From November 25 to 29, 2006

The Japan Foundation will dispatch a traditional Japanese music ensemble sonsiting of the Tsugaru shamisen (zither), wadaiko drums, and shakuhashi (bamboo flute) to the cities in Ukraine and Lithuania.

In Ukraine, their performance will be the final event of the the festival “The Month of Japan in Ukraine”, which lasted 3 months beginning from September.


Schedule

Ukraine	Date: November 25, 2006 Place: Kiev National Tchaikovsky Conservatory *Lecture & Demonstlation Date: November 26, 2006 Place: Kiev National Operetta House
Lithania	Date: November 29, 2006 Place: Vilnius Congress Concert Hall

Tsugaru shamisen
Tsugaru shamisen is a traditional string instrument of Tsugaru region in Aomori prefecture which is situated in the northern part of Honshu Island. In those days, Tsugaru shamisen was played by blind musicians who, putting up with snowstorm, roamed from house to house and played music to earn their living. From the beginning of the twenthieth century this Tsugaru shamisen became popular as accompanying instrument for performances of traditional songs and many Tsugaru songs and solo pieces for this instrument were created. Being primarily used for accompaniment, little by little Tsugaru shamisen attracted attention as a solo instrument. Nowadays it is very popular among young people in Japan because of dynamism and rhythm of pieces created for it. And very often jam-sessions with other musical instruments are organized to play jazz and rock compositions.

Wadaiko
Wadaiko is the oldest of Japanese traditional musical instruments which is said to have appeared several thousands years ago. Please enjoy powerful rhythms and inspired performance of wadaiko musicians whose music recently has become a boom among Japanese young people.

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