By Tashi Dhondup
A trio of Tibetan and Japanese musician has been touring Japan since April 8th 2005. They have so far performed in front of about 8,000 audiences in three cities. The tour will conclude on April 22. Produced by Ms. Nakano Atsuko and co-produced by Ms. Naoko Koide and Ms. Yumiko Kazoshimas, the tour follows last year’s similiar tour which attracted huge crowds and support for Tibet.
Singer Sherab W. Sangpo, an ex-artist from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) and resident of Minneapolis, Techung from San Francisco and Mr. Toshi Kuga from New York arrived in Fukoaka city in western Japan on April 8th to a warm and surprise welcome by 150 Japanese fans and friends with reception and flower arrangements at the Nishi-Abura Yama Park surrounded by cherry blossom trees.
The trio’s first concert was in front of the world`s largest reclining Buddha statue at the Nanzoin Temple in Fukoaka. The temple is located on the side of a mountain covered with bamboo trees and fascinating sacred caves and temple surrounding the statue. Nazoin Temple had supported a charity project in Orissa Tibetan refugee settlement. Their next two concerts were the highlight of the summer tour with opening performances for His Holiness the Dalai Lama`s two pulbic talks at Rengein Tenjoji Temple and Kumomoto Performing Arts center. Rengein Tenjoji Temple is celebrating its 25th founding anniversary.
The three performers also had the opportunity to accompany His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the chief priest of Rengein Temple on a sight seeing tour of famous volcanic sights.
The trio headed to Saga-Shi city for a performance with Japanese Sho, an ancient pan pipe flute musician Othu Noriko from Hiroshima, and Japanese belly dancer Atsumi Eto from Tokyo. They performed with a background art work of Artist Jurukawa. Their next several gigs were in community centers in Fukoaka city. They gave an open-air concert at Itazake site which is 2400 years old Japanese archiological sight. This was the first-ever live concert at the historical sight. These community performances were promotional for their next big show at the Across Theater, a famous concert venue in Fukoaka city.
The touring artists performed mainly traditional Tibetan music from Nangma, Thoeshae and Changshae and folk songs with an original song “Zhi wai Gang Sent” composed by Techung. They also played Japanese folk song “Sakura” with a touch of Tibetan musical composition by Toshi Kuga on Damnyen. The Japanese audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy the shows. Many expressed that they felt a connection to Tibetan music and it gave them nostalgic feelings. The sound of the Dranyen and Lingbu are similar to their native musical instrument, Shamisan. They were stunted by the sheer dynamic and beatiful voice of Mrs. Sangpo. One of the fans described her voice as “crystel clear, soothing and healing” and the male voice as “earthy and full of spirit”. Mr. Kuga’s introduction to Tibetan music, culture and song was vivid and full of passion. Not to mention his play of Dranyen and singing a real treat to Japanese listeners. Along with the music many Japanese expressed they felt the urge to learn about Tibet and Tibetan culture. The concert brought many fans and friends close to the artists. The audience said they felt a deeper connection with Tibetans and their struggle for freedom. The artists have been invited to tour Japan again in the near future.
