Justin’s Japan: Interview with Yoshiki of X Japan on the Band’s Madison Square Garden Debut
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“At an X Japan show, we create a show with the audience—it’s not ‘the band is performing and the audience is just watching,’ so we create the show together. We’re going to try to make Madison Square Garden like a huge club.” (Courtesy of ID PR)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
For Yoshiki Hayashi, this Saturday (Oct. 11) will go down in J-rock history, as one of the biggest bands in Asia makes their debut at Madison Square Garden. Formed over 30 years ago, X Japan first gained notoriety in the mid-’80s by ushering in the visual kei movement, a style that continues to evolve through other Japanese megastars like L’Arc~en~Ciel (who headlined the World’s Most Famous Arena themselves in 2012).
At the center of it all is X Japan’s founding member, Yoshiki. An equally talented songwriter, heavy metal drummer and classical pianist, he is both the heart and soul of X Japan, and, having lived in Los Angeles for two decades, the ideal mouthpiece for the band’s American tours, which started with a bang in 2010 at Lollapalooza and included a sold-out gig at New York’s now-defunct Roseland Ballroom.
In this exclusive, expansive interview, I spoke with Yoshiki about how the group’s original hopes to play the Garden in 2008 were dashed by personal health and management troubles, his favorite, anime, manga and X Japan songs, and his experience working with legends like Stan Lee, KISS, and the Emperor of Japan.
How did this concert for Madison Square Garden come together? I know there were plans to do this in 2008; can you talk about this history?
Our band reunited around the year 2008. We did our reunion concert in Tokyo Dome, three days or so, I think. At that time, we were also thinking of performing [shows] outside of Japan, and Madison Square Garden was one or two of [the ideas]. But for some reason they didn’t happen, so since then, that venue was always in our minds. A few years ago, we decided to try schedule Madison Square Garden. I think we were kind of confirmed last year.
It’s a long road.
Yes. Well, considering that X Japan was not doing anything—I mean, the band broke up around the end of 1997, so when we reunited we had almost 10 years of a break. We started doing a bunch of arena shows, and then we started touring the world when we went to 16 countries or so. Considering this, the [last] six or seven years have been tours [laughs].
Are there plans for X Japan to play any other concerts for the remainder of the year?
Not now. We just announced our shows in Japan, this place called Yokohama Arena, so we [performed] there Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. It’s kind of like a prelude to Madison Square Garden and a kickoff to [that] show, about 10 days before that. As of now, Madison Square Garden is the only American show, but [depending] on how it goes, we may start another world tour. We’re just talking about it right this moment.
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Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York — Studio Ghibli, New York Comic Con, X Japan, Hatsune Miku
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Catch the New York premiere of Studio Ghibli’s “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” at IFC Center Oct. 3. (GKIDS)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
The Japan-centric events of the month ahead promise to be as rich and full as autumn itself—brisk and colorful, with a dash of unpredictability.
This month’s highlights include:
Friday, October 3, 6:30 p.m.
IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas
$14
New York premiere! Legendary Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies, Pom Poko) revisits an ancient Japanese folktale in this gorgeous, hand- drawn masterwork decades in the making. Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter (James Caan) and his wife (Mary Steenburgen), a tiny girl grows into an exquisite young lady (Chloë Grace Moretz). The beautiful princess enthralls all who encounter her—but ultimately she must confront her fate. The film will have a “sneak preview” screening in Japanese at IFC Center on Thursday, Oct. 16 prior to its regular run Oct. 17. Click here for additional showtimes.
Sunday, Oct. 5, 4:00 p.m.
Best Buy Theater, 1515 Broadway
$42
The 10-member Morning Musume ’14, also known as Momusu, are one of the most successful Japanese all-girl idol groups, produced by the famous rock writer-producer Tsunku. Their music style is poppy and upbeat, matched only by their elaborately choreographed dance performances. Their story began in 1997 after a TV audition and they made their major debut in 1998.The following year, their single “Love Machine” was their first to sell over one million units. Morning Musume ’14 have already performed in China, Taiwan, South Korea, France and the USA (Los Angeles), and are poised to make their New York stage debut.
