English translation
AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.
The Christmas Concert on December 23 Concluded Successfully
Our Christmas concert at the Small Hall of Meguro Persimmon Hall on December 23 concluded successfully.
Thank you very much for coming at such a busy time at the end of the year.
(Please excuse this long message.)
This year marks 750 years since the Mongol invasions of the Kamakura period. Accordingly, we welcomed as guests Motoya Izumi, head of the Izumi school of kyōgen, who portrayed Hōjō Tokimune, the shogunate's eighth regent, in the historical television drama; Junko Izumi; Tokuro Miyake; and their mother, Setsuko Izumi.
The concert had three parts. The first included Christmas songs, historical popular songs, and original compositions. The second featured Koga melodies and mandolin performances. The third brought kyōgen to the stage. The common theme was the beauty of the Japanese heart, unchanged between past and present. With so many difficult events occurring today, we arranged the programme from a wish to become more familiar with history and tradition.
For me too, this collaboration was something to be deeply grateful for and a precious opportunity to learn. (*´-`)
Despite schedules so busy that they are literally flying around Japan or overseas every day, the Izumi family graciously adjusted their plans and gave us unstinting cooperation.
On the day, despite time constraints and the demanding requests we made of them—the transition from the musical stage, the talk segment, and the kyōgen performance that followed—they always responded with smiles and flexibility. Seeing their character and dignified bearing firsthand moved me more than words can express.
The talk segment had worried me most, but Motoya's quick-witted, enjoyable conversation, together with the relaxed atmosphere created by his mother Setsuko and President Hamano, helped it conclude successfully.
The mandolin players Yukinori Hirano and Yuki Yamashita, likewise facing packed schedules day after day, prepared through meticulous rehearsals and enlivened the stage with wonderful performances. Each time I hear that beautiful tone, light yet full of feeling, I sense how perfectly the mandolin expresses the delicate Japanese heart, and understand the claim that Japan has the greatest number of enthusiasts in the world.
Members of the family of Masao Koga, the great Shōwa-era composer, also came to the hall and offered words of encouragement.
Finally, I am filled with gratitude to Seishu Hamano, president of Japan Romanticism Academia, who always acts as the leader of my supporters and gives me vigorous encouragement. He has also written lyrics under the name Kahori Tachibana and helped distribute flyers with me, undeterred by either fierce summer heat or freezing days!
This was a concert I could never have made happen alone. With heartfelt gratitude for these connections and for everyone's support, I will take encouragement from it and work still harder. 😌💕
Please forgive the long message. And apologies for ending with yet another announcement. 🙇
Very early in the New Year, on Wednesday, January 8, we will give a New Year performance with the same members at Kirara Kamakura Hall, Kamakura Lifelong Learning Center, beginning at 2:30 p.m.!
I hope to work hard with a fresh spirit in the New Year. 🎍
I sincerely look forward to welcoming you all. 🤗❣️
Original source images
Select an image to open its source. Text within images remains in its original language.
Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.