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Japanese Singer Hiroshima’s Impact On Music
Hiroshima created its distinct style thirty years ago by mixing the traditional Japanese instruments with American jazz and Latin percussion instruments. Basking today in a record three million album sales, the ensemble stands alone. Last week they returned to Washington, DC, the city where their fusion first reverberated beyond the West Coast, and celebrated at the Birchmere with music from their latest album, "Legacy," a collection of eleven hits from their first decade that set a nostalgic atmosphere.
The album begins with the elusive strains of the bamboo shakuhachi in the Grammy-nominated "Winds of Change" composed by Dan Kuramoto, the ensemble's composer, arranger and multiple instrumentalist. The closing number, "Thousand Cranes," is a paean to nature through June Kuramoto's koto, the instrument that breathed life into the concept.
When Japanese native June Kuramoto met her future husband, it occurred to her that her thirteen-string koto would add a unique element to his jazzy woodwinds and keyboard. To add more Japanese flavor, Dan took up the shakuhachi, a five-holed bamboo flute. With Danny Yamamoto on drums, Kimo Cornwell on piano/keyboards, Dean Cortez on bass and Shoji Kameda on the Japanese taiko drum/percussion, East and West embrace in a unique art form that blends jazz, pop, rock and traditional Japanese folk music.
Dan points out that everything begins and ends with June, his ex-wife and still his best friend. He creates a texture of fabric to go along and accompany her. Growing up in a ghetto in L.A. with three generations in one household, it was important to stay close to his culture to avoid losing identity. All around his home were people of Latin, Asian and Eastern European backgrounds clinging to their own cultures, so he was constantly exposed to jazz and Latin music coming from their radios.
At first he played traps drums in a drum corps. That meant he had to be there first to set up and was the last to leave, so he quit drums and changed to the flute, the smallest, lightest instrument, and added the sax and others as time went on. His passion has always been composing, producing and arranging. That, plus his authentic L. A. barrio background, got him hired as arranger for 'Zoot Suit,' the first Chicano musical on Broadway.
Dan's imaginative composing and arranging has kept Hiroshima in the forefront. The mystical aura of "Winds of Change" and "Another Place," the pensive "Turning Point," the juxtaposition of Latin and Asian rhythms in "East" and the vibrant "Hawaiian Electric" reflect his genius.
He wrote "Roomful of Mirrors" for "Bean Sprouts," an Asian-American PBS-TV show for kids of every color. The song was inspired by a scene in which children are in a room with mirrors on every wall. As they try on different hats, perhaps that of a ship captain, a nurse or a fireman, they realize they can be whatever they want. Dan is very emotional about the song and the show that won an Emmy.
Dan loves performing in Washington, the city where Hiroshima's fan base began in the early 80s with two shows at Howard University. Both, to his amazement, were sold out when they arrived and station WHUR gave added publicity by playing their music constantly.
Hiroshima's goal is to be hip and different and to bring joy and sensitivity wherever they go. They never used the phrase "world music" because they preceded world music. Dan and June make Asian-American music that has become part of American culture. June's vision was to incorporate styles by musicians like Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix. Herbie Hancock and even Michael Jackson.
"This has been an amazing journey and we're still the only band of its kind," Dan said.
The Japanese Wedding Culture
Until recently Japan was considered a land of mystery. American movies, unfortunately, did not depict the delicate and intricate workings of the Japanese society. Today, some Japanese couples have western-style ceremonies, just like American couples, but in former years this would have been considered unacceptable. Older pictures show beautiful, slim women in kimonos, their black hair in a bun on top of their head, walking on wooden clogs. The farm women were shown in black, padded pants and tops. Mainly, what the Americans knew about these people they read in books.
In Japan there is an ancient myth that all things, including Japan itself, were created by the marriage of male and female gods, similar to Zeus and Hera. Although, today, many Japanese weddings are conducted in a Western-style, in previous year's marriage was conducted in a strict Shinto ceremony.
Once a boy or girl attain the age of marriage a search for a suitable partner began. Often times marriages were arranged between overlords who wished to strengthen their power. In these cases often the couple had not seen each other until their wedding day.