Sunday, Oct. 5, 7:00 p.m.
Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway
$40/$30 members, students and seniors/$22 children
Experience the thunderous rhyhms of the ancestral Japanese taiko drums and the magical sounds of the bamboo flutes, as Taikoza returns with richly authentic performances and colorful Japanese dances. The international touring taiko group, led by Swiss-born director Marco Lienhard, will present new compositions as well as traditional pieces in this unique concert featuring special guest from Japan Ichiro Jishoya, who was recently featured in the documentary film Drum Out the Drum of Happiness – Inclusion. This concert will celebrate the 150 anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Switzerland and Japan.
For the complete story, click here.
Justin’s Japan: J-Rocktober
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By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Shukan NY Seikatsu. Visit his Examiner.com Japanese culture page here for related stories.
This October is set to be a landmark month for New York City, as it welcomes to the stage some of the most celebrated Japanese musicians performing today.
Things kick off on Oct. 5 with girl group Morning Musume ’14 at the Best Buy Theater. The forerunner to today’s mega-member pop acts like AKB48, Momusu has been spinning off hits since 1997, launching the career of songwriter-turned-record mogul Tsunku in the process.
On Oct. 11, X Japan, the country’s best-selling rock band of all time, becomes the second Japanese act to headline Madison Square Garden, following L’Arc~en~Ciel’s historic debut there two years ago. Led by the charismatic drummer (and classical pianist) Yoshiki, X Japan has sold out the 55,000 seat Tokyo Dome a record-setting 18 times.
The venerable Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, which has been on the scene since the late 1980s and has collaborated with artists as diverse as Puffy, Shiina Ringo and Shakira, plays Irving Plaza on Oct. 14. If it’s cutting edge you crave, virtual idol superstar Hatsune Miku makes her New York bow at Hammerstein Ballroom on Oct. 17-18 with a special concert featuring 3D projection technology and a live band.
Seeking something heavier? Stadium act Maximum the Hormone, which appeared at Ozzfest Japan last year alongside Black Sabbath, Slipknot and Tool, invades the Best Buy Theater Oct. 27.
Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York – ‘Dragon Ball Z,’ ‘Naruto,’ ‘Angry Video Game Nerd’ premieres
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Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods premieres in select New York City theaters Aug. 5. (FUNimation)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
In the dog days of summer, it’s best to escape the heat in a place that’s cozy and cool. For those into Japanese cultural events, this month offers a diverse selection of film premieres and live music—all in the comfort of indoor air conditioning.
Aug. 5, 9 and 11
Village East Cinema, 181-189 Second Avenue
$14
Stunning animation and epic new villains highlight the first new Dragon Ball Z feature film in seventeen years! After the defeat of Majin Buu, a new power awakens and threatens humanity. Beerus, an ancient and powerful God of Destruction, searches for Goku after hearing rumors of the Saiyan warrior who defeated Frieza. Realizing the threat Beerus poses to their home planet, the Z-fighters must find a way to stop him before it’s too late. An original work from Dragon Ball series creator Akira Toriyama, Battle of Gods is an exciting new adventure for DBZ fans everywhere. Presented in English. Additional screenings will be held on Aug. 5 at AMC Empire 25 and Regal Union Square Stadium 14. Click here for tickets.
Friday, Aug. 8, 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway
$20
NYC premiere! Based on the hit web series of the same name, the newly released adventure-comedy, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, follows a disgruntled gamer who must overcome his fear of the worst video game of all time in order to save his fans. Hilarity ensues as a simple road trip becomes an extravagant pursuit of the unexpected. Starring James Rolfe. Written and Directed by James Rolfe and Kevin Finn. A Q&A follows the screening with James Rolfe and Special Guests.
