At Earth Celebration (EC) 2012 on August 17, the Shiroyama Concert “Opening Night” will kick off the festival with Shogo Yoshii making his debut as artistic director. We asked him about the kind of festival atmosphere he wants to create and share at EC this year.
Islands.
When I use the word “Island,” I’m not necessarily referring to a land mass surrounded by water, but rather the idea of an island, something that has some distance between it and other entities.
This gap arises from both geographic and human factors. Sometimes it can feel like a barrier, but the things cultivated inside this isolated domain have a special individuality, and that fascinates me.
Depending on how you look at it, earth is one island, the five continents are islands, a country is an island, there are politically defined islands, and individuals are all unique islands.
I think the key to EC is to value the unique identity of each of these different “islands,” or in plain words, to praise diversity.
In think on this, the word “Glocal” came to mind. Combining “Global” and “Local,” it is an interesting word that bring the micro and the macro together; I think suits Kodo really well.
For the festival’s “Opening Night,” I want to create a performance where the individualities of each performer come to life and allow each of them to enjoy playing in the most natural way, without pretense.
I feel that Earth Celebration will truly begin when we create a diverse “island” in Shiroyama Park and share it among everyone there.
This year at EC we will welcome our main guest artist, shamisen player Hiromitsu Agatsuma, and as well as singer Anna Sato from the Amami Islands who will appear on stage for “Opening Night.” Also joining us on Sado to lead taiko workshops are Hiroo Asanuma from Hachijo Island and Akio Tsumura and his sons from Miyake Island’s Kamitsuki Mikoshi Taiko. I’m excited just thinking about all these esteemed guests.
I have the great responsibility of taking the reigns for the artistic direction for the first performance at the 25th Earth Celebration. While I am nervous at the thought of this undertaking, I also intend to enjoy this challenge to the fullest.
Shiroyama Concert Kodo “Opening Night” Artistic Director Shogo Yoshii (Kodo)
Shogo Yoshii’s idea notebook. He links keywords that come to mind and his vision takes shape.