Current: September 2015

Hikashu and Oki Itaru at Jazz Art Sengawa 2014. They'll be together again in Vilnius in October.

Aside the Jazz Art Sengawa appearance, there is only one Hikashu gig this month - La Mama of Shibuya on September 17 (which we cover later). But that doesn't mean there's not so much to talk about. On the contrary, we have a plenty to cover. Now read on.


Russia and East European Tour October 2015

Hikashu will embark to tour of Russia and East Europe from mid to late October. This is a replacement of the lost Russian tour originally planned for this April.

Unfortunately, we don't have a list of date for this tour yet. Right now, gigs at Sankt Peterburg, Arkhangel'sk and Vilnius have been announced so those dates are confirmed. Other than that, probably there's a Moscow gig. We'll let you know when the details are available.


Dance Music Series reissue

In mid 1980s, Hikashu composed and recorded (mostly) instrumental music for dance and ballet, and those music is known by the name "Dance Music Series."

One of them are already reissued on CD (as "Watashi No Tanoshimi" [My Pleasure] in 2010) and the rest are going to be released on October. All the titles are reissued for the first time.

There are three albums to be reissued this time. "Soba de Yokereba" [If Noodles were acceptable], "Nanimo Kamo Odore" [Everything Dance] and "Jisatsu Na Disco" [Suicidal Disco]. The first two has been released - the first on picture disc, and the second on cassette tape only. The third one remained unreleased in any form and will be available for the first time. Needless to say, the albums are remastered so the sound quality is quite pristine.

Unfortunately, those titles are sold only at gigs and mail-order. So no retail. But oversea fans would be able to get the CDs via e-commerce house like HMV Japan.

Picture Vinyl of "Soba de Yokereba"

Two tribute concerts to Nomoto Kazuhiro

Hikashu announced to hold two tribute concerts to Nomoto Kazuhiro in November and December this year.

Nomoto was a reed player who joined the band in 1983, shortly after graduating university, and remained until 2002. Unfortunately, he passed away by esophageal cancer in 2003. He was 43.

Besides being a strong musician, he also wrote many fine compositions for the band. His work includes "Tengoku wo Nozokitai" [Glimpse the Heaven], "Zo Azarashi" [Elephant Seal], and "Acchi No Me Kocchi No Me" [Nervous Eyes].

2015 is the 13th anniversary since his passing, and that year is special in Japanese tradition, so that's the reason why the event is hold. Actually, Hikashu did a memorial gig for him in 2003, so this is the second time. The difference between them is a line-up. This time the band invites other ex-members - Inoue Makoto (keyboard), Tsuno-Ken (drums), Yoshimori Makoto (keyboard), and Niida Kozo (drums). Except for Inoue (who has been a frequent collaborator with the band), all other musicians will be together for the first time since their leaving.

Precisely, there are two other members who played with Nomoto - Taniguchi Masaru (drums) and Torsten Rasch (sampler). Unfortunately, they are simply not available. Taniguchi passed away in 1989, while Rasch has been active as a composer in Europe and currently resides in Berlin.

Anyway, this event is special one for the band, the musicians, and of course, us fans. The dates are November 30 at LaMama of Shibuya, and December 13 at Pit-Inn of Shinjuku. Also many guest musicians are planned to participate so stay tuned.

ヒカシュー、サックス奏者、野本和浩氏。入院先の病院でサックスを吹く(真似をする)が、還らぬ人となる。仲良くて、ＣＤ「ねこもとんがらし」のプロデュースしました。僕も体調を悪くしてた時でしたが、正確に亡くなった年月日わかる方、教えて下さい pic.twitter.com/PnDWN1A237

— 滝本淳助 (@takimotonosekai) 2013, 2月 28

the late Nomoto Kazuhiro