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World Routes

Image for Minyo singers and Taiko drumming

Play now 60 mins

Minyo singers and Taiko drumming

Duration:
1 hour
First broadcast:
Saturday 23 September 2006

Paul Fisher presents the first of two programmes recorded on location in Japan.

This week he’s in Tokyo where he meets some of the country’s top folk musicians, including the Minyo singers Shigeri Kitsu and Takio Ito. Plus he records Cicala Muta’s take on Klezmer, meets the most famous exponent of the ubiquitous Taiko drum, and hires a Karaoke booth.

Music and featured items

21 items
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Downtown Tokyo.

    Paul Fisher introduces the programme from hectic downtown Tokyo.

  • Paul in the Victor studios.

    Paul in the Victor studios with Japanese roots musicians Shigeri Kitsu & Katsuaki Sawada.

  • Music Played

    • 00:02

      Shigeri Kitsu & Katsuaki Sawada Traditional tune

      Tsuru To Kame , Victor , VZCG-248

    • 00:04

      Shigeri Kitsu & Katsuaki Sawada Akita Nikata Bushi

      Ai No Kaze , Victor , VZCG-311

    • 00:09

      Shigeri Kitsu & Katsuaki Sawada Tsuke Haiya

      Tsuru To Kame , Victor , VZCG-248

  • Chindon group.

    Paul meets one of the best Chindon (Japanese original street music) groups in Japan.

  • Music Played

  • Traditional Taiko drums.

    Paul discovers traditional Taiko drums in a game centre and meets Eitetsu Hayashi.

  • Music Played

    • 00:23

      Hayashi Eitetsu and others Shi-bu-ki

      Haru, King Records , KICP 577

  • Ondekoza drummers group.

    We hear Ondekoza, the original Japanese ‘demon drummers’ group on Taiko drums.

  • Music Played

    • 00:28
      Image for Ondekoza

      Ondekoza Yumigahama

      Fujiyama , Victor VICG-60010

    • 00:33

      Hayashi Eitetsu and others Shumichi Nagahama Bush

      Haru , King Records KICP 577

  • A Shinto shrine.

    Paul Fisher in a Shinto shrine right in the heart of Tokyo.

  • Takio Ito.

    Paul with Takio Ito who modernises Minyo music.

  • Music Played

  • Koto Vortex.

    Paul meets a member of Koto Vortex, an innovative modern Koto ensemble.

  • Music Played

    • 00:52
      Image for Koto Vortex

      Koto Vortex White Man Sleeps

      Composer: Kevin Volans

      Arcadia , Paradise Records KVOR-002

  • Musician Takashi Hirayasu.

    Paul meets traditional Okinawa musician Takashi Hirayasu.

  • Music Played

    • 00:56

      Takashi Hirayasu and Gen Nagahara Udui Shisa

      , BBC Recording

  • Mount Fuji

    Mount Fuji

    Mount Fuji with the suburbs of Tokyo in the foreground.

  • Cicala Muta

    Cicala Muta

    Paul Fisher with Cicala Muta during World Routes recording Session.

  • Taiko Drum

    Taiko Drum

    Taiko Drum game in Tokyo.

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