[MiyamotoUnosukeShoten]
A concert featuring a diverse array of traditional Japanese instrumentalists. Lend your ear to the nostalgic yet refreshing sounds.

The resonant beats and sounds of Japanese festival drums, or “wadaiko”, stir the primal parts of us and give a uplifting feeling, as if our hearts and bodies are bubbling with excitement. From ancient times, drums have been used in festivals, Shinto rituals, and Kabuki, making them one of the most cherished musical instruments in Japan.

Located in Asakusa, Tokyo, “Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten” has been in operation since its establishment in 1861. For over 160 years, they have been producing and selling traditional Japanese musical instruments, such as drums used in gagaku (court music), Noh (classical Japanese musical drama), and Kabuki, as well as festival essentials like mikoshi (portable shrines) and festival floats. During the Showa period, they supplied the large flame drums played at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, and in the Heisei period they undertook significant restoration of the main mikoshi for Asakusa Shrine’s annual festival, “Sanja Matsuri”, marching in step with Japanese festivals and traditional arts.

In recent years, their efforts have expanded beyond just creating drums and mikoshi. They have been actively involved in establishing places to experience traditional arts, like running wadaiko schools across different regions and organizing performance events. One such initiative is the concert series “Iyasaka Project”, which gathers up-and-coming traditional Japanese instrumentalists. Aspiring to the inheritance and development of Japanese performing arts, they deliver concerts where tradition and innovation merge, making it enjoyable even for those unfamiliar with traditional Japanese instruments.

On September 30th, the “Iyasaka Project ‘Mebaeizuru'” will be held at the local Asakusa Public Hall. Renowned Japanese traditional instrumentalists will gather under one roof to showcase an ensemble intertweaving various traditional instruments such as wadaiko (Japanese drums), shinobue (bamboo flutes), koto, sho (a mouth organ), hichiriki (a double-reed instrument), and more. Utilizing a genuine “hanamichi” (a runway-like stage used in traditional performances) and spatial effects with lasers, they will infuse elements rarely seen in traditional instrumental performances, staging a performance that is both original and refreshing.

Additionally, the ensemble will feature the “Drums that Create Forests”, made using thinner wood that is not typically suitable for taiko production While listening to the timbre of the drums, it might be fitting to ponder this approach to sustainable instrument-making, the importance of nature and forests, and the significance of cultivating rich woodlands.

In this artistic autumn, why not immerse yourself in the nostalgic yet contemporary tones played by traditional Japanese instruments and experience the classic sounds of Japan?

【Detailed Information】

■Venue: Asakusa Public Hall, Taito Ward
■Date: Saturday, September 30th, 2023
■Doors open: 13:30
■Performance start: 14:00
■Ticket Prices:
SS Seats: ¥10,000, S Seats: ¥8,000, A Seats: ¥5,000, B Seats: ¥3,000

■Performers:
Taishi Yamabe, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Motonori Miura, Jumpei Ohtsuka,
Azumi Yamano, Masaru Tsuji, Yasuhiro Yoshimura,
Masaya Koike, Kenshiro Sano, Moe Kenmoku, Taisei Otoma

■Organized by: Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten
■Produced by: Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten, kaDON

For more details or to purchase tickets, click here.