The Shakuhachi 5: Shakuhachi Vogue – A Visual Concert

Contemporary and Traditional Music | East Coast Debut

Friday, May 16 at 7:30 pm—Followed by a Private Gathering for Artists and Members

Traditional instrument supergroup The Shakuhachi 5 has its East Coast debut in this provocative “visual concert.” Offering a dazzling repertoire spanning four centuries, including a work written for the ensemble by Dai Fujikura and a brand-new commission from Rome Prize winner Lisa Bielawa, these five shakuhachi rockstars aspire to boost the image of their primitive bamboo instrument as a hot, trendsetting device, seen throughout ukiyo-e woodblock imagery. In collaboration with NY based video/sound designer Tei Blow, music will be synced to a hypnotizing video collage of ukiyo-e from the Edo period, featuring swaggering, shakuhachi-wielding vagabonds and wandering Zen Buddhist monks.

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Image: The Shakuhachi 5 © Maki Takagi; Akihisa Kominato © Seiji Okumiya; Akihito Obama © Seiji Okumiya; Ken-ichi Tajima © Seiji Okumiya; Kizan Kawamura © Seiji Okumiya; Reison Kuroda © Seiji Okumiya; Lisa Bielawa © Desmond White; Tei Blow © Maria Baranova; Instrument Workshop: Build Your Own Shakuhachi! © Perry Yung; Shakuhachi Workshop for Composers © Photo uncredited; Shakuhachi Bootcamp © Photo uncredited.

The Shakuhachi 5 is supported by Doug and Teresa Peterson, Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), mediaThe Foundation inc., and John and Miyoko Davey Foundation.

2024-25 Performing Arts Season Support

Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).

Japan Society programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The season is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Additional, major support is generously provided by Doug and Teresa Peterson, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Jun Makihara and Megumi Oka. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund, John and Miyoko Davey Foundation, and a leadership gift from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Program support is provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; Hisamitsu America, Inc.; Cheryl Henson; Paula S. Lawrence; Akiko Mikumo; Hiroko Onoyama; Richard and Momona Royce; Dr. Jeanette C. Takamura; Nancy and Joe Walker; Estate of Alan M. Suhonen; and other Performing Arts supporters.

All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. is the official airline of the Japan Society Performing Arts Program. Yamaha is the official piano provider of Japan Society.