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Minyo singers and Taiko drumming

Paul Fisher is in Tokyo where he meets some of the country’s top folk musicians, including the Minyo singers Shigeri Kitsu and Takio Ito and the most famous exponent of the ubiquitous Taiko drum.

Paul Fisher presents the first of two programmes recorded on location in Japan.

This week he’s in Tokyo where he meets some of the country’s top folk musicians, including the Minyo singers Shigeri Kitsu and Takio Ito. Plus he records Cicala Muta’s take on Klezmer, meets the most famous exponent of the ubiquitous Taiko drum, and hires a Karaoke booth.

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1 hour

Clip

Music and featured items

  • Downtown Tokyo.

    Paul Fisher introduces the programme from hectic downtown Tokyo.

    Duration: 02:04

  • Paul in the Victor studios.

    Paul in the Victor studios with Japanese roots musicians Shigeri Kitsu & Katsuaki Sawada.

    Duration: 10:00

  • Music Played

    • Shigeri Kitsu & Katsuaki Sawada

      Traditional tune

      • Tsuru To Kame.
      • Victor.
      • VZCG-248.
    • Shigeri Kitsu & Katsuaki Sawada

      Akita Nikata Bushi

      • Ai No Kaze.
      • Victor.
      • VZCG-311.
    • Shigeri Kitsu & Katsuaki Sawada

      Tsuke Haiya

      • Tsuru To Kame.
      • Victor.
      • VZCG-248.
  • Chindon group.

    Paul meets one of the best Chindon (Japanese original street music) groups in Japan.

    Duration: 10:07

  • Music Played

    • Cicala Mvta

      Takesu

      • ±«Óãtv Recording on Location.
    • Cicala Mvta

      Hava Nagila-Klezmer

      • ±«Óãtv Recording on location.
  • Traditional Taiko drums.

    Paul discovers traditional Taiko drums in a game centre and meets Eitetsu Hayashi.

    Duration: 06:38

  • Music Played

    • Hayashi Eitetsu and others

      Shi-bu-ki

      • Haru.
      • King Records.
      • KICP 577.
  • Ondekoza drummers group.

    We hear Ondekoza, the original Japanese ‘demon drummers’ group on Taiko drums.

    Duration: 07:09

  • Music Played

    • Ondekoza

      Yumigahama

      • Fujiyama.
      • Victor VICG-60010.
    • Hayashi Eitetsu and others

      Shumichi Nagahama Bush

      • Haru.
      • King Records KICP 577.
  • A Shinto shrine.

    Paul Fisher in a Shinto shrine right in the heart of Tokyo.

    Duration: 02:45

  • Takio Ito.

    Paul with Takio Ito who modernises Minyo music.

    Duration: 09:11

  • Music Played

    • TAKiO ITO & TAKiO BAND

      Soran Bushi

      • ±«Óãtv Recording.
    • TAKiO ITO & TAKiO BAND

      Doran Kudoki

      • ±«Óãtv Recording.
  • Koto Vortex.

    Paul meets a member of Koto Vortex, an innovative modern Koto ensemble.

    Duration: 07:24

  • Music Played

    • KOTO VORTEX

      White Man Sleeps

      Composer: Kevin Volans

      • Arcadia.
      • Paradise Records KVOR-002.
  • Musician Takashi Hirayasu.

    Paul meets traditional Okinawa musician Takashi Hirayasu.

    Duration: 03:47

  • Music Played

    • Takashi Hirayasu and Gen Nagahara

      Udui Shisa

      • ±«Óãtv Recording.

Broadcast

  • Sat 23 Sep 2006 15:00

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