Wariki

* Only two complimentary tickets per person will be granted.
The concert will run for 90-120 minutes.
Organizor: The Japan Foundation & Embassy of Japan in Slovenia (http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/ and http://www.si.emb-japan.go.jp/)


Producer: Wariki
Performers: Akira Katogi, Shunsuke Kimura, Etsuro Ono, Kuniko Obina

Wariki creates their performances by bringing together local music and dances from all over Japan. Their repertoire consists of re-created versions of traditional street performances, shishimai (lion dance), kagura (folk music and dance dedicated to the Shinto gods), Buddhist deities, and festive music and dance, as well as their own original works.

Wariki’s stages are born out of the modern sensibilities and unique aesthetics of each performer. In 2001, Wariki started with its original members, Akira Katogi (dance) and Shunsuke Kimura (music). In 2005, Etsuro Ono, a Tsugaru shamisen player, joined as the third member. Using the ancient sounds of taiko (drums), shamisen (lute), fue (flute) and koto (zither), Wariki creates music of “prayer” imbued with contemporary sensibilities and aesthetics.

A guest koto player, Kuniko Obina, will join in this East European tour.

In addition to continuous performances at various venues including regional theatres and elementary and junior-high schools in Japan throughout the year, WARIKI has also been working internationally, for example:

2005　
Performed as one of 18 groups of Japanese traditional performing arts to be specially featured at the World EXPO in Aichi, Japan.

2006
Performed at the British Museum and the Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy.

2008
Performed at the Asia Society in New York and at JACCC in Los Angeles, USA, as part of the Performing Abroad program of the Japan Foundation.