New York’s music scene reflects the diverse and vibrant culture of the city. Yoko Reikano Kimura, started this concert series in the fall of 2015. As a Japanese instrumentalist, Kimura hopes to introduce the brilliance of traditional Japanese music, which is still being passed on from generation to generation after many centuries. Japanese music aesthetics uniquely balance the outer natural world with the inner spiritual world, bringing forth a music of special depth and beauty. The acoustic instruments, made of organic materials, lend themselves perfectly to the intimate setting at the White Room, CRS. Kimura has performed over 50 classical pieces since the beginning of the series. Starting from the 2018-2019 season, contemporary pieces are occasionally included in the programs. Many elements of traditional Japanese music – microtonal pitch nuance, rhythmic elasticity, and subtle ornamentation, for example – lie naturally within the soundscape of contemporary composition, and indeed the musical instruments of Japan have gradually become a part of our globalized musical world. At each concert, beautiful Japanese confectionaries prepared by mochi Rin has been served to the audience members. (*Confectionaries are not being served at live in-person concerts during the pandemic.) This concert series is co-presented by Yoko Reikano Kimura and CRS (Center for Remembering and Sharing), and supported by Hogaku Journal and Mar Creation, Inc.
Vol. 24 – Next concert – Summer
In-person concert: Sunday, August 28, 2022
- Shiki no Tomo (by Hisamura-kengyō)
- Chidori no Kyoko (by Yoshizawa-kengyō)
- Piece for sangen based on the theme of Chidori (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Special guest: Elizabeth Brown (shakuhachi)
Ticket reservation: here
Vol. 23 – Spring
In-person concert: Sunday, April 17, 2022
- Haru no Uta (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Yuya (by Yamada-kengyō)
- Special guest: Ralph Samuelson (shakuhachi)
Fujiko Aoki (mochi Rin)
Ralph Samuelson
Yoko Reikano Kimura
Vol. 22 – Winter
In-person concert: Sunday, February 13, 2022
Online streaming: Sunday, February 27, 2022 – March 3
- Hachidan no Shirabe (by Yatsuhashi-kengyō)
- Suma no Arashi – Storm in Suma- (by Manwa Yamto)
- Shinsenchō for solo sangen (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Special guest, Kaoru Watanabe (fue, taiko)
Vol. 21 – Autumn
In-person concert: Sunday, November 21, 2021
Online streaming: Sunday, Nov 28, 2021- Dec 2
- Nasuno – Fire Fox – (by Yamada-kengyō)
- Meikyō (by Seihō Kineya)
- Koto-Uta (by Toshio Hosokawa)
- Special guest, James Nyoraku Schlefer (shakuhachi)
Vol. 20 – Summer
20th Anniversary Concert
Online streaming: Saturday, August 28, 2021 – August 31
- Ishiyama Genji – Jō – (by Chiyoda-kengyō)
- Kaze no Satouta – Singing in the Wind – (by Jirō Censhu)
- Special guest, Dr. Melissa McCormick (Professor of Japanese Art and Culture, Harvard University),
Keiko Tokunaga (Vn)
Yoko Reikano Kimura
Vol. 19 – Winter
Online streaming: Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – Jan 31
- Shunkyō (by Seihō Kineya)
- Shōjō no Tsuru – Crane on the Pine Tree – (by Manwa Yamato)
- Mutsura-boshi – Pleiades – (by Katsutoshi Nagasawa)
- Special guest, Hikaru Tamaki (cello)
Vol. 18 – Summer
Online streaming: Saturday, August 29, 2020 –
- Shoka no Inshou – Two Impressions of Early Summer – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Yugao – Evening Glory – (by Kikuoka-kengyō)
- Namima no Kirameki – Reflection of the Wave – (by Hiroki Tamaki)
- Special guest, Hikaru Tamaki (cello)
Vol. 17 – Winter
Saturday, January 25, 2020
- Rokudan no Shirabe (by Yatsuhashi-kengyō)
- Kyorai for solo Kangen (by Seihō Kineya)
