Concert For Japan: Music Heard Around The World

Me & Mars performs at Japan Society in 2010. Photo by Naomi Ramirez.

As Japan copes with the devastating aftermath of the earthquake and tsunamis of March 11, voices of solidarity and acts of generosity have helped bring a glimmer of hope to many who have been affected.

In New York, a chorus of deep concern and willingness to help expressed by performers, volunteer organizers and many well-wishers, inspired Japan Society’s CONCERT FOR JAPAN on Saturday, April 9--a 12 hour long series of live performances and special events offering a wide range of music and fun for people of all ages.

John Zorn helped put together two ‘gala’ blocks: at 1:00 pm Philip Glass & Hal Willner, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Zorn perform; and at 6:00 pm Ryuichi Sakamoto performs with special guests followed by M.O.D. Technologies, Bill Laswell, Gigi, Bernie Worrell, Hideo Yamaki and many others.

Though these two blocks of the concert are sold out, people at Japan Society will be able to watch and listen via screens and speakers throughout the building, and everyone around the world can watch live courtesy of Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/japansociety.

In addition to the gala are 10 hours of open concerts, culminating at 8:00 pm with rock, punk and electro music by female-led J-rock bands from the U.S. and Japan, including riff-heavy, post-punk, crowd-rousing, all-Japanese girl band Hard Nips; the punk pop rock of all-girl band The Suzan; the groovy rock of Me & Mars; and the smooth, chilling, electro-rock groove of Echostream, with members from both the U.S. and Japan. Traveling all the way from Japan, SALMÉ unleashes their wild “Ozashiki Revue”—a unique revue-style performance based on geisha entertainment infused with an urban Tokyo vibe.

With the help of guests organizers James Nyoraku Schlefer and Hayden Brereton (Superglorious), other CONCERT FOR JAPAN participating artists, ranging from Japanese traditional to Western classical and contemporary musicians, include: James Schlefer (shakuhachi), Masayo Ishigure and koto/shamisen ensemble “MIYABI” (koto and shamisen),Yumi Kurosawa (koto), Taikoza (taiko), New York Suwa Taiko Association led by Hiro Kurashima, Mutsumi and Masumi Takamizu (koto duo), Sadahiro Kakitani (ryuteki), Mari Kimura (violin), Lisa Bielawa (soprano), Makoto Nakura (marimba), Taka Kigawa (piano), and Cocolo Japanese Gospel Choir. Plus DJ Aki spins in the j-Lounge where people can sip drinks, snack treats and move their feet.

The full schedule performances can be found at http://www.japansociety.org/concertforjapan. A range of activities will be available throughout the day that we will detail in a future post. Admission for the open concert blocks and full day of activities is $5.

All proceeds from CONCERT FOR JAPAN go to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, established by Japan Society on March 12 to support organizations on the frontlines of disaster relief and recovery in Japan. In addition, Japan Society will give half of all ticket and admission sales made March 14-June 30, 2011, from all Society events to the fund. To date, $1,000,000 has gone to four Japanese nonprofits: the Tokyo Volunteer Network for Disaster Relief, JEN, Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities (ETIC), and the Japan NPO Center.

Those wishing to donate to the fund can go to www.japansociety.org/earthquake or mail a check to Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, New York 10017; Attn: Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Checks should be made payable to Japan Society and indicate “Japan Earthquake Relief Fund” on the check. One hundred percent of tax-deductible contributions to the fund go to these organizations.

For additional information, email japanrelief@japansociety.org.

--Anu Tulachan