Sumie Kaneko Concert at Alhamra Arts Council Lahore

                                                                                   
The Embassy of Japan in collaboration with the Lahore Arts Council and Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association, Lahore organized a Japanese Koto and Shamisen concert titled “Japanese Traditional Music & Improvisation” which was presented by a Japanese artist Ms. SUMIE KANEKO at the Lahore Arts Council on Friday 4^th September 2016. Sumie Kaneko joined Pakistani musicians to create fusion 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. She has been collaborating with many of the world’s instrumentalists and has arrived from New York 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.  
Ambassador Takashi Kurai while speaking at the occasion said today’s music show is a great opportunity for the people of Lahore to experience the fascinating diversity of Japanese traditional music and the unique fusion of Japanese and Pakistani compositions. He thanked the Lahore Arts Council and Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association Lahore for actively collaborating with the Embassy of Japan in holding the cultural events in Lahore.  
Ambassador Kurai thanked Ms. Sumie Kaneko for coming to Pakistan and showcasing her talent of playing this unique Japanese music that is evocative of traditional Japan. He also thanked the Pakistani musicians who collaborated with the Japanese musician Ms. Sumie Kaneko.
(END)