Category Archives: Japan: music, culture, social issues

Nippon, please get on your feet! You got my love and respect!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

My dear readers!

I’m sure you’re informed about what happened in my Japan which I left almost three years ago. But let me describe me the present situation shortly.

The aftermath of a massive 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which happened last Friday March 11th, severed electricity to the Fukushima Dai-ichinuclear complex 170 miles (270 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo, and crippled its cooling system. Then, backup power did not start properly at one of its units. But crisis after crisis continued to develop or be revealed in the nuclear plant…conditions steadily worsened… explosions happened resulting in radiation leaks…people close to the plant had to be evacuated.

Continue reading →

Japanese Snow Monkeys Bathing In An “Onsen”!


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Wintertime…. in New York, and I’m missing my Japanese snow monkeys!!! Did you know that the snow monkeys are the most northerly non-human primate in the world?  When temperatures drop to below freezing and snow covers their habitat, they spend the winter warming up in the volcanic hot springs called onsen in Japanese. If you have a day to spare on your trip to Tokyo, consider visiting the Jigokudani Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑 Jigokudani Yaen Kōen). The park is located in Yamanouchi (a Northern Nagano Prefecture).

Continue reading →

An introduction to one of the oldest music styles in Kabuki: Kato-bushi

Edo Joururi: The Iki of Kato-bushi And The Allure of Sukeroku

Text by Miyama Kojuro

It had been my dream to see Sukeroku from directly in front of the hanamichi. Sukeroku is the name of the main character of Sukeroku Yukari no Edo-zakura, the most popular of the Kabuki Juuhachiban plays that form the repertoire of the Ichikawa Danjuro family. The setting is the Yoshiwara district of Edo, and even last year the play was performed to great acclaim at the name-taking ceremony of Ichikawa Ebizo XI. The roots of Kabuki lie in the Kyoto area, but this play takes place around Edo, and its lively depiction of the character and spirit of the Edokko have made it synonymous with Edo Kabuki as a whole. In order to see Sukeroku from directly in front of the hanamichi, one must be on the actual stage itself. Thus it was that I decided to apprentice myself to a master of Kato-bushi, the style of music which accompanies Sukeroku.

Continue reading →