Sometimes there was a Mi-Ai interview whereby the future groom managed to obtain an invitation to the house of someone he was interested in. At that time he would leave a token, such as a fan to indicate his interest in the woman. If the woman was impressed she was seen using the fan. This was just an indication that they were interested in getting to know each other, not necessarily an invitation to marriage.
The bride always wore an all-white wedding kimono which symbolized a new beginning as it was believed the bride 'died' as a member of her family and was 'reborn' into her husband's family. Her face was painted a creamy white. The bride changed her clothing several times during the wedding; one of the kimonos indicated that she was a young, unmarried woman. This was the last time she could wear this outfit. The groom wore a black kimono with the family crest in white and wore white sandals. He carried a white, folded fan.
The wedding ceremony was strictly, Shinto, in that it honored the natural world spirits. After a purification ceremony, the priest called on the gods to bless the couple. The ceremony ended with the sharing of sake from three flat cups stacked on top of one another. This was usually done according the family's custom; the groom takes three sips from a cup, followed by the bride taking three sips, then passing it to the family for the same routine. The first sip represented three couples (the bride and groom and their parents), the second sip represented human flaws, and the third sip represented deliverance from the human flaws.
The Japanese wedding banquet food was very special, representing happiness, prosperity, many children, and happiness. The food was served in special ways to represent these attributes. For example, clams were served with the shells together representing the couple's solid union; fish was formed in a circle to represent solidarity; etc.
Incorporating Japanese traditions into a traditional wedding ceremony can provide a unique twist while honoring your heritage. Many more traditions exist providing a traditional ceremony with beauty, romance, and culture that will be long remembered by those in attendance after the event is over.
Japanese Koba Beef
People love the different Japanese cuisines that are cooked and served in the traditional style. And especially recipe cooked in Kobe beef are mouth watering and added exotic flavors to the mouth that you have never tasted before.
This is one of the top grade beef that is produced in Japan and it is raised from the finest Waygu cattle which have four breeds and they are known as:
o Japanese Black.
o Japanese Brown.
o Japanese Polled.
o Japanese Shorthorn.
Kobe beef comes from the finest and top most breed the Japanese Black and is fed on water, barley, bran and grass. It is ranked by the Japanese association of beef ranking and is the best Waygu beef that is given so much value due to its uniqueness that it is considered a national Treasure by the Japanese government. The Kobe beef in US is crossbred with the American cattle and is much cheaper than the original Japanese Kobe Beef. The different famous Japanese cuisines are:
o Sukiyaki:
This is a very popular meal that is served in Japan and it is a one pot meal. This dish is made from thin sliced beef that is slowly cooked in Sukiyaki sauce and with vegetables and other spices. This is a grilled dish and has the flavor that will make your mouth water. The best thing about Japanese food is that it is usually cooked at the table where they serve you and you cane easily see the hygienically way it is made. It is cooked while you eat and that is the reason that the flavor is more enhanced.
o Shabu Shabu:
This dish is some what similar to Sukiyaki and is also cooked at the table where you eat.
o Teppanyaki Japanese Barbecue:
This dish is grilled in an iron pan and like all Japanese dishes cooking and eating can be done at the same time. This is also the reason that these Japanese dishes are so tasty.You can even enjoy cooking this dish at home and serve it with vegetables and dip the grilled meat in the different sauces and eat.
o Kobe Steak.
Waygu beef is thinly sliced into steaks that are cooked with different spice sand eaten with very delicious sauces and they are very tender and their cooking time is also very less as they are tender and thin sliced. There meat is very beneficial and helps us to stay healthy and fit.
The Japanese serve thin slices of beef in a variety of dishes. Most of the dishes are cooked boiling or broiling the beef and the beef is adequately marbled so that it can taste good and if it is not marbled with the correct cuts it may shrivel up and not be good to eat. The beef is sliced thinly which is very hard to do outside Japan. The Japanese Beef is famous throughout the world and is known for its quality and the fact that it helps to keep us healthy and resolves many of our health problems. It is also good fro heart patients and increases the immunity in our body to resist diseases.
