The Origins of Throat Singing - The Great Singers from Siberia concert in Japan

Makigami Koichi had an idea. He wanted to hold a concert, very special one. And in September this year, his dream gig will take place at last - top performers of throat singing from both Altai and Tuva regions sharing the same stage, for the first time ever in Japan.

He has been into throat singing for almost twenty years. Throat singing is a folk culture in Siberia region and has a lot of styles. It really varies. And among them, his favorites are Kai from Altai Republic, and Khoomei from Tuva Republic.

In early 90s, Makigami happened to see a performance of khoomei in Japan. Immediately he was quite impressed and wanted to do it himself. So naturally he asked the singers for lesson on the spot. Next year he went to Tuva for himself. He wanted to deepen his knowledge of khoomei so badly, and he had to go there. Now he has been commuting his native country and Tuva once or twice a year for last 20 years, and now has a lot of friends there.

Then, in mid 90s, there was another life-changing event for him to happen. He was invited to a music festival in Europe, and met a singer from Siberia. The singer's performance was so great. He was carried away by it. The singer's name was Bolot Bairyshev. His native land is a republic in siberia, called ALTAI. And Altai's throat singing has its own name, KAI. The two became friends and started performing together. In 2008, Bairyshev, Makigami, and (Hikashu's drummer) Sato Masaharu formed the group called АЯ (pronounces "a'ya" - A is the first character, and Я is the last in the Cyrillic alphabet. And the group's name means "everything in between the first and the last.") and recorded an album called Tokyo Taiga, which is now available on John Zorn's Tzadik label.

Besides learning and practising throat-singing, Makigami has been promoting the culture in Japan for years. Inviting performers from Siberia, making records with them, organizing concert tours and workshops. He always strongly recommends that you should be under the guidance of the people from Siberia if you really want to learn throat-singing and that's why he organizes a yearly tour to Tuva. Also, he teaches throat-singing himself for the people who cannot afford the trip to the soils of Siberia for some reasons. Concequently, a whole generation of throat singers now is active in Japan, and many are his disciples.

And he stresses the concerts, which will be held in Tokyo and Osaka, will be once-in-a-lifetime event. His remarks are understandable because such a concert is pretty unlikely to happen again, even in Siberia. All are the great performers, including Mongun-ool Ondar, who just got the first award at the 6th International Khoomei Symposium held in Tuva this spring. Do not miss the opportunity.

АЯ in Altai


Mongun-ool Ondar in 2013.

tour dates

Throat Singers from Altai:
Bolot Bairyshev, Tandalai, with Sato Masaharu and Makigami Koichi
August 31 Ashigariyama-gun, Kanagawa * an afternoon show, starts at 14:30
September 1 Numazu, Shizuoka
September 2 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
September 4 Chino, Nagano


"The Origins of Throat Singing" concert
Bolot Bairyshev, Tandalai, Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
September 8 Suita, Osaka * admission free, invitation only. apply by mail. applications must arrive by August 16.
September 10 Koenji, Tokyo

Throat Singers from Tuva:
Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
September 12 Maebashi, Gunma
September 13,14 Niigata　* an overnight event
September 15 Kofu, Yamanashi
September 16 Roppongi, Tokyo * an afternoon event - khoomei workshop
September 18 Yokohama


August 31, 2013
Bolot Bairyshev, Tandalai, Sato Masaharu, Makigami Koichi
@ Seto Yashiki
Kaisei, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa
open 14;00 - start 14:30
2,500 yen

Seto Yashiki, Kaisei, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa

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September 1, 2013
Bolot Bairyshev, Tandalai, Sato Masaharu, Makigami Koichi
@ Music la Festa "FUN"
Numazu, Shizuoka
open 17:30 - start 18:00
adv 3,800 yen - at door 4,300 yen
http://www.music-la-festa.net

Music la Festa FUN, Numazu, Shizuoka

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September 2, 2013
Bolot Bairyshev, Tandalai, Sato Masaharu, Makigami Koichi
@ Madowaku
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
open 19:00 - start 19:30
adv 3,500 yen - at door 4,000 yen
http://www.madowaku.com
for reservation, call the venue at 053-451-3035 or mail to ticket@madowaku.com

Madowaku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka

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September 4, 2013
Bolot Bairyshev, Tandalai, Sato Masaharu, Makigami Koichi
@ Chino Shimin-kan (Chino Cultural Complex)
Chino, Nagano
open 18:30 - satrt 19:00
adv 3,000 yen - ad door 3,500 yen
1,000 yen for student or children
www.chinoshiminkan.jp

Chino Shimin-kan, Chino, Nagano

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September 8, 2013
"The Origins of Throat Singing" concert
Bolot Bairyshev, Tandalai, Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
Makigami Koichi - navigator
@ Min-paku (Kokuritsu Minzokugaku Hakubutsukan - National Museum of Ethnology)
Suita, Osaka
13:30-16:00
Admission free, invitation only. Apply by mail (a reply-paid postcard).
Note: applications must arrive to the Museum's office by August 16. See here for details.

Min-Paku, Suita, Osaka

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September 10, 2013
"The Origins of Throat Singing" concert
Bolot Bairyshev, Tandalai, Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
Makigami Koichi - navigator
@ Za Koenji Two
Koenji, Suginami, Tokyo
open 18:30 - start 19:00
adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
http://za-koenji.jp (English)

Za Koenji Two, Koenji, Tokyo

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September 12, 2013
Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
Makigami Koichi - navigator
@ Dairenji
Maebashi, Gunma
open 18:30 - start 19:00
adv 2,000 yen - at door 2,500 yen
for reservation, contact the local organizer at 027-235-8989 or info@f-ritz.net

Dairenji, Maebashi, Gunma

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September 13 and 14, 2013
Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
Makigami Koichi - navigator
@ Sansho House
Tokamachi, Niigata
15,000 yen - 10,000 yen for children
(overnight event - accomodation and meals are included.)
http://www.sanshohouse.jp (English)

Sansho House, Tokamachi, Niigata

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September 15, 2013
Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
Makigami Koichi - navigator
@ Sakuraza
Kofu, Yamanashi
open 17:30 - start 18:00
adv 3,900 yen - at door 4,500 yen
http://www.sakuraza.jp
for reservation, contact to the venue's office at kofu@sakuraza.jp

Sakuraza, Kofu, Yamanashi

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September 16, 2013
"Khoomei Workshop"
Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
Makigami Koichi - moderator
@ Shinsekai
Roppongi, Tokyo
open 14:30 - start 15:00
adv 3,800 yen - at door 4,500 yen
tel 03-5772-6767
http://shinsekai9.jp/2013/09/16/tuba2-2/

Shinsekai, Roppongi, Tokyo (Miho Glass Building B1F)

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September 18, 2013
Mongun-ool Ondar, Otkun Dostai, Ayas Kuular, Anzat Kuular
Makigami Koichi - navigator
@ Minato Mirai Sho Hall
Yokohama
3,000 yen
Minato Mirai Ticket Center 045-682-2000
Ticket Pia

Minato Mirai Hall, Yokohama

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