In April 2016 I participated as a performer of Sanshin (okinawan three-string instrument) because I became a member of ”Nomura-style Ryukyu classical music preservation association" and there was a memorial concert on Ishigaki island celebrating 55th year of foundation of the association. Main performers were experienced teachers and they could bring his favorite students (apprentices) with them. That is how it happened I went on the stage to play Sanshin and sing.
In the morning all musicians and their students gathered at Naha airport. More than 60 participants were to go to Ishigaki memorial concert. We used JTA (Japan Transocean Air) flight which was very comfortable (Boeing 737). 50 min flight to Ishigaki.
Approaching the runway of Ishigaki island.
Weather on Ishigaki island was as hot and humid as in Naha. My teacher who was brought up on Ishigaki said, however, that the wind smells different here and reminds her of her childhood years.
Before the concert we had a rehearsal.
All of them are very experienced teachers and performers.
Lunch was in "Bento" style, japanese lunchbox.
Huge hall looked very intimidating even without the audience.
To kill some time between the rehearsal and the performance we went around the town. Visited local library which is proud of largest quantity of books among all libraries in Japan. The concert hall had a small exposition of Chouhou Miyara, famous okinawan composer.
Here the photo of Sanshin score composed by Ch. MIyara, "Hashino Uta" (The bridge song)
In front of the city library. (I look surprisingly fat in this shirt!)
While we walked around the town we visited my teacher's relatives house. An old pinscher dog was clever enough not to bite me.
Shopping mall in the center part of the Ishigaki city. "Minsaa" checker ornament on the pavement.
Put on the performance uniform for the first time in my life. All belts were so tight I couldn't catch my breath.
Performance went good. I wasn't the only foreign-looking person on the stage. It was nice to find out that people from another countries are also interested in Ryukyu classical music and their performance was on very high level.
This concert was mentioned in the morning newspaper. I'm sitting in the second row right behind the Koto players in blue kimonos.