Japanese Tea Ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony is a unique Japanese cultural tradition, which began in the 15th century. It has evolved and changed over the centuries, and today there are many different styles and schools of tea in Japan. Despite the various styles and schools of tea, they all share the same overall philosophy, which has been shaped by its origins in Zen Buddhism.
The guiding philosophy of the Japanese tea ceremony rests on the principles:
'Wa'- Harmony
'Kei'- Respect
'Sei'- Purity
'Jaku'- Serenity
One of the key historical figures in the Japanese tea ceremony - Sen no Rikyu, is believed to have emphasized these principles in the development of the tea ceremony. Sen no Rikyu is credited with having developed all the steps in the tea ceremony and with turning it into a ritual which he passed down onto his students.
Sen no Rikyu emphasized the spirituality and the simplicity in the art of drinking green tea.
Japanese Tea Ceremony Today
Today the Japanese tea ceremony is still actively studied by students of all ages. There are tea ceremony clubs in high schools, cities and the countryside. Although the Japanese tea ceremony was restricted to only the wealthy in the past, today it is something everyone can take part in.
Apart from people studying the tea ceremony as an interest, they are also held to mark a special event (wedding) or time of the year (New Year). That is why, most Japanese people have
experienced the tea ceremony, most likely by being a guest at one.
The Setting
The Japanese Tea Ceremony usually takes place in a traditional Japanese tatami room. A traditional tea room has a raised alcove at the front of the room, which is simply and elegantly decorated with a hanging scroll and a flower arrangement.
The hanging scroll usually has a simple poem written in Japanese calligraphy, which has been carefully chosen by the host to set the mood and atmosphere of the tea ceremony.
The Tea Ceremony Itself
There are many steps which the host will carry out during the tea ceremony. The most important thing for the host to do for the guests, is to create an atmosphere of tranquility and calm.
Initially the host will greet the waiting guests, by serving them some traditional Japanese sweets.
The host will then bring in the tea and tea utensils to be used in preparing the tea (There are many unique utensils used only in performing the Japanese tea ceremony).
The host will then tell the guests to relax, and enjoy their sweets while the tea is prepared.
During this time there are usually no words spoken, and the guest can observe the host preparing the tea.
Once the matcha green tea has been prepared, it is served to the guest.
The host will ask the guest 'How do you like the tea?', to which the guest replies saying 'It is very delcious'.
After all the guests have enjoyed and finished drinking the tea, the host cleans all the utensils and then invites the guests to hold and look at them. Each utensil including the tea container, the tea scoop and bowl are handmade by skilled craftsmen. At this time, the guest can ask the host questions about each utensil (artist, style etc.).
Finally, the host will take all the utensils and tea out of the tea room and thank the guests for coming, marking the end of the tea ceremony.
Japanese Tattoos
There are many different meanings that are symbolized, at the same time, by Japanese tattoos. Japan has always had a vast and varied history, and a lot of this imagery goes into Japanese tattoos in a very visually stimulating and attractive way, carrying symbolic meaning along with it.
Dating back to some of the oldest points in history, Japanese tattoos carry some of the most ancient styles known. They are known for the strong lines that hold so much impact, historical images from important points in the past, and intricate designs showing Japanese traditions, the complexity and beauty of the designs set them apart.
The art of decorating the body with symbols and images of historical importance has been practiced in Japan for well over 10 000 years. The symbolic meaning of the tattoos is also of great significance in the Japanese tattooing tradition.
In the embryonic days of Japanese tattooing they were done by hand, these hand made needles were called "Tebori".
Some of the most requested and wanted tattoos are of beasts with mythic stature such as phoenixes, dragons and Kirin. The image of the geisha woman is also very popular,as well as the well known Koi fish. Also blossoms and Japanese trees, are another popular request.
The practice of tattooing was banned in 1870, as the Japanese Government was attempting to impress the west, and felt making tattooing illegal was a move in the right direction, at this point. Tattooing remained only as an underground practice supplying tattoos to Japanese and non Japanese alike who loved the look of traditional Japanese tattoos.
