Since 1953 the Japan Society's Performing Arts Program has exposed New Yorkers to hundreds of Japanese artists. On Friday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m., the tradition continues as the Japan Society presents Hikashu and Tomoe Shinohara Live in Concert. Formed in 1978, Hikashu, a legend of the Japanese underground "avant-pop" scene, will make its North American debut.
Although the band Hikashu is marking its first appearance here, its dynamic leader, Makigami Koichi, is no stranger to the Japan Society's stage. The self-proclaimed "pseudo-Kabuki vocalist" performed in two John Zorn-curated series: New Voices from Japan in 2006 and Ikue Mori: Celebrating 30 Years of Life, Love and Music in NYC in 2008.
The Japan Society describes Hikashu's sound as "J-techno pop," but the Hikashu Appreciation Society, a faithful fan's blog about the band, takes issue with that term, saying "there is not much so-called 'techno pop' element for the band's performance." However, one can't argue the new wave and electronic pop components blended with J-pop flavors found throughout Hikashu's discography. After all, Koichi plays the theremin, an electronic contraption with antennas and oscillators that create an eerie, psychedelically techno sound.
Hikashu will be joined by Tomoe Shinohara with percussionist Steve Eto. Super-cute and armed with an effervescent charisma, Shinohara transcends classification the way Hikashu transcends genres. She's known to anime fans in the West for singing "Ultra Relax," the title song of Kodomo no Omocha (Kodocha to North American audiences). In Japan, Shinohara, nicknamed "Shinorer" by her Japanese fans, is a multi-faceted singer, actress, producer, TV personality, artist, and fashion designer. Her flamboyant style made her a fashion icon among teenage girls in the late '90s with the release of two singles, "Yaruki Sensation" and "Kurukuru Miracle."
Whatever the labels placed on the artists, the bouncy fun of both Hikashu and Shinohara will make anyone want to get up and dance. Recognizing that the audience shouldn't be confined to stadium seating, the Japan Society is removing the seats, giving the auditorium the feel of a club and the concert attendees the freedom to move.
This concert promises to be a high-energy performance that is visually appealing, but the Japan Society hasn't lost sight of the seriousness of the crisis that Japan as a nation continues to face. As with all of the Japan Society's programs through June 30, 2011, half of the ticket sales from Hikashu and Tomoe Shinohara Live in Concert will go to the Japan Society's Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, which has raised more than $6 million as of this writing.
Hikashu and Tomoe Shinohara Live in Concert
Friday, May 13 - 7:30 p.m.
Japan Society
333 East 47th Street (between First and Second Avenues)
Tickets: $25/$20 Japan Society members
Purchase tickets online or call the Japan Society Box Office at 212.715.1258
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