We joined an “Autumn stage performance.” This stage was held in “Za Koenji” where the theater in Koenji is located and 24 teams performed. Sui-ren’s stage started around 7:30 p.m. Usually it takes time to make a good sound when I start to play, so I reserved a studio for practice before the performnce and it worked. We had enough time, anyway. This helped my tension go away, too.

The music I played was the same as I did this summer stage, “Zomeki” “Zomeki-slow version” “Yoshino-gawa” and “Kohiki-uta.” They are all traditional Japanese songs. The most difficult part for me is “Zomeki-slow version” because it was a solo part for me. I closed my eyes for a short period before I started playing this song and it worked to release some tension. I enjoyed the stage and I feel this is a kind of improvement on my part.

Gota-fes is non traditional dance festival, held every summer in Gotanda, Tokyo.
Sui-ren were invited by organizer to join this festival. It was the first time for the Awa-dance team to join it. It's only a 30-minute performance but I enjoyed a lot!

We gave Awa-dance lessons to visitors.
It was a very hot day but still many people joined it!

Awa-dance season has just started!
I joined Awa-dance festival in Kagurazaka.
It’s sweltering out all the time, but today's weather was cooler. It was a perfect day for the dancers. They all looked so happy!

The Awa-dance is from the Tokushima region on the island of Shikoku, but there are so many Awa-dance festivals all around the country these days. This is one of the famous festivals.

I enjoyed this summer night a lot!
It’s said that the Awa-dance is more fun for the dancers than the audience!
Would you like to try it?

One of my purposes to visit Tokushima is to buy new Japanese flute, “Shino-bue” especially made by Mr. Ranjo who is a famous artisan. It is difficult to buy his flute even in Tokyo. So I visited the long-established instrument shop “Okachu” in Tokushima.

Shino-bue, Japanese Flutes
Shino-bue is one of the most traditional types of flute in Japan. It is typically
made of bamboo, a common indigenous material found in many areas in the country. Shino-bue is remarkable for its very simple structure. It comes in many different colors like red, brown, and black but the most usual one is actually the most natural as well, and that is the tan-colored Shino-bue. It is the color of bamboo when it dries. Some shino-bue has 6 holes, while others may have 7 or more (not including the mouthpiece). By covering some of the holes and by keeping some open, you can make many lovely notes.


Visiting Okachu
I was impatient to go Okachu, because I wanted to get new Shino-bue as soon as possible. But it was closed the first day… So I visited there next day again!
Hardest thing to me was to check the tone of Shino-bue there. I have to play it in front of many people… It was really embarrassing! After I checked the tone, I finally got two Shino-bue there.

I went to Karaoke box to use new Shino-bue the next day I came back to Tokyo because I couldn’t wait until next practice! They are fantastic! I can make higher tone easily compared to the old one. Now I enjoy playing them. The travel to Tokushima is unforgettable for me because I finally got great one there.

We visited Tokushima prefecture to see “Spring Flower Festival (Hana Haru Festa).”
For most members, it was their first time to visit Tokushima where the Awa-dance came from.

Our flight was 7:00 a.m at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. It took only an hour and 15 minutes, so we arrived at Tokushima in Shikoku-island before 8:30.

We visited the park where the festival is held and watched many great performances. The first team was Tonosama-ren. The movements of male and female dancers have dynamic patterns with different sequences. It was worth to watch. The music was also extremely beautiful.

We also watched some stage performances that were held in Awa-bank hall. The team we longed to watch was Yukyu-ren. Their music is quite unique since it sounds a bit modern especially their sharp sounds. They use the short Japanese flute which is called “Happon” which makes higher sounds. Some team members really love this team, so it was lucky to see their live performance!