Comme ça du Japon

This is your 17th stereophonic trip for Japan. This time we are going to Kawasaki. It takes about 20 minutes to go there from Tôkyô with the 京浜東北線 (KeiHinTôHoku Sen) “Keihin Tôhoku train”. A surprise awaits you when you get off the train. Listen carefully. An original and fast beat from above is running down the stairs. If you go against the beat flow you will soon see a duet of knives players. They are hitting a まな板 (MaNaIta) “chopping board”. Hypnotized by the rythm, you get closer. One of the player starts a solo while cutting a long white stick. A sweet flagrance sparks everytime the knife hits the board. The solo is about to end but now both players are building a powerful bridge. It’s the grand finale ended by a final hit that echoes from every corners of the train station. If you want to experience this duet of knives, just press play !

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Photo: Leon & Mae
License: Creative Commons
This is your 16th french stereo trip for Japan ! Your destination is 佐原の大祭 (SaWara No TaiSai) “the Great Festival of Sawara”. The singularity of this festival lead to the attribution of the title of 国指定重要無形民俗文化財 (Kuni ShiTei JûYô MuKei MinZoku BunKaZai) “national important cultural heritage”. This podcast invites you to experience the Great Festival of Sawara.

This is your 15th french-stereo trip for Japan ! This time I invite you to 新勝寺 (ShinShôJi) “the buddhist temple ShinShôJi” commonly known as 成田山 (NariTaSan). After a short presentation of the history of this temple and 真言智山派 (ShinGon ChiSan Ha) “the ShinGon ChiSan branch of buddhism”, you will be able to enjoy the buddhist ritual from Naritasan. This is the perfect occasion to think about what 2006 meant for you and what you are expecting for 2007. I wish you a happy new year 2007 !

This is the 14th episode of Comme ça du Japan’s french podcast, your stereophonic trip for Japan. In this episode, I invite you to discover 三味線 (ShaMiSen) “Shamisen”, a traditional japanese instrument in-between a guitar and a lute. This episode contains 津軽三味線 (TsuGaru ShaMiSen) “Tsugaru Shamisen” performances, published with the authorization of brother and sisters 柴田 (ShiBata) “Shibata”. You will find a video of a third music piece recorded during the same mini-live event that took place in my neighborhood. I also invite you to compare 津軽三味線 (TsuGaru ShaMiSen) “Tsugaru Shamisen” with Okinawa’s 三味線 (JaMiSen) “Shamisen”. You can also observe that even the prononciation is different in Okinawa : JaMiSen. The sound Ja is used because of the 蛇 (Hebi / Ja) “snake” skin used for the Shamisen of Okinawa.

These young artists are from Miyagi, nearby Sendai. They won lots of prizes and 全国大会 (ZenKokuTaiKai) “national competition” and they even got 日本一 (NiHonIchi) “the first prize”. If you enjoy their music, you will be delight by the mini-album 大地の詩 (TaiChi No Shi) “the poem of the meadow” at Vanilla Sky records (1500 Yens), which is a great collaboration between 太鼓 (TaiKo) “japanese drums” and shamisen. You can listen to some samples on the website of the band 閃雷 (SenRai) “thunder” and take a look at the japanese blog of the band. Take also a look at brother and sisters Shibata’s main website. Last, I will offer the first mini-album of 閃雷 (Senrai) to one subscriber of the podcast. You can subscribe for free with iTunes, Podemus or by using the feed.

The mini album of 閃雷 (Senrai) “Senrai” is also available on the japanese iTunes Store for only 600 Yens. If you want to be able to buy on the japanese iTunes Store (prepaid cards) or if you want to buy the CD (1500 Yens), feel free to contact me (you will find the contact link at the top of the website under the logo). Have a nice listening experience and thanks so much to the brother and sisters Shibata for their collaboration.