Performance of “Japanese Traditional Music and Improvisation” held at the Lok Virsa

 
In continuation of the celebratory events to mark the 65^th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan, The Embassy of Japan in collaboration with Lok Virsa organized a lively performance of “Koto & Shamisen”, which is traditional Japanese instrumental music, here at the Zarsanga Auditorium of Lok Virsa which was performed by a visiting Japanese artiste Ms. SUMIE KANEKO. The music performance was titled “Japanese Traditional Music and Improvisation” where Sumie Kaneko joined Pakistani musicians to create improvisation that drew a big applause from the audience.
Ms. SUMIE KANEKO is an internationally recognized Japanese Koto & Shamisen player as well as Jazz singer and songwriter. She has been recognized as a pioneer by her chromatic use of the Japanese instruments Koto and Shamisen. Ms. KANEKO has been collaborating with many of the world’s instrumentalists and has arrived in Pakistan for the third time to collaborate with some Pakistani musicians.
Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, which is similar to the Pakistani Santoor or Swarmandal. The Shamisen is a three stringed instrument similar to a Banjo.
 Ms. SUMIE KANEKO studied Japanese traditional music at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music then studied Jazz vocal at Berklee College of Music in 2006. She started playing Koto when she was five years old. She was the first Shamisen player that won Pulitzer Prize Paula Vogel’s “The Long Christmas Ride Home”, and has collaborated with many of world instrumentalists such as Kenny Endo, Kaoru Watanabe etc.  
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