James Rolfe and Kevin Finn’s debut feature film, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, follows a disgruntled gamer (Rolfe) who must overcome his fear of the worst video game of all time in order to save his fans. Desperate to disprove a video game urban legend, hilarity ensues as a simple road trip becomes an extravagant pursuit of the unexpected – and the unexpected ultimately proves that what’s in front of you, isn’t always what it appears to be. Blending elements of comedy, science fiction, and horror, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, is an existential journey which, in the end, discovers truth can be found in the most unlikely of places – and one’s greatest weakness is not the hate one has for a game, but the devotion one has in the face of adversity.
Friday, Aug. 8, 6:00 p.m.
Peace Concert “Global Harmony” with Shinji Harada
West Park Presbyterian Church, 165 West 86th Street
$15 suggested donation
Shinji Harada is one of Japan’s most famous recording artists. He has released more than 70 singles in Japan, three of which once hit the top 20 Oricon chart simultaneously. Born in Hiroshima, Shinji was recently recognized by his home town as a Hiroshima Peace Culture Ambassador.
Shinji became a musical sensation in Japan when he released his debut single Teens’ Blues in 1977 when he was just 18 years old. He released two more singles, Candy in November and Shadow Boxer in December the same year. All three singles ranked in the Top 20 Oricon chart simultaneously, which had never happened before in Japanese music history. Through his music Shinji actively works to spread his brief in “Yamato,” the spirit of sharing kindness and loving one another. He will be joined by percussionist Mataro Misawa and bassist Wornell Jones.
Misawa is a member of Masaharu Fukuyama’s band which recently completed the “Human” tour attended by about half a million people in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. ‘Human”, the album, topped the Oricon rock album chart at #1 after it’s release this spring. Mataro has also performed with many other leading Japanese musicians and groups including Southern All Stars and Masashi Sada. Jones, who is based in Tokyo, has performed with Sly and the Family Stone, Koko Taylor, as well as Chage and Aska, Hiromi Go and many other well-known Jazz and popular musicians in the US and Japan.
This is a rare chance to see some of Japan’s most famous musicians perform in NY! (Your donation will support the annual NY Hiroshima-Nagasaki peace memorial gathering.) For more information, call 646-797-7982 or email: tknakagaki[at]gmail.com.
For the complete story, click here.
JQ Magazine: J-POP Summit Festival Returns to San Francisco with Music, Fashion, Film
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The annual J-POP Summit Festival returns to San Francisco July 19-20, featuring special performances from May’n and Tokyo Girls’ Style. (Dave Golden)
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By Sam Frank (Wakayama-ken, 2004-06) for JQ magazine. Sam is the webmaster at the Jewish Community Federation in San Francisco.
Japan is a country that likes to borrow from another culture and make it their own. Punk rock, Spaghetti Westerns, and baseball are just a few things Japan has adopted over the years, and in 2009, the J-POP Summit Festival in San Francisco added a bona fide community event to that list. Similar to Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Outside Lands, the J-POP Summit Festival is an annual street fair held in the City by the Bay that celebrates Japanese popular culture. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, film, art, fashion, gaming, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a prominent platform to showcase the latest trends and creative innovations from Japan.
“POP is our tradition” is the theme this year’s J-POP Summit Festival, which will be held in San Francisco’s historic Japantown district the weekend of July 19-20. Last year’s event welcomed more than 80,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States. While Japan is participating in America’s summer festival tradition, it has found a way to distinguish itself from the pack. Bringing together food, fashion, entertainment, and film promises to give the people of San Francisco a lasting impression of Japanese culture.
“Each year we strive to present a compelling mix of the hottest entertainment trends happening in Japan right now, and the J-POP Summit has become a wonderful and unique composite of pop and rock music, edgy kawaii-inspired fashion, modern graphic art, and film and anime content,” says Seiji Horibuchi, president/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and chairman of the J-POP Summit Festival. “This year’s event promises to be another important milestone for the evolution of J-pop culture and its fan base in the U.S.”
Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York — Kabuki at Lincoln Center, JAPAN CUTS, NY Mets, DJ Krush
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Neko Samurai ～Samurai ♥ Cat～ makes its international premiere as part of Japan Society’s annual JAPAN CUTS film festival July 19 with a live appearance by star Kazuki Kitamura. (© 2014 NEKO SAMURAI PRODUCTION COMMITTEE)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
After you’ve seen the outdoor fireworks, enjoy some summer events in the cool indoors, whether it’s witnessing the return of one of the world’s most distinguished kabuki companies returning to New York after seven years, catching one of 20 films in Japan Society’s annual festival, or waiting for the bass to drop at a live performance from a legendary DJ.
July 7-12
Rose Theater, 10 Columbus Circle
$45-$190
The Heisei Nakamura-za company, which made its North American debut in a critically acclaimed and sold-out run during Lincoln Center Festival 2004, was founded by the illustrious Kanzaburo XVIII, the late patriarch of the Nakamura family—a veritable kabuki dynasty in Japan with an unbroken line of actors and innovators reaching back to the 17th century. For its Lincoln Center Festival engagement, the company has revived a rarely performed 19th-century ghost story, Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki (The Ghost Tale of the Wet Nurse Tree), about the murder of an artist by a handsome samurai who desires the artist’s wife. Running the emotional gamut from drama to uproarious slapstick comedy, and culminating in a thrilling fight-to-the-death beneath a waterfall, this is kabuki theater at its most engaging. Performed in Japanese with English synopsis via a headset.
July 10-20
Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street
$10-$20
North America’s biggest festival of new Japanese film returns for its eighth year, serving up a thrilling cross section of Japan’s diverse film cultures to New York audiences! Screening 27 features across 10 days, including co-presentations with the 13th New York Asian Film Festival, JAPAN CUTS premieres the best of recent action epics, genre oddities, touching dramas, warped comedies and cutting-edge arthouse cinema made in and around Japan. Plus, meet special guest stars and filmmakers during exclusive post-screening Q&As and raucous parties in Japan Society’s theater and atrium!
Friday, July 11, 5:30 p.m.
New York Mets Japanese Heritage Night 2014
Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Avenue
Special seating $35-$72
For the fifth annual Japanese Heritage Night at Citi Field, the Mets take on the Miami Marlins for this special event. The pre-show kicks off at Mets Plaza outside with an explosive taiko set from New York’s own Soh Daiko, followed by the Mets Spirit Awards inside the stadium given to honored members of the New York Japanese and Japanese American community. Prior to the first pitch at 7:00 p.m., the Japanese Men’s Choir will perform our national anthem. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket bought will go to Japanese community charities through the Japanese American Association of New York. Be sure to look for fun Japanese activities and games throughout the evening at the special tables on the main concourse behind the giant video screen. Price of ticket includes a free T-shirt!
For the complete story, click here.
JQ Magazine: Video Game Tunes Launch World Tour with ‘rePlay: Symphony of Heroes’
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rePlay: Symphony of Heroes continues its tour at Jones Hall in Houston on July 5. (Jane Dempster)
By David Namisato (Aomori-ken CIR, 2002-04) for JQ magazine. David is an illustrator in Toronto who spent two years on JET as a CIR while also teaching half of Ajigasawa-machi’s elementary schools. David is best known for Life After the B.O.E., a webcomic and graphic novel he created about the wacky and wonderful experiences of the JET Programme. David is currently working on Mark to Minna (マークと皆/Mark and the Gang) a yon-koma (四コマ/ four-panel) comic strip about the life of Japanese-Canadian boy and his family in Toronto for Torja magazine, a Japanese-language magazine in Toronto, and also on his fantasy action-adventure comic, The Long Kingdom (check out issues 1, 2, and 3). See all of David’s projects at www.namisato.org.
As a child in the late ’80s, I would pause a video game mid-play just to enjoy the music. In the early ’90s, I had the good fortune of having a classmate from Japan who would lend me his CDs of orchestral performances of popular video game music. Music plays such an important role in setting the mood and pace in a video game, and even outside the context of the game, the same music maintains its impact, and is a delight to listen to.
