Hikashu and Third Person - Bright Moments

Hikashu with Third Person
April 1, 2013
@ Star Pine's Cafe
Kichijoji, Tokyo

As expectedly, the joint gig of Hikashu and Third Person turned out splendid. We'd say, "you'd been there."

The first set was Third Person plus one of the Hikashu members. Each turn was about 10 minutes, and it proved again that all the members are seasoned improvisers. For example, drummer Sato Masaharu appeared with a small, metal percussion in his hand (which is ordinally used for Salsa music), and subsequently he made a series of incredible sound with just that metal object, plus his voice.

The second set was mainly for Hikashu, and Third Person joined the performance on and off. Not only for sound but performance-wise the two groups were blended amazingly and quite entertaining. Both Umezu and Bennett were often dancing, throwing humorous remarks, and the crowd cheered.

The last number of the set was "The Gospel of Gone" written by Tom Cora, the original member of Third Person who passed away in 1998. Samm Bennett recently wrote a lyrics for the song and he sang it for himself at the gig. It was the first time performance of the new version, but they had already rehearsed it, and the result was flawless. Samm's singing and Hikashu's sound, augmented with Umezu's saxophone, were strong and emotional, especially Shimizu's piano which had a plenty of gospel feeling was impressive. It was a grand finale indeed, and utterly suitable for closing the gig.

It was a delightful and memorable evening. We'd say they shared the same spirit, they were really in the same wavelength, and that's not so common thing. This must not be a one-time thing, and they should be together again anytime soon hopefully.

John Zorn's Cobra Tokyo Operation @ Shibuya on May 3

It's just announced that John Zorn's Cobra performs on May 3 at LaMama of Shibuya, Tokyo. The personnel is as follows:


John Zorn's Cobra Tokyo Operation
Commemorating the Constitution of Japan Unit

Ichiraku Toshiyuki - drums
Orihara Ryoji - fretless electric bass guitar
Kishiga Nenga - drums, percussion
Koharu (from Charan Po Rantan) - accordion
Tsuboguchi Masayasu - piano, synthesizer
Takahashi Yuko - percussion
Hishinuma Naoki - Tuba
Falcon - electric guitar
Matsumoto Kenichi - saxophones, shakuhachi
Ruike Shinpei - trumpet
Watanabe Kyoichi - saxophones, clarinet

Makigami Koichi - prompter


May 3, 2013
@ La Mama
Shibuya, Tokyo
open 18:30 - start 19:00
adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen
(one drink order minimum)
venue's information - Time Out Tokyo


La Mama, Shibuya, Tokyo

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Appear as a main act at series event in Shibuya on April 12

Hikashu will perform as a headliner at series event at LaMama of Shibuya, Tokyo on April 12.


April 12, 2013
"Dogenzaka Ishu Kakutogi Sen volume 49"
[Dogenzaka Mixed-Style Tornament volume 49]
@ La Mama
Shibuya, Tokyo
other acts: Otogibanashi, Kudanz, Ohta Emiri
open 18:30 - start 19:00
adv 2,500 yen - at door 3,000 yen
(one drink order minimum)
venue's information - Time Out Tokyo


La Mama, Shibuya, Tokyo

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Nyu'nen lyrics

Nyu'nen [Deliberate]
words - makigami, music - sakaide

nen niwa nen wo ire     making doubly sure.
kangae wo               not to think over,
fukamenai (fukamenai)  (not thinking over).

nen niwa nen wo ire     making doubly sure.
kangae wo               not to think over,
fukamenai (fukamenai)  (not thinking over).

nen niwa nen wo ire     making doubly sure.
kangae wo               not to think over,
fukamenai (fukamenai)  (not thinking over).
tameni                  in order to do that.

sarani jikkuri          hardening,
katamatte iru           more slowly.

nyu'nen                 deliberate.
nyu'nen na kaigara      a deliberate shell.

pan niwa an wo ire      stuffing bun with bean jam.
pan niwa an wo ire      stuffing bun with bean jam.
pan niwa an wo ire      stuffing bun with bean jam.
unmei ga                for
yugamanai (yugamanai)   not distorting (not distorting)
youni                   destiny.

shita ni yukkuri        tangling underneath,
karamatte yuku          very slowly.

nyu'nen                 deliberate.
nyu'nen na yakikata     a deliberate way of baking.

          (instrumental interlude)

ten kara futte kita     something fell from the sky.
ten kara futte kita     something fell from the sky.
ten kara futte kita     something fell from the sky.
atama dewa              something 
uketore nai             not to catch 
(uketore nai)          (not to catch)
mono ga                 with your head.

yake ni nettori         exceptionally greasy,
ase bande iru           sweating quite a bit.

nyu'nen                 deliberate.
nyu'nen na              a deliberate kind of 
takenoko                bamboo shoot.

Having an addictive riff and great hook, Nyu'nen is just a great tune. It's also a kind of signature song for the current line-up of Hikashu, and has been a "core repertoire" in their gigs for years.

But seeing the lyrics, you probably don't "get it." Because the translation is just terrible, and admittedly it is. But actually, it's very hard to tell what this song is about, even for Japanese. We have to use some imagination to see what it actually is, and that's a kind of question which never be answered, unless you think any poem should have something like "one true meaning." We have our own interpretation, but we refrain from expressing it here, because that's nothing but merely a speculation and it could not be verified in any way. Nevertheless, it's obviously an well-crafted, deliberate piece of poetry as a whole. Vague and obscure, but utterly imaginative and thoughtful as well. A fine example of Makigami's wordsmanship.

One thing is clear; it contains reference of cooking and foodstuff. "Baking" from the "a deliberate way of baking" line refers a way of cooking foodstuff. I choose the word "baking," but it could be interpreted as roasting, grilling or toasting. In Japanese, all those variations could be described by one word "yaku" as it is used in the lyrics. As translator, we had to decide which is appropriate, and choose "baking" because the lyrics referred buns.

