ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Japan hosted a performance by Sumie Kaneko at the National Art Gallery auditorium.

Sumie is a trailblazer in musical innovation as she blends traditional Japanese music with the improvisation of Jazz.

Muhammad Naeem, director of the Pakistan National Council of Arts, said, “The PNCA and the Embassy of Japan have been collaborating on numerous events to showcase Japanese culture for the citizens of Islamabad. This event is special because Sumie will be performing with Pakistani musicians and improvising with our instrumentalists who have often performed at the PNCA.”

Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata introduced Sumie as a pioneer because of her unique chromatic use of the Japanese instruments, Koto and Shamisen. He said, “Her music ranges from the simplicity of the traditional to the melodic and challenging contemporary pieces. She has been collaborating with many of the world’s leading instrumentalists such as Kenny Endo and Kaoru Watanabe, and while here, is doing the same with some Pakistani musicians.”

Sumie said, “I am delighted and honoured to be here presenting the music of my origin and collaborating with Pakistani artists. I will present both modern pieces and traditional ones to you.”

Sumie began with an exquisite piece on the Shamisen and then moved on to a selection on the Koto which she sang with.

She explained that while the Shamisen was an instrument accessible to all classes over the ages, the Koto was traditionally an upper class instrument and during the Edo period mastering it was an important accomplishment for women.

She then played the Heron Maiden song on the Shamisen, a piece which is a particularly evocative accompaniment to a Kabuki performance.

Aamir Hussain on the sitar, Iftikhar Ali on the santoor and Ijaz Hussain on the tabla complemented Sumie’s playing on the Koto and the Shamisen.

The koto is very similar to the Santoor or Swarmandal and while it is the national instrument of Japan, it gained international attention in 2010 when hard rock band Tool linked a video of the Koto on its website which went viral.

The Shamisen, also a stringed instrument, is similar to the banjo and traces its lineage to the Chinese Sanshin.

Ambassador Inomata added, “Japanese culture and traditions are deeply rooted in the day to day lives of the Japanese people. One of the most distinctive features of the Japanese culture is the way all the artistic elements from different local regions co-exist in peace and harmony and that strongly influences the traditional music.”

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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