Today was my youngest daughter’s 御琴 (O-koto) concert.
(O)-koto is a traditional Japanese musical instrument sometimes called, in English, a Japanese harp…although it sounds nothing like a harp—but it has many strings like one.
Here’s a video I took of a group of 御琴 (O-koto) players at the concert…(my videos of my daughter’s performance aren’t online):
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Tokyo Five 
We were watching the local TV station’s news…and the showed my daughter’s group playing the Koto at this concert (we saw my daughter on the screen for a few seconds).
Then they showed the audience, and I was on the screen.
My daughter and I are TV stars now! 😀 (HAHAHA!)
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umepontarou…
Yes, I’m spoiled living in Tokyo…trains and buses always exactly on time, excellent food, excellent service…and, as you said, convenience and high quality!
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Hehehe
yeah, but I’m used to .. 🙂 I miss Japanese convenience and products quality though…
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umepontarou…
So Perth is a small town, huh?
It’s too bad that you don’t live in a big city with a “Little Tokyo“!
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Sir Pent…
Have you ever heard the 「吉田兄弟」 (Yoshida Brothers)?
They play the 「三味線」 (Shamisen).
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>Can you study it in Australia?
No!! Maybe some other city like Sydney or Melbourne, but not in Perth.
>She says it wasn’t so difficult.
Wow your daughter got a talent! 🙂
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I have a bunch of KODO’s songs on my ipod. Their music has been featured in several movies as well. (Which is how I discovered them…1995’s The Hunted, with Christopher Lambert. OK movie with a great soundtrack.)
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>I suggest you check out KODO. They’re a Japanese taiko (sp?) percussion ensemble.
Taiko‘s cool! I don’t know “Kodo“…but I’ve seen Taiko shows a few times. It’s great!
I found Kodo‘s website:
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/index_en.html
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>I love koto! even though I’ve never played it before…
I love the sound.
Yes, Japanese Koto, Shamisen and Taiko all sound nice!
>I wanna learn how to play actually:)
Can you study it in Australia?
>Was it difficult for your daughter to learn how to play koto?
She says it wasn’t so difficult. She’s quite good.
She also plays the piano.
I wish I could play an instrument!
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I suggest you check out KODO. They’re a Japanese taiko (sp?) percussion ensemble. They also include some other Japanese instruments. Pretty famous in Japan (I hear) and tour the world regularly.
They were in Chicago a few years ago, but one day only and I already had another commitment. I was bummed.
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I love koto! even though I’ve never played it before…
I love the sound.
I actually wanted to join Koto club when I was in high school, but I didn’t :p I joined normal music club instead.
I wanna learn how to play actually:)
Was it difficult for your daughter to learn how to play koto?
Was it difficult for your daughor
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>I thought you were talking about the group KODO.
Never heard of them.
>It’s cool that you’re daughter plays an instrument.
My daughters play Koto, piano, trumpet and trombone.
As for me…I couldn’t carry a tune in a basket (I’m ほうこうおうんち (“tone-deaf”)!)
> I hope my son wants to play something someday.
When’s he’s older, I bet he will.
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I thought you were talking about the group KODO.
(Percussion group.) I really dig those guys…but I’m a drummer.
It’s cool that you’re daughter plays an instrument. I hope my son wants to play something someday.
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Eric and bartman905…
Thanks for the kind words. (And you should go to a koto concert, if you have a chance!)
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Yes, I agree with Eric that is nice to see young people showing interest in old traditions and culture … thanks for sharing the video, I hadn’t seen a koto performance before.
PS. Children are a reflections of their parents so you and your wife are to be commended.
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That’s really cool that your daughter plays koto. It’s neat when younger people show an interest in old traditions and culture, something that is becoming rarer as time goes on. My nieces are only interested in cell phones and iPods.
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