Legalizing the practice again in 1945, japan has never really shaken the darker insinuations of criminal groups such as the mafia organized "Yakuza", also tipping into the negative realm, tattoos, were associated with petty felons, and prostitutes who used certain tattoos to draw clients.
Due to the fine detail and intricacy involved with Japanese tattoos they can be expensive and take up a lot of time to get done. For someone into the different aspects and elements of Japanese culture combining different themes can be desirable, such as a blend of cherry blossoms, samurai warriors the classical known Koi fish and Japanese mythological beasts such as the phoenix. Japanese tattoos are a great choice if you want a classy, interesting and timeless tattoo that invokes imagery of tranquility, beauty and strength, and also can symbolize the history and symbolism of a fascinating and charismatic culture.
Sake, A Japanese Tradition
With a little bit of information about sake anyone can find a great bottle to enjoy with friends.
Finding the right sake can be difficult for people who have little knowledge about sake and how it is made. Many people call it rice wine which is only half true, it is made from rice but it is not a wine although it enjoyed in a similar way. Sake can be brewed with many different types of rice, but unlike wine which is defined by its grape varietal, such as chardonnay or merlot, sake is defined by how much the rice is polished. There are over 90 different varieties of rice used in sake that can impart different flavors; but the most important factor continues to be the polish on the rice.
Rice polishing is a process whereby the rice is tossed or milled, often with an abrasive such as flour, sand, or even water, to remove the outer coating of the rice. This coating contains nutrients that are essential to the human diet, but unnecessary and sometimes a downright hindrance to the brewing process.
The percentage of rice that is polished determines the quality, and price, of a bottle of sake. A low quality bottle will have 30% of the rice milled, leaving 70% of the starchy rice center remaining. A top shelf bottle of sake will have at least 50% of the rice polished off and is known as Dai Ginjo grade sake. The percentages listed are the amount of rice remaining before brewing. This number is known in Japanese as Seimaibuai (say-my-boo-eye) and along with Junmai are the two most important words to learn before drinking sake.
Junmai sake is defined as sake with no distilled alcohol added to the brewing process. It has a further requirement of having a Seimaibuai of at least 70%. Distilled alcohol began being added to sake during world war two when there were huge shortages of rice. A little bit of extra alcohol made the small amount of rice go much further. During the war the sake tasted quite differently than at times before or after. This was because of the lack of rice. After the war many brewers continued the practice of tempering the rice with grain spirits, albeit with more rice than was available during the war. The result was more cost effective sake that was almost unnoticeably different from true sake. So if you are looking for more authentic sake; ensure that it has Junmai somewhere on the label.
Once the bottle, or (preferably) bottles; are chosen it is time to invite over some friends for an informal gathering. According to Japanese customs; sake should be enjoyed on an empty stomach in a cream colored room with north facing windows. Then, without wearing any cologne or perfume, the group enters the room with no thoughts of the outside world to begin tasting. It is an interesting custom that focuses the taster's sense on the sake and nothing else; but less formal events are usually a little bit more fun.
Sake should be enjoyed very similarly to wine; with attention going to the texture, thickness and color before smelling the drink. Is the sake clear or cloudy, yellow or white? Smell and taste go hand in hand so to fully taste the beverage it is important to breathe in (if possible) while sipping and then breathe out while swallowing. This gives the fullest aroma and taste sensation and really pulls out otherwise unnoticed flavors. Focus on the good parts of the drink and repeat often.
Netsuke
The beauty of the Japanese collectibles of traditional Netsuke has such a splendid history that it is so very hard to fully decipher between the original dynamics. This is especially true when dealing with the contemporary Netsuke works of art pertaining directly to the Japanese Netsuke formations of today compared to yesterday.
When really contemplated, the tiny 1-inch Japanese works of art is an amazing piece of a figurine and the literal dynamics, all because of the origins within what Netsuke truly means. When defining the Netsuke of the past, it was identified as a uniquely designed Japanese toggle that held the most personal essential goods of the Japanese person. This was especially important due to the fact that within the time period of over 300 years ago, there where no pockets within the traditional Japanese Kimonos.
