Gagakutan 16: Tochigi Performance Report (1)

2025.01.30

TOP BLOG Gagakutan 16: Tochigi Performance Report (1)

January 12, 2025 - Tochigi Performance @ Nasunogahara Harmony Hall

A winter evening.
The crisp, clear air heightened the sense of anticipation and curiosity for an experience unknown.

At 5 p.m. on January 12, 2025, a concert by composer Taro Ishida was held at Nasunogahara Harmony Hall in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture.

◆About Taro Ishida

Born in Boston, Taro Ishida spent his childhood in San Francisco. He began studying music at the age of 22 and was admitted to Tokyo University of the Arts a year later. After graduating from the university's graduate program, Ishida ventured into composing Gagaku music in 2014. His original piece, Kotsuka (Bone Song), was highly praised by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Overcoming a severe mental illness, he relocated to Nasu, Tochigi. Though he once contemplated giving up music, he redefined his philosophy and began anew. In 2022, Ishida collaborated with famous composers such as Atticus Ross on the soundtrack of "SHOGUN". It has received worldwide recognition and multiple prestigious awards. Today, they continue to fuse gagaku, contemporary music, and Western music, and are highly acclaimed both domestically and internationally.

◆The Concert's Theme

This evening's performance explored the essence of Gagaku, merging it with Western instruments to create a new musical universe. It also served as a reflection of Ishida’s journey of personal rebirth.

Opening Remarks

The concert began quietly.

Taro Ishida shared his story:
"About six years ago, I was living in Tokyo and struggling with mental illness. I moved to Nasu, inspired by its nature and the kindness of the people, and gradually healed. I thought about giving up music but decided to start over.

I revisited Gagaku, which I had first encountered a decade ago. I began sharing my work on Instagram with the hashtag #gagaku. Miraculously, three months later, I received an offer to join the team for SHOGUN. My music was well-received globally, but I wanted to start performing in front of the local community that supported me. That's why I organized tonight’s concert."

The warm applause from the audience mirrored the embrace of the Nasu forests.

◆Performance Highlights

Tabi (Journey) - Piano Solo
This piece was initially composed as part of a planetarium soundtrack. It later evolved into a tribute to a local child and father who tragically passed away in an accident. Ishida reflected, "Though I never knew the boy, I feel as if he's asking me to play this for him every morning."
Cado - Piano Solo
Created for the brand movie of Cado, a company known for its air purifiers, this piece captures the duality of sleek, urban design and the tranquility of nature. Ishida incorporated natural sounds recorded from his studio window, blending them with minimalist piano melodies.

Ishida emphasized:
"What matters is not the sound itself but the emotions it evokes and the subtle moments between the notes. This philosophy is also integral to Gagaku."

Banshikichono Choshi - Gagaku × Classical Ensemble
. Kotsuka (Bone Song) - Gagaku × Strings

The performance of Banshikichono Choshi showcased a seamless integration of classical and Gagaku instruments, with the traditional sho creating an ethereal, timeless backdrop.

Kotsuka marked Ishida’s debut in Gagaku composition, originally written for an exhibition at Tokyo University of the Arts. Though he initially struggled, encouragement from Ryuichi Sakamoto drove him to continue exploring this ancient art form.

Sakamoto’s words:
"This is excellent. You should continue with Gagaku."

Kahoru Nakamura, the same ｇaku biwa player as she was back then, puts down her plectrum with a calm and quiet demeanor.

Amidst the disturbing fluctuations of the strings, the sound of the raku biwa brings down a string from the endless sky, causing the heavenly water to fall irregularly along the string. The sound of the shō spreads ripples of light. The piano reflects the memory of my own life in fragments. The Buddha staring at me naked. Always, forever, until the end.

At the time of the performance, I was also inside the Kotsuka (Bone Song)'

The concert concluded with Ishida’s new composition, Ryo-o Ranjo (to be covered in the next report).

For those who missed this performance, we highly encourage you to experience Taro Ishida's unique fusion of Gagaku and strings at his Tokyo concert.

Please join us at the Tokyo performance (https://drftr.co.jp/20242025concert/)

We hope you enjoy Taro's music, ``Gagaku x Strings.''