Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Japanese artist Sumie Kaneko enthralled the audience after his performance of spell bound Japanese traditional and instrumental music koto and shamisen at Embassy of Japan.

The Embassy of Japan organized a live performance of Koto and Shamisen at the residence of Ambassador Takashi Kurai on Thursday night.

The dulcet voice of Japanese performer Koto started simmering into every vein of the men, women, boys and girls glued to every nook and corner of the hall echoing with the deceptive ticking of the clock heralding in a new exuberance of flamboyancy and boiling desperation.

“This is a trap towards I am feeling to be driven into unwittingly not under any intent but in a state of ecstasy that is felt but knows no bounds of description, whispered one young man while reeling on the brink of jubilation bursting out from his every sinew” said one among audience.

He said, “Look, how stinging this is, murmured another young lad. This pierces into the soul but does not smear it with injuries. This goes like a soul searching sting, a mix of bitterness of shouldering realities and delight of advancing fragrance of hope and despair. Despair to me is my unbridled wild desires and hope to me is my latent leaping energy to bridle them, he said while stalking to other corner to the row”.

Ambassador Kurai in his welcome address said that cultural events help to build and strengthen people-to-people contact. This show is a great opportunity for the Pakistani people to experience the fascinating diversity of Japanese music. “The Embassy of Japan wishes to further promote the cultural exchange and friendship between Japan and Pakistan by arranging such events in future” Ambassador Kurai said.

After, performance of Kaneko Ambassador Kurai told Daily Times that this was indeed a remarkable performance by the Japanese artist.

He said during current month Pakistani musicians will also perform in Japan.

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. Kaneko has been collaborating with many of the world’s instrumentalists.

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.

While, speaking to Daily Times, Kaneko said that Pakistani audience loving music and given tremendous response and praise.

Sheharbano Paniter, who recently visited Japan, said that exchanges of painters and musicians played significant role in the relations among states. “I along with other Pakistani painters stayed more than two weeks in Tokyo and our paintings exhibition held in Japan in May. In the exhibitions people from different walks of life participated”, she maintained.

Farhat Zaidi, who teaches at Rawalpindi said that music is universal language and Japanese musical instrument which play by artist have also similarities with Pakistani instruments. She said Japanese are peaceful and humble and their music also depict same thing.

Brigadier Retd Tanvir Ahmad Khan said he can speak Japanese and understand music and songs she played and sung. “I enjoyed a lot it was touch of eastern and western music” he said.