Expressions from Japan: Photo Essay on My Experience at the Toho Gakuen School of Music

           So for this post I wanted to share this photo essay/reflection that I wrote from my trip to Japan back in 2015. For a long time I have been hesitant to show this to anyone, but as of recent I have been getting more into self -reflection on music, meditation, and Japanese culture and practicing writing photo essays, in order to expand my ethnographic vocabulary and so I decided to finally share this with others, as well as an article written about my interview at Taikokan in Asakusa.

Hope you enjoy!

____________________________________________

            In the summer of 2015 I had the privilege to travel to Japan to study Japanese marimba music at Toho Gakuen School of Music of Drama and Music. For most of my trip I lived in my own apartment in Kanamecho, one of the many urban districts near Shinjuku, one of the biggest capital cities in Japan. Everyday from Kanamecho to Sengawa, where Toho Gakuen is located, would be roughly an hour commute.

            In Sengawa I continued learning about the marimba, marimba culture in Japan, and how the marimba became popular in Japan. The marimba is percussion keyboard instrument that consists of wooden bars that produce musical tones when struck by mallets. Keiko Abe, my mentor at Toho Gakuen, had taught me many valuable lessons, as well as share her philosophy towards teaching marimba music and gave me an insight to her pedagogical approach. Her approach to playing the marimba and mastery of the instrument clearly reflects her powerful, yet calming personality. “Before the marimba was a marimba, it came from a tree. From that tree marimba bars are made and so we must remember that each bar has life and its own story. One must understand this and treat each bar with such respect before approaching the marimba.” – by Keiko Abe.

           Most of my study of Japanese marimba music mainly came from direct interactions with Abe in lessons. In the United States when a musician takes lesson that person is usually in a one-on-one environment with their respective mentor. With Abe lessons consist of the performer working with her one-on-one, but with the exception of the rest of marimba studio observing. In this case lessons are looked at as masterclasses. Abe only teaches once a week, so the day she teaches everyone in the marimba studio receives a lesson. Students have an hour time allotted for their lessons, where Abe has her own marimba and is playing alongside her student. In lessons Abe either improvises underneath the music her student is performing and based on the progression of harmonies, or she will create in the moment a counter melody to go against the music. This allows Abe to test her students and observe whether or not that person knows the music he/she is performing, as well as test that student’s ability to adapt to performance situations. The idea of the teacher performing with the student and the rest of the student body being present in lessons provides the student performing a healthy, supportive, and social environment that is free of anxiety, criticism, and ultimately boosts that students performing confidence. The audience – in this case the rest of the marimba studio – is also able to evaluate the performer’s abilities and the lesson becomes an all-inclusive experience where everyone is able to give comments and learn.

            At the end of day when all lessons are finished Abe gives a brief talk about aspects of the marimba, as well as discuss musical concepts to consider when approaching performance. The use of ma (space and time) that is emphasized in Noh Dramas and Gagaku court music is a concept she often comments on to add tension and dramatic effect to ones musical performance. Once Abe’s lecture is finished all of the students gather to escort her out to her car and wish her safe travels until her next visit.

This was my viewpoint from my seat on my ANA AIR NIPPON air-bus flight as we were landing at Narita Airport, near Shinjuku.

         My view from the railway shuttle train that takes arrivals from Narita Airport to Shinjuku.

View from Hotel Sunroute Plaza in the heart of Shinjuku. This was taken during my very first day in Japan. The fast pace flow of human and vehicle traffic, the cleanliness of public transportation, and attitude of citizens are very different in comparison to a place like New York, where I grew up.

This is the entrance sign to Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music, which was taken during my second day in Japan. Some of the world’s most well known marimba virtuosos have traveled from all over the world to come study with Keiko Abe. In many ways Toho is a Mecca for marimba players and to have journeyed here was one of the most surreal moments of my life.

Performing Wind Across Mountains II with Keiko Abe during my lesson in the marimba rehearsal hall at Toho Gakuen. Photo was taken by my dear friend Annick Richardson.

Here is a marimba that was built from Guatemala with a modern frame and bars, but has gourd-like resonators similar to a traditional Guatemalan marimba. Abe houses this in one of the main practice rooms, as she has her freshman students learn and perform Central American folk tune arrangements on this marimba. She believes that this experience is an integral part of learning about the marimbas history lineage.

Photo of my friends from left to right - Araki (on the far left), myself, Eriko, Annick, and Simona in my apartment in Kanamecho. This was taken in celebration of a successful first lesson with Abe. Photo taken by Araki Erika.

Jindai-ji Temple in Chofu, near the Toho Gakuen main campus. On the walk towards campus Abe-sensei brought me here, as she always come and gives prayers before coming to school to teach.

Front gate of the Jindai-ji Temple in Chofu.

Inside of Jindai-ji Temple grounds in Chofu.

At the National Noh Theatre in Shibuya, Japan, waiting to watch a Noh folk legend be performed.

During one of my free days off I decided to travel and I ended visiting Taikokan, one of the most well-known taiko shops/museums in Japan. Located in Asakusa, it is also near the Sensoji Temple and a lively area where many locals and tourists can find plenty to do.

                                        One of the many Odaiko that was housed at Taikokan.

Here is the second floor of Taikokan, which houses their well-known international museum and collection of instruments.

A photograph of myself with Abe-sensei. This was taken during my last day at Toho Gakuen where the students gave me a canvas that they all made and signed.

          My interview with City Life newpaper at Taikokan in Asakusa.