For the past decade, Jason Michael Paul has been producing orchestral performances of video game music. His concerts have toured the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia, appealing to a wide audience of video game fans. And as Paul said to me in a recent interview for JQ, the concerts are also an opportunity to expand people’s awareness of the art of video game music. Perhaps you have heard of, or even attended one of Paul’s concerts such as Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy in 2004, PLAY! A Video Game Symphony in 2006, or The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses in 2012-13.
This year, Jason Michael Paul Productions brings us the rePlay: Symphony of Heroes international tour, which made its world premiere at the Sydney Opera House in March, and its U.S. premiere in Florida on April 19. Performed by a live orchestra of 68 musicians and a 24-person choir, and featuring award-winning music from 16 classic games with all-new arrangements by the original composers as well as the world premiere of new music, rePlay: Symphony of Heroes will thrill fans of video games and classical music alike.
Justin’s Japan: ‘Ghost in the Shell,’ Kishi Bashi, Luna Haruna at AnimeNEXT
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Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Borders: 1 & 2 premieres at AMC Loews Village 7 May 29. (FUNimation)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
After an unusually chilly spring, it’s finally starting to feel like summer. Enjoy some seasonal events this month that celebrate the best of both fine art and pop art.
This month’s highlights include:
Wednesday, May 28, 10:00 p.m.
The Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery
$5
An all-female quartet that delivers riff-heavy, post-punk anthems, Each of the Hard Nips came to live in New York at different times, from different parts of Japan. And, as conspired by the ever-dexterous hand of fate, they were to cross paths and become fast friends. They quickly formed a cult-like bond whose rituals all included drinking a lot of alcohol and uncontrollably running their mouths. The wine flowed like Kool-Aid and, somehow, they found themselves buying into the delusion that they were capable of forming a kick-ass rock band. Witness the next chapter in their story, with support from Shakes and the Johnnys.
Thursday, May 29, 7:30 p.m.
Ghost in the Shell: Arise – Borders: 1 & 2
AMC Loews Village 7, 66 Third Avenue
$10
In the first two parts of this highly anticipated prequel series of the anime sensation Ghost in the Shell, it’s the year after the fourth World War and cyborg/hacker Motoko Kusanagi finds herself wrapped up in the investigation of a devastating bombing. But she’s not the only one looking for answers—as she delves deeper into the mystery of who is behind the attack, a specialized team unlike any before begins to take shape.
June 6-8
Garden State Convention Center, 50 Atrium Drive, Somerset, NJ
$45-$60
The largest independently organized anime convention in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. AnimeNEXT features Japanese creators of anime and manga, voice actors, musical acts, artists, vendors and exhibits, events, panels, workshops, and gaming. This year’s musical guest is Tokyo’s Luna Haruna, who made her major debut in 2012 with the song “Soraha Takaku Kazeha Utau,” the ending theme song for the second season of anime series Fate/Zero. Her latest single, “Snowdrop,” was featured as the ending theme song the second season of Monogatari. Don’t miss her first-ever performance on the East Coast!
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Justin’s Japan: AnimeNEXT Welcomes Idol Luna Haruna
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By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Shukan NY Seikatsu. Visit his Examiner.com Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Fans of manga, anime, cosplay and J-pop are eagerly awaiting AnimeNEXT, the largest independently organized anime convention in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.
The annual event, which will be held at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset from June 6-8, will feature the debut East Coast performance of Tokyo-based singer and recording artist Luna Haruna, whose songs have appeared in the anime series “Fate/Zero,” “Sword Art Online” and “Monogatari.”
“Last year was Luna’s first time in the States and she made a successful U.S. debut performance at Sakura-Con in Seattle,” says Tomo Tran, a publicist for Sony Music Entertainment (Japan). “Since her debut two years ago, Luna has released five singles and one full album, which have ranked in the top 20 on the Oricon music chart.”
An amateur model and a finalist at the fourth All-Japan Anime Song Grand Prix, Haruna headlined concerts in Tokyo and Osaka earlier this spring.
“Since she really enjoyed her time here last year, we (SMEJ) felt it was great for her to come back and to continue her success,” Tran says. “I hope that fans are pumped up and ready to welcome Luna Haruna this summer!”