This was a cultural dilemma that eventually leads to a various types of tie around pouches that eventually practiced the dual meanings of extensive expressions. What first was a rough oriented small pouch crude closure soon became a artistically expressive functional formation. Netsuke was known yesterday as a toggle and closure necessity, but now Netsuke is known for the artfulness and beauty instead of the specific necessity.
The exquisiteness of Japanese toggles lies within the decorative world of expression that is a direct part of today's creativeness within the independence of Japanese netsuke creations of art. There is no doubt that Japanese Netsuke falls within the category of extremely exhilarating art that is due to the cause of the current needs for the most expressive and artistically knowledgeable.
These most exquisite expressions of art are made within only a handful of categories when it comes to Netsuke. There are the animalistic formations, the fantasy formations and the story telling formations that are so truly ready to be the perfect expressiveness of netsuke. There is now no secret that netsuke is one of the most collective works of art that is readily available to date collective wise, and it is beyond the most common artworks and must be a part of what traditional netsuke looks like.
No matter the terms or situations that is based upon the origins of Netsuke, it is within the many Netsuke findings that these extravagant pieces of artwork are now readily available to us now. With Netsuke actually being such a beautifully and artistically such a beautiful and creative way of expressiveness of freedom, there should be no artistic that are directly a part of the pieces due to the real true prospect of art.
Ten Great Japanese Films
Japanese film grew out of a fine tradition of theater and stage acting, unlike any seen elsewhere in the world. The style and proficiency of the Japanese tradition translated to a grandiosity and beauty unlike anything the world would see from another culture. The aesthetic mastery of film space by auteurs the likes of Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, or Ozu and the ability to turn animation even into masterpiece have made Japanese film one of the greatest national entries into the pantheon of world cinema. The list below is not the ten most intriguing, or ten most interesting, or ten most popular Japanese films ever made, but the ten Japanese films that I believe represent the most important aspects of the cultures contributions to film.
Chushingura - The 47 Ronin is a classic Japanese tale, originally Kabuki that found its way into a slew of film adaptations in the 20th century. While not the first, nor necessarily the best, this version captures the tale the most fully and displays the action on a grander scale than any of its predecessors. Hiroshi Inagaki directed and starring Toshiro Mifune, the star of Japanese cinema at the time, it told the tale as well as any other film of the times.
Grave of the Fireflies - One of the saddest movies ever made, directed by Isao Takahata, one of Miyazaki's few peers, also a director for Studio Ghibli. It tells the tragic tale of a young boy and his younger sister trying to survive during World War II Japan. The sheer force of this film, actually enhanced by its animation, has brought the toughest of friends to tears. Brutally touching.
Hana-bi - Beat Takeshi is a highly regarded modern Japanese director who has managed to show up just about everywhere as a director, an actor, an author, a television host. His name is so common that he changed it to be more dynamic, but the cultural aspects of his importance aside, he's one hell of a good director, and probably helped form the modern definition of the Japanese crime drama/thriller genre. His work in Hana-bi displays this best.
Crazed Fruit - Nakahira Ko's classic is one of the enduring film works of the fifties, culturally. It captured the post war flaming youth genre wonderfully while showing the world what Japan was doing as it rediscovered itself. It catapulted a new genre forward and today is still considered one of the greatest modern productions from Japan (non-historical).
Early Summer - Yasujiro Ozu's works spanned an epic career of development in both thought and vision, but this is considered by many his greatest, as the self destruction of a Japanese family, one of his most common themes.
The Life of Oharu - The classic Japanese novel of a court lady devolved to a common whore, Kenji
Mizoguchi's grandiose affair is a beautifully shot, wonderfully scored masterpiece that outlines the greatest of the many Japanese specific flairs for the aesthetic in film.
Tokyo Olympiad - The only documentary on the list, Tokyo Olympiad is the product of Kon Ichikawa's reconstruction of documentary footage from the 1964 Olympics, the first ever held in Asia, then in Tokyo. His tale focuses on the human, the spectators and the preparations rather than the superhuman feats of the athletes, showing the entire process, not merely the adrenal pumping climax. One of the greatest sports films ever made.
Ikiru - While Seven Samurai is his most favorite, many will agree that Ikiru is his greatest film. Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru tells the tale of a Japanese business man with little time to live and a life he wants to take the time to live. It's Kurosawas sharp indictment of beaurocratic living and the necessity to find a purpose in life, not to waste it.
Spirited Away - Hayo Miyazaki is considered by most to be Japan's most prolific living film director. And he creates animation. Such as it is that his work speaks to the import of animation in the Japanese cultural consciousness. His work is some of the best animation in the world, beautiful fairy tales told of various cultures and tales, and this is the best of them all. Spirited Away is a film any child or adult should see in their life time.
Seven Samurai - Akira Kurosawa's Samurai epic founded and set the pace for the modern samurai film, and the spaghetti western, and a half dozen other films and genres the world over. Of every film on this list, this is the one you're most likely to have seen and enjoyed. It opened the West to the films of the East and made Kurosawa a name to be remembered. Kurosawa's scope and film mastery as seen in Seven Samurai make this one of the greatest films ever made, anywhere. The classic tale as he wrote it of seven ronin (unemployed samurai) going to the rescue of a small village being pillaged by bandits is as classic as its stars and director.
Japanese Cuisine- Teppanyaki
Japanese food may be a bit of a mystery for many people and there are many who may think it consists only of raw fish, something they would never want to eat. Well, the good news is that there are many different forms of Japanese cuisine and most of them involve cooking.
In fact, unless you live in a area that has access to really fresh fish, the Japanese restaurants in your town will have a hard time presenting top-quality sushi and sashimi, the most common forms of raw Japanese cuisine. This is because sushi and sashimi are dependent on having both high-quality fish and extremely fresh fish. A real sushi or sashimi aficionado would turn up his nose at a dish that wasn't prepared with only the freshest of fish.
But that's okay because there are many other forms of Japanese cuisine that depend on the talent of the chef and the skillful preparation of ingredients that include beef, fish, shellfish, shrimp and vegetables. These ingredients are used in a variety of cuisine styles including tempura, sukiyayi, teppanyaki, hot pots, shabu and more.
Probably one of the more popular styles for western audiences is teppanyaki since it involves grilling and beef, vegetables and seafood are used the most. This type of cooking is what you will find at the popular chain Benihana's, for example, although at these restaurants you will also be treated to a show by the chef as he prepares the dishes.
That's because teppanyaki is prepared at large tables that are basically flat metal grills with seating around them in some sort of arrangement. Customers are literally sitting right in front of the chef and watching as he prepares the dishes. This provides diners with a show as well as a meal as it can be very entertaining seeing how the chefs actually cook. This aspect of teppanyaki is also undoubtedly one of the reasons why it is a popular form of Japanese cuisine.
Be advised, however, that not all Japanese restaurants have teppanyaki tables. Smaller establishments may not because these tables are both quite expensive and rather large so they need a lot of room. Smaller Japanese restaurants will most likely have to cook teppanyaki dishes in their kitchen. This doesn't mean the food won't taste as good; it just won't be as entertaining an experience.
Generally, you'll pick which items you want grilled from the menu and maybe even what type of preparation you want as well since different sauces are sometimes used. Depending on the restaurant, you may see pork or chicken on the menu as well as the standards - beef, seafood and vegetables. Some upper-tier restaurants may also have some of the more exotic varieties of Japanese beef such as kobe or wagyu. These are premium forms of beef and are very rich, tender and flavorful as well as being quite a bit more expensive than even the best forms of American or Australian beef. If you're a fan of great beef, however, you owe it to yourself to try them as the taste experience is well worth it. Just don't eat too much, though, as they are quite rich due to the extensive fat marbling.
This is but a brief look at teppanyaki, one of the more popular forms of Japanese cuisine and one that almost every Japanese restaurant will have in some form. It's also a great example of Japanese food that is cooked and not raw, so anyone should be happy with ordering it.