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My friend, guitarist Brian Hughes, toured with the Chieftains in Japan as an opening act with Loreena McKennitt. He then went on to play with the Chieftains in North America and Europe when they were promoting their album Santiago. In Japan they played about ten shows between Tokyo and Osaka, mainly in the seat Soft classical concert halls. The entries range from 1500-4000 capacity. They were hired through the plankton agent who specializes in Celtic music. Although Brian was excited the public felt that Celtic music was still a niche market in Japan.
Celtic Music and Traditional Music Japan: a comparison
If you listen to many of the traditional Japanese folk songs have a bittersweet quality that is similar to traditional music Celtic. The Japanese minor pentatonic scale is different from the West, but some phrases especially when they come into the major could easily be fragments of songs Popular Irish or Scottish. If you look at the traditional transverse flute Shinobu people really is not that different from the fife, Irish flute or in terms of fingering. The technique of sliding and taping with the whistle or Shinobu are also similar.
Where to Find Celtic Music in Japan
The major labels in Japan all have Celtic music under license and CDs are available as imports. A reputable dealer of Irish music in Japan is a company called Music Plant. I think probably affiliated with Plankton. JVC (Japan Victor Corporation) directly signed the group ANAM. They have recorded two JVC discs and have toured Japan on three occasions. A talented young musician from England, Tim Edey who played button accordion on my last album Celtic Heartland just joined the group recently. There was a company in Tokyo called Trinity who was specializing in importing traditional Celtic CDs but I'm not sure are still in operation. Brian Cullen an Irishman from Wicklow now living in Nagoya has his own label to market their own material of Celtic music Otter called and has published collections of ballads.
There is a Celtic festival held annually in Tokyo Ryutsu Center. They have music and dance, parades fashion, art and crafts exhibitions and seminars and workshops.
There is an organization called CCE Japan that provides lessons for most instruments Ireland, as well as Dance and Gaeltacht September. CCE Japan is the Japanese branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, an association to promote
Japanese Musicians specializing in instruments of Ireland
There are some very accomplished Japanese Celtic musicians. Isao Moriyasu, which began as a classical flutist, now specializes in Irish flute. He is a professor at the Kunitachi College of Music and has written a book on Irish music. He performs regularly with his wife Masako, who plays the Celtic harp, concertina and bodhran. Mayumi Nagaur is a member of The Rising Pints, also has its own group called BIRD. She is a very good accordion and tin whistle player of bodhran. It has encouraged many other Japanese to learn Irish instruments.
Western Celtic Musicians in Japan
There are few musicians who have formed groups with foreign and Japanese members. Examples include the increase in graffiti and the desire of the eyes disappeared as a group in Sendai called Callanish.
The Pub Circuit in Japan
There are many Irish pubs in Japan such as Dubliners, O'Carolan's, The Pint, The Warrior Celt, Shamrock, often have music. Irish pubs are also regular sessions. Because your payments are on a special award in big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya Kyoto and the places are smaller than you would expect in America or Europe. Like many jazz clubs in this country the capacity ranges from as little as 50-200 comfortably. Brian Cullen reports that the Osaka Dubliners claims to have 600 customers on a St. Patrick's Day a few years ago. I would say it must be the top and that is after few pints. Westerners are often surprised by the amount of the charges cover. In general, to see a band a 3000 yen cover charge is pretty typical. prices CDs are still about 2500 yen as well.
While Celtic artists are not household names like major rock stars, interest in Celtic music is likely to continue growing in Japan for some time to come.
© 2005 Ron Korb - All rights reserved
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Ron Korb is a Toronto based, flutist and composer. His music blends jazz and world music (including Celtic and Japanese music) together to create a truly original sound. Ron plays a number of Irish flutes including the penny whistle and the low whistle. He has 2 Celtic Music CDs (Celtic Heartland and Celtic Quest). A number of Ron's other CDs have Celtic music selections including Flute Traveller, Behind the Mask, and Ron Korb Live. Ron has also been a guest artist on a number of Celtic CDs, including Bruce Mitchell's Celtic Destiny, Mychael and Jeff Danna's Celtic Romance and a Celtic Tale.
Official Web Site for Ron Korb, Flutist and Composer,
Japanese Music, Jazz, Celtic Music: http://www.ronkorb.com
Ron Korb Fan Page http://www.ronkorb.com/fanpage.html
Ron Korb Music Catalogue http://www.ronkorb.com/mucat.html