so...
i'm back in sweden after a hectic last week in kobe, kyoto, osaka, himeji and tokyo (all at once!), and for once i could actually sleep on the plane. I actually fell asleep before the plane had left japanese ground!
but the skies were crying when i left ;)
the 27th's live performance with TAISUKE TSUGIMATSU was really wonderful, BAR MUSIC was sold out and the atmosphere was great. many people said they thought the night was ”magic” or ”miraculous”, and i think that especially the 4 songs i performed together with Taisuke went really great. we did my song ”passion”, TAISUKE's song ”natsu no numa”, HIROMI UEHARA's song ”green tea farm” (taisuke played lovely piano and i performed my first song ever in Japanese!) and BOB MARLEY's ”waiting in vain”:
youtube.com/watch?v=mu7b3PuM30w
youtube.com/watch?v=BMrpGg1aJ2g
youtube.com/watch?v=YiQ6CU7QqVM
youtube.com/watch?v=YroJlgsWMxU
taisuke-kun – yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
my last 2 days in tokyo was great, but as always time goes too fast. monday evening i experienced a private HANABI (fireworks) session in a park in naka-meguro with Taisuke, Hiroko and Toru. later i went to shibuya to have a last drink with Masa and Gen, drummer and guitarist from FROG. i went back to gakugei daigaku at midnight and when i got there my clothes were SOAKING WET. i guess it was the most humid and hot day so far in tokyo - around 31-32 degrees and a humidity that stuck your clothes like glue to your body.
taisuke and me preparing the miniature fireworks...
i love the fact that "hana" means Flower and "bi" Fire.
i've had several life-altering experiences this my fourth time in japan. i've initiated several collaborations with musicians in tokyo and really think something great will come out of it all.
last week i also met japanese NIHONGA artist MASAKO KUROKAWA, and after a tempura lunch with her and her husband, novelist HIROYUKI KUROKAWA, we went back to their house where i could see many of Masako's lovely paintings of maikos and japanese young women, sketches and drawings. the reason i wanted to meet her was to see if she can make the artwork for my coming MUSICAL album, for which i am now composing the songs. i really think we can have a good collaboration.masakuro.exblog.jp
;)
while still in tokyo i was lucky to find a NOH theatre workshop in english, which gave a brief but really perfect introduction to the art of Noh, so i could better understand the performance i had long planned to see. both tokyo and kyoto have Noh theatres, but i chose the tokyo one. NOH is really a wonderful artform, like all japanese traditional arts it's refined to perfection. the expression of the masks which seem to change depending on the angle of the actors head. i want to include some small, scenic elements of Noh in my musical, so i will try not to break any rules hahahaone of the most peaceful places i have experienced in japan, together with the temple at MOUNT SHOSHA, was KOKO-EN - the japanese gardens next to HIMEJI CASTLE. the incredibly beuatiful, big parks really washed away all stress and worries from my city soul.
i have really improved my japanese during my stay. some of my friends barely speak no english, so it leaves no other choice than to understand eachother in japanese. i have been introduced to new japanese music, and often listen to music in japanese now.
since my first visit in japan, in 2007, i really felt at home with everything, and maybe i am destined to live in japan. the last month, many threads have crossed as if to bring me back as soon as possible. many people say that my music is very well suited for a japanese audience, and i always get a wonderful welcome by the audience wherever i perform.
from the live performance at Roman Records Cafe.
and the (vietnamese?) lunch close to Gakugei Daigaku station. of course, without meat ;)
me and three members of FROG - Reiji, Gen and Masa.
Toyono, me, and Yoichi Okabe, at Praca Onze.
at NARITA airport (tokyo) i found this funny sign outside the gate:
To "samurai" - no sword allowed into aircraft.
To business person of the world - sharp objects are prohibited on board except for your sharp brains.
=)
new doors have opened and i may return to tokyo already this autumn. i was really sad to go back to sweden.
passing through stockholm...
this weekend i went to a wedding party outside of Älmhult (south sweden), a wonderful party, and i'm happy for Anna and Anders and wish you a continued happy life together!
when i went to bed at 3:30 in the morning, the sun was about to rise over the lake. a very peaceful scenery.
the day after, i was completely exhausted and fell asleep on the beach. when i woke up, i had company by some tired ducks. they were quite friendly though.
after all, sweden is SO BEAUTIFUL in the summer. just check these blue and yellow fields i photographed yesterday.
it's time for relaxation and "recharging" of batteries.
=)
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