Other musicians scheduled to perform at AnimeNEXT include J-punk band ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D and Chipocrite, who crafts unique soundscapes from original Nintendo Game Boys.
For more information, visit www.animenext.org.
WIT Life #269: Japan Day @ Central Park
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WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.
Japan Day @ Central Park celebrated its 8th year this past Sunday, and 50,000 attendees came out on this warm, beautiful day. As it coincided with Mother’s Day, many families enjoyed the events together. In addition to the free food and culture booths, an assortment of performances were featured on the main stage. There was some stellar taiko drumming and an interesting Matrix-like duo, but many in the crowd were waiting excitedly for the crooner Jero, who I wrote about and got to interview when he came to Japan Society two years ago.
This Pittsburgh native began his career singing enka (Japanese traditional ballads) as a youngster with his Japanese grandmother, and his official career started in Japan six years ago. Jero treated the audience to his debut single 海雪 (Umiyuki or Ocean Snow) as well as Read More
JQ Magazine: Concert Review—Yoshiki Classical World Tour Dazzles San Francisco with Surprise X Japan Guest
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“The night offered something for everyone in Yoshiki’s ability to merge and bring together different genres and listeners and touch the collective beating heart therein.” (Shirong Gao)
By Shirong Gao (Shiga-ken, 2005-07) for JQ magazine. A member of JETAA Northern California, Shirong is a graphic designer, Illustrator, and breakfast food lover who worked in a Japanese countryside as seen only in Studio Ghibli movies. For more, visit gaoshirong.com.
Every night, as a child drifting off to sleep, I looped a rock ballad. My personal lullaby. A song by multi-million-selling heavy metal band X Japan, the Rising Sun’s answer to KISS. Yet not even in dreams did I see myself growing up to one day meet its leader, Yoshiki, and witness how far he’s come in his career.
A classically trained musician turned rock legend, Yoshiki has now returned to his more refined roots, embarking on a world tour of Yoshiki Classical concerts featuring music from the eponymous solo album released last year in collaboration with talents the likes of Beatles producer Sir George Martin and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Shirong Gao
On April 28, Davies Hall, home to the San Francisco Symphony, was packed on a Monday night to host only the second date of Yoshiki’s tour following its debut in Costa Mesa three days prior. “Definitely a different scene from a typical classical concert,” commented attendee Arisa Takahashi (Nara-ken CIR, 1991-92), who has also performed at the hall as part of the Sing Out, Davies! choral workshop. “There were people with blue hair, dressed in their frilly Lolita finery, sitting alongside classical music attendees.”
Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York — Asa Akira, ‘Monkey Business,’ Jero @ Japan Day, Peelander-Z
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Insatiable New Yorker Asa Akira’s literary debut is available May 6. (Grove Press)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
As spring continues and the weather continues to warm, New Yorkers can enjoy activities all over the city both indoors and out.
May 2-3, 7:30 p.m.
Veggetti, Kato and Nakamura Project IX – Pleiades
Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street
$30, $24 Japan Society members
Two Japanese tour de force artists, acclaimed musician Kuniko Kato, praised by Steve Reich as a “first rate percussionist,” and dancer Megumi Nakamura, internationally known since her days with Jiří Kylián’s Netherlands Dance Theater, explore the mesmerizing scores of legendary 20th century composer Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001). Project IX – Pleiades, which features one of Xenakis’ most complex and ambitious pieces, Pléiades, is a multimedia work delivered through live performance and a state-of-the-art sound/projection installation. Directed by Italian choreographer Luca Veggetti, one of the featured artists in the 2014 NY PHIL BIENNIAL. The Friday, May 2 performance is followed by a MetLife Meet the Artists Reception.
Saturday, May 3, 2:00 p.m.