- Ne no Hi no Asobi (by Taiga YamakiII)
Vol. 16 – Autumn
Saturday, November 23, 2019
- Yachiyo-jishi (by Fujinaga-kengyō)
- Matsukaze – The Wind Through Pine Trees – (by Shōsei Nakanoshima)
- Zangiku – Withering Chrysanthemum – (by Marty Regan)
Vol. 15 – Summer
Saturday, August 10, 2019
- Kagerou no Odori – Mirage Dance – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Uya no Tsuki – Moon in the Rainy Night – (by Shōsei Nakanoshima)
Vol.14 – Spring
Sunday, April 28, 2019
- Murasaki-shikibu – Lady Murasaki – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Kumiuta Akashi (by Kitajima-kengyō)
- Murasaki no Fu for solo sangen (by Minoru Miki)
Vol. 13 – Autumn
Sunday, November 4, 2018
- Kumiuta: Shiki no Kyoku – Songs of Four Seasons – (by Yatsuhashi kengyō)
- Yuku Aki – Autumn Passing – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Usu no Koe (by Yamase Shōin)
- Zangiku – Withering Chrysanthemum – (by Marty Regan)
Vol. 12 – Summer
Sunday, August 12, 2018
- Chidori no Kyoku – Song of Plovers – (by Yoshizawa kengyō)
- Shin Sarashi (by Fukakusa kengyō / Arranged by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Mittsu no Danshō – Three Fragments – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
Vol. 11 – Spring
Sunday, April 1, 2018
- Sekiheki no Fu – Battle of Red Cliff – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Mittsu no Danshō – Three Fragments – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima
- Kumiuta: Akashi (by Kitajima-kengyō)
Vol. 10 – Winter
10th Anniversary Concert
Friday, January 19, 2018
- Kokin-shou for solo jiuta sangen (by Seihō Kineya)
- Rokudan no Shirabe (by Yatsuhashi-kengyō)
- Chanoyu Ondo – The Load of Tea Ceremony – (by Kikuoka-kengyō)
- Spring Sea (by Michio Miyagi)
- Special guest, Souheki Mori (Tea master)
Vol. 9 – Autumn
Sunday, November 5, 2017
- Aki no Nanakusa – The Seven Autumn Flowers – (by Showa Yamato)
- Banshiki-cho for solo sangen (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Nasuno – Fire Fox – (by Yamada-kengyō)
Vol. 8 – Summer
Saturday, August 5, 2017
- Hototogisu – Little Cuckoo – (by Yamada-kengyō)
- Sarashi (by Fukakusa-kengyō)
- Omoide – Nostalgia – (by Kimio Etō)
Vol. 7 – Spring
Saturday, April 22, 2017
- Haru no Uta – Song of Spring – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Enoshima no Kyoku – Song of Enoshima – (by Yamada-kengyō)
- Miyako no Haru – Spring in Kyoto – (by Yamase Shōin)
- Special guest, James Nyoraku Schlefer (shakuhachi)
Vol. 6 – Winter
Saturday, January 28, 2017
- Midare Rinzetsu (by Yatsuhashi-kengyō)
- Ōmi-Hakkei – Eight Landscapes in Ōmi – (by Manwa Yamato)
- Yachiyo-Jishi (by Fujieda-kengyō)
Ralph Samuelson
Vol. 5 – Autumn
Saturday, November 12, 2016
- Aki Shizuka – Tranquility of Autumn – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Saga no Aki – Autumn in Saga – (by Kikusue-kōtō)
- Tsuki no En – Ode to Moon – (by Seihō Kineya)
- Special guest, Ralph Samuelson (shakuhachi)
Vol. 4 – Summer
Sunday, July 17, 2016
- Chidori no Kyoku – Song of Plovers – (by Yoshizawa kengyō)
- Natsu no Nagame – Ode toSummer – (by Yamaki kengyō II)
- Chōryō – Tide – (by Seiju Suzuki)
Vol. 3 – Spring
Saturday, April 23, 2016
- Miyako no Haru – Spring time in Kyoto – (by Shōin Yamase Ⅲ)
- Kagerou no Odori – Mirage Dance – (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Sakura-gari – Cherry Blossom Viewing – (by Yamada-kengyō)
Vol. 2 – Winter
Saturday, February 13, 2016
- Rokudan no shirabe (by Yatsuhashi-kengyō)
- Hana no Kumo (by Shōin Yamase I)
- Kyorai (by Seihō Kineya)
Vol. 1 – Autumn
Saturday, November 28, 2015
- Hachidan no Shirabe (by Yatsuhashi-kengyō)
- Banshiki-cho for solo sangen (by Kin’ichi Nakanoshima)
- Kumiuta: Akashi (by Kitajima-kengyō)