What the "stuffing bun with bean jam" line implies of is Anpan. Anpan is a very popular kind of stuffed bun in Japan (wikipedia). How popular? Almost every cvs carries some. Anpan is a bun having bean-jam inside called "An." Bun (or bread) is called "Pan" in Japanese, hence the name. Kimuraya Yasubei and his son invented Anpan in 1874. His baker company "Kimuraya Sohonten., Ltd, " founded in 1869, is now located in Ginza, Tokyo and has many branches throughout the country.

An-pan has a historical importance as well because it's often cited as one of the earliest symbolical figure of "Japanese spirit and western learning." An-pan was invented in meiji era - that's the period when Japan finally relinquished the national seclusion policy, opened its territory to the outside world for the first time in 200 years. After abandoned the policy, in no time, Japan was flooded with western things - ideas, policies, thoughts, and numerous items. One of them was bread, and at first it was very alienated. But people in Meiji era made it japanized and popularized by stuffing it with domestic sweet bean jam called "an."

The man with drum in the Ukiyoe is publicizing the company's products.
Takenoko means bamboo shoot (wikipedia). Literally the word says "child of bamboo." It is a another popular, traditional foodstuff as well.

But why cooking and foodstuff? It's not clear. Maybe Makigami, a known gastronome, just tried to write a song dealing with food. It goes without saying that Nyu'nen is probably a only rock (or whatever) tune referring bun with bean-jam inside or bamboo shoot, as far as we know.

Nyu'nen is a song with a long history. It was released for the first time as a 3-track EP in 2006, then the different version was available as a part of the album "Ikirukoto" released in 2007. But originally it was written sometime in early 90s and has been performed regularly since then. The band tried various arrangement and even recorded some versions in 1990s with different arrangement but those studio recordings still remain in the can.

April Fools' Day with Third Person

This is no joke, though being scheduled on April Fools' Day.

Hikashu will perform with Third Person on April 1, 2013 at Star Pine's Cafe in Kichijoji, Tokyo.

Third Person (wikipedia) is an improvising trio from New York City, formed by Tom Cora (cello) and Samm Bennett (percussion) in 1990. Their performance usually featured a guest - a third person. Guests included guitarist Marc Ribot, harpist Zeena Parkins, clarinet player Don Byron and saxophone players George Cartwright and Steve Lacy. Later saxophonist Umezu Kazutoki settled as "the third person," and the trio recorded two albums. They disbanded when Tom Cora passed away in 1998.

In 2012, Umezu and Bennett revived Third Person out of the blue, and the group backed to the live circuit.

At the April Fools' Day gig, Third Person will join Hikashu's set. Moreover, each member of Hikashu will be invited to Third Person's set as a guest. All the seasoned improvisers, playing together. Sounds incredible, to say the least.

This is going to be a beautiful evening. Do not miss it.


April 1, 2013
Hikashu with Third Person
"The huge collaboration of the groups which are chosen by aliens - the premire performance of the music being found on the U.F.O. which collided with the meteorite landed in Russia"
@ Star Pine's Cafe
Kichijoji, Tokyo
open 18:30 - start 19:30
adv 3,600 yen - at door 4,000 yen
(one drink order minimum)
venue's directions - Time Out Tokyo

Star Pine's Cafe, Kichijoji, Tokyo

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Hikashu - Hikashu History (2001)

"Hikashu History" is a compilation released in 2001 on John Zorn's Tzadik label. This is recommendable for newbie fans as sampler or introductory disc for various reasons; Since being released on influential US label, it's well-distributed, and probably the easiest to find. Even it's available via iTunes and amazon mp3 download (here and here). And it does contain lots of featured numbers in the band's gig like Puyo Puyo, Pike, and Biro Biro, with different arrangement and instrumentation.

The album was compiled by Makigami himself, who owns the vast collection of the band's archival tapes. All tracks are exclusive for this album and available nowhere else.


From Tzadik's blurb:

Hikashu - Hikashu History
Makigami Koichi is one of Japan's most popular underground performers and Hikashu History follows the journeys of his remarkable rock/pop band Hikashu through twenty-five years of musical mayhem. From techno to noise/sampler improvisation to jazz, folk and beyond -- all with a Japanese twist, Hikashu has been anticipating styles and charting new paths in Japanese music for decades. Hikashu History documents their musical explorations through private tapes, rare demos and exciting live recordings. A fascinating view of one band's visionary directions.

The following is track-to-track information of the album à la Frank Zappa's You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore series. Dates and locations are official and taken from the liner-notes of the album. On the other hand, personnel and instrumentation for each track are based on our speculation, derived from various sources.


1. Tokyo Rain
(music: Makigami, Inoue)
album in which song has appeared: Unreleased
date: 1982 location: Unknown
musicians: Makigami Koichi (cornet), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer), Sensui Toshiro (drums)
Commissioned piece for short film by French filmmaker.

2. Nannimo Nai Otoko [The Man of Emptiness]
(words: Makigami, music: Mitama)
album in which song has appeared: "Ningen No Kao" [People's Faces] (1988)
date: December 5, 1988 location: Egg Man, Shibuya, Tokyo

3. Hi-Ai-Ai Island
(words: Makigami, music: Mitama)
album in which song has appeared: "Ningen No Kao" [People's Faces] (1988)
date: December 5, 1988 location: Egg Man, Shibuya, Tokyo
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal, cornet), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Nomoto Kazuhiro (alto saxophone), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer), Sakaide Masami (bass), Taniguchi Masaru (drums)
Those two tracks were recorded live shortly after the release of the "Ningen No Kao" [People's Faces] album. Egg Man is