Monkey Business: Japan/America Writers’ Dialogue
Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue
$15, $12 seniors/students, $10 Asia Society and PEN members
In conjunction with PEN World Voice Festival 2014! For the past three years PEN World Voices and Asia Society have provided a place for dialogues between established and upcoming writers in the United States and Japan. This year Laird Hunt and Matthew Sharpe join Toh EnJoe and Hideo Furukawa for another exciting and provocative cross-cultural literary encounter between Japanese and American writers. Moderated by Motoyuki Shibata and Ted Goossen, editors/translators of Monkey Business, the English-language anthology of newly translated Japanese writing, now celebrating its fourth edition.Ticket price includes a copy of the book and signing following the program. For additional free readings taking place in Manhattan and Brooklyn, click here.
Tuesday, May 6
Insatiable: Porn—A Love Story by Asa Akira
$25 MSRP
At age 28, Asa Akira has already led an extremely unusual life. Born in New York and raised in Japan as a pre-teen, then coming of age at the prestigious United Nations International School in Manhattan, she eschewed the academic aspirations of her classmates and soon was earning a good living by stripping and working as a dominatrix at a sex dungeon. Akira has now built up a reputation for being one of the most popular, hardworking, and extreme actors in the adult entertainment industry, winning dozens of awards and appearing in nearly 400 films to date and the popular DVDASA podcast. In her debut book, Akira provides an inimitable voice from the inside in a world where porn is increasingly becoming part of the mainstream.
For the complete story, click here.
JQ Magazine: NY JET Alum Collaborates with Japanese Expats on ‘2nd Avenue’
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JET alum Tony Waldman (second from left) on the set of Web series 2nd Avenue. (Courtesy of Tsukasa Kondo)
By Julio Perez Jr. (Kyoto-shi, 2011-13) for JQ magazine. A bibliophile, writer, translator, and graduate from Columbia University, Julio is currently working at Ishikawa Prefecture’s New York office while seeking opportunities with publications in New York. Follow his enthusiasm for Japan, literature, and board gaming on his blog and Twitter @brittlejules.
She’s an aspiring actress with visa problems; he’s a gay law student and newly homeless. Can a fake marriage solve their problems? Mariko and Taichi are the stars of a goofy Web comedy filmed on location in New York called 2nd Avenue. You can tune into their zany adventures on YouTube and view the entire six-episode first season, which ended this past February.
The creative team behind 2nd Avenue includes Mari Kawade (director), Maho Honda (who plays Mariko), and Tsukasa Kondo (who plays Taichi). Kondo, who also is the writer for the series, was inspired by the many Web series online and decided to try writing something that would never be seen on Japanese TV, but would have a place on YouTube. He adds that his biggest inspirations for the story are “the actress Maho Honda, my life in New York as a gay man, and American TV shows.” Honda and Kawade also cite the diversity of New York City itself, and the stories of what people do just to survive in it, as a significant creative inspiration.
As you may have guessed, you can’t do something awesome involving Japan in New York without some JET alumni getting involved. Tony Waldman (Mie-ken, 2005-09) and his group New Beard provide the soundtrack for the show. The idea for this pairing took root after he met Kawade at the JET Alumni Association of New York’s annual Meishi Exchange event in 2013.
“She mentioned that she was looking for music for this Web series,” Waldman says. “We exchanged contact info and kept in touch. Many months later, she…asked if we could use my band New Beard’s music in the show. Us here in Beard Town (Williamsburg) gave her the OK, and our music became the soundtrack to the entire show…a true JETAANY Meishi Exchange success story!”
Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York — Miyazaki, Godzilla, Tribeca Film Festival, Sakura Matsuri
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New York’s 33rd annual Sakura Matsuri will be held at Brooklyn Botanic Garden April 26-27. (Mike Ratliff)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Spring has sprung in the Big Apple, and that means one thing: a new season of sounds, colors, and spectacular performing arts to match the blossoming sakura trees throughout the city.
This month’s highlights include:
Tuesday, April 8
Turning Point: 1997-2008 by Hayao Miyazaki
MSRP $29.99, $34.99
The companion second volume to the earlier chronicleStarting Point: 1979-1996 (also new in paperback),Turning Point is an insightful collection of essays, interviews, memoirs, and illustrations from legendary animation director Hayao Miyazaki. The new title covers the critical stage in the legendary director’s career when his animated films for Studio Ghibli such as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Ponyo began to garner a significant international audience. Turning Point follows Miyazaki as his grand vision continued to mature, cinema-lovers worldwide discovered and embraced his creations, and prominent film critics such as Roger Ebert delivered tremendous acclaim for the director’s films. Bringing us up to the present is The Art of The Wind Rises, which captures the art of the film from conception to production, featuring in-depth interviews with the creative team from Miyazaki’s latest—and supposedly final—Academy Award-nominated epic.
April 8-13, 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Gary Burton & Makoto Ozone Duets
Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 West Third Street
$20, $35
Born in Kobe to a jazz organist father, Makoto Ozone came to Boston in 1980 to study at the Berklee College of Music, where multi-Grammy Award-winning vibraphonist Gary Burton was a composition and percussion instructor. After graduation he made his first American solo appearance in 1983 with a recital at Carnegie Hall. The incredibly talented young man struck a record deal with CBS, making his international debut in 1984 with the album OZONE. Burton and Ozone have been collaborators in the duet format for over two decades and recorded the Grammy-nominated Virtuosi in 2002. The versatile Ozone has hosted a TV series in Japan, ventured into electronics, and composed for and played with classical orchestras in addition to working with his own jazz trio from his home in New York.
Wednesday, April 9, 8:00 p.m.
Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Avenue
$22.50-$140
Praised by the New York Times when she last appeared at Carnegie Hall as “among the most respected artists of our time” for her “probing and magisterial performances” of Schubert’s last three sonatas, pianist Mitsuko Uchida returns to perform his “Reliquie” Sonata, once mistakenly thought to be the composer’s final work. Also on the program is Beethoven’s all-encompassing and transcendent Thirty-Three Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli.
For the complete story, click here.
Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York—Japan Week at Grand Central, Mayday debut, Jake Shimabukuro
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Ukulele hero Jake Shimabukuro returns to Highline Ballroom March 27. (Courtesy of Highline Ballroom)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Tucked between Oscar and cherry blossom season, March offers an unmissable array of concerts, performances and exhibitions, along with a special gathering to mark the three-year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
This month’s highlights include:
March 1-2, 2:00 p.m.
Kaleidoscoping Tohoku: Three Years After the Disaster in 2011
J-LABO Brooklyn, 300-302 Seventh Street, Park Slope
Free
Three years have now passed since the tsunami, earthquake and nuclear accident in 2011 rocked Eastern Japan, yet those who have visited since have been enchanted by the rich culture and history of Tohoku, forging relationships with local residents across generations and geographies. Now, various new projects, art works, crafts, and business from the traditional and the contemporary have emerged. Contents of the two-day event include regional progress reports; a silent auction and charity sale; an exhibition featuring a display of local crafts and a documentary film of Fukushima residents; and of course, food and sake!
Monday, March 2, 11:00 a.m./2:00 p.m./4:30 p.m.
Engleman Recital Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue
$25 advance/$31 day of event at box office
A show for all ages, this celebration of otaku culture displays how total devotion to one’s artistry creates a truly unique and unforgettable performance. With 15 years of experience, Syan is considered one of the top balloon artists of Japan, becoming the first person ever to win the triple crown of Japanese balloon competition the year he turned pro. A graduate of Japan’s only circus school, Saito is an accomplished juggler, acrobat, balloon twister, and award winner best known for his ninja performance, where he showcases his artistry while clad in black.
March 6-8
Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal, 89 East 42nd Street
Free
Japan Week’s annual program highlights unique features of Japanese culture from the last 100 years to the present. Delectable regional foods, technology exhibits, and traditional arts and performances will aim to inspire greater understanding of Japan and travel to the country. There’s something for everyone, from the fresh aroma of Kyoto green tea; a new NTT DOCOMO smartphone app that translates spoken Japanese and English; an introduction to Japanese artistry including hand-blown glass house wares, wooden keyboards and USB’s, gold lacquered iPhone cases; and more. Those planning an international trip can head to the Visit Japan booth for in-person info about travel and various regions.
For the complete story, click here.
