Music

Jan 10 2011 6 Comments

Not exactly the pipes of peace (and quiet)

Due to Tokyo’s houses and apartments being so closely packed together, along with walls that are often so thin that insulation, let alone soundproofing, is simply not possible, noise is a real no-no. So, with this in mind, picking an instrument to play is a tricky decision indeed, with anything more decibel producing than a triangle potentially deemed problematic.

A situation then that meant when the fella below bravely opted for the bagpipes, he obviously knew that practice sessions would have to be in the park.

And an especially secluded part of it at that.

Nov 16 2010 12 Comments

A giant Japanese festival drum

Along with mikoshi, or portable shrines, taiko drums are a mainstay of many Japanese festivals, although a large number of the latter generally aren’t as big as this lumbering beast.

An instrument that needless to say required quite a few people to pull it along the pre-arranged path.

But all the effort was worth it when the drum was made to produce its powerful, almost primeval sound. An effect that this recording unfortunately does little to reproduce, as although it may replicate the sound to a certain extent, it in no way recreates the vibrations that can be felt bouncing around the air, and even through one’s bones.

Of course knocking out such a noise is no easy task, and those with enough gumption to give it a go understandably had to psyche themselves up beforehand.

As well as utilise a variety of tricky looking techniques.

And of course muster the required strength and stamina.

All of which were warmly appreciated by those watching.

Nov 09 2010 5 Comments

A Yoyogi koen musician and some mesmerised kids

Enjoying some especially nice November sun, the affable-looking fella below was well worth a photo on his own, but the arrival of two cautious but equally curious kids made the moment much more special, and immeasurably more sweet.

The simple and inspiriting sight of a smile and some social interaction between total strangers that sadly isn’t seen too often.

Oct 22 2010 7 Comments

Big in Japan?

He certainly has the looks.

Most definitely the moves.

And from a brief sound of it, the ability.

But whether he’ll ever be big in his mother country and end up bigging it up at the Budokan, remains to be seen.

Oct 19 2010 75 Comments

An old enka singer’s house haikyo

Urban exploration undoubtedly means different things to different people, but for me personally, visiting an abandoned building/haikyo is all about what’s been left behind rather than the actual building itself. Well, apart from a few very special cases that is; namely Kawatana Suicide Squad Training Centre, Mount Asama Volcano Museum, and the recently posted Joyo Pachinko Parlor. All of which were incredibly interesting simply as structures, and/or what they stood for.

But that said, they really aren’t the kinds of places I would initially seek out when searching for a new haikyo to visit; this small and sad-looking house on the other hand, is.

A chance find that, as soon as we walked through the unlocked door, felt like entering someone’s life. Or at least past life. Particularly as there on display was a picture of the one-time occupant himself.

Plus, due to a certificate of thanks on the wall, it was possible to find out his name, Shouji Masakatsu, and that in 1985 he was a singer on the inaugural journey of the Varuna ferry; its three day trip taking them from Oarai in Ibaraki, to Muroran in Hokkaido.

A vessel that, just like the man who once performed on it, has now moved on, but as it was sold to a Greek tour company, it could still be operating somewhere in the Aegean Sea, although it presumably sails to the sound of very different songs. And in regards to music, lyrics for some of the ballads that could well have been part of Masakatsu’s set on the Varuna all those years ago, are still in the house — all carefully copied out.

And a version of one of them, sung by somebody else, can be heard here:

But boats aside, music was obviously not only Masakatsu-san’s livelihood, but also his love, as the house is still packed with an assorted array of instruments,

gear,

and mementos.

Along with the suggestion that he may also have liked golf, but quite possibly didn’t really care for cooking.

It was a very similar story upstairs too, although several more personal items made the man’s presence almost palpable.

Especially with his jacket still waiting in the wardrobe.

And music was again a big theme, with an old school cassette player,

and a radio alarm clock still in the bedroom.

A room that was not only bleak, but also contained a newspaper dated 1997, suggesting that was the last time Shouji Masakatsu spent a night there.

But why he left, and more pressingly also left so many possessions, is a mystery. The selection of which made the deathly quiet of the house almost deafening.

Oct 06 2010 4 Comments

A rehearsal by the river

Regardless of whether the fella below lives in a house or an apartment, it’s perfectly understandable that, no matter what the time, or whatever day it is, his neighbours don’t want to hear even the tiniest of toots from his trumpet.

By the river, on the other hand, he can happily toot away to his heart’s content. Or at least for as long as his dalmatian can deal with it.

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