Last Saturday, I went to the Japanese music performance.

 Last Saturday, I went to the Japanese music performance to celebrate the coming spring. Unlike playing on a stage in a hall, it was performed in a Japanese style room where natural garden scenery was used as the background for the landscaping. As a matter of fact, located inside the coffee shop. We could enjoy the performance right in front of us with a cup of coffee.

 More than 10 performers played Koto, Shamisen and Shakuhachi, in ensembles or solo performance. Ten programs were performed in 2 hours. Koto performers played in Japanese Kimonos or Western costumes. Finally the performance ended in the famous music “Spring Sea” composed by Miyagi Michio. 

 You can see three Koto instruments beyond the tables.  It may be too small to see well, but the Koto in the right with yellow strings is called the 17-stringed Koto, which has 17 strings (ordinary Koto is 13-stringed). Their strings are thicker and longer than the ordinary ones, then it can make a low tone sound similar to a bass guitar. Incidentally, this 17-stringed Koto was invented by Miyagi Michio mentioned above in 1920's.

(P.S.) Originally, I had planned to post the photo which showed the playing performers, but for some reasons, I ended up posting the photo taken before the performance without anyone in it. It's regretful that I couldn't show you the scene of performance.