Japan, or Cambodia, or Myanmar, or Laos, we are all Asians. We are neighbors moving towards the future together.
And because we are Asians with so much in common, I believe that Japanese Minyo songs will resonate with the audiences, and that is why I hope they will have the opportunity to listen to these songs. I believe Minyo songs, produced by the people, will connect us with each other. I hope to make friends with everyone I meet on this concert tour. I feel very grateful for this valuable opportunity and wish to express my pleasure through the performance."

Sho Asano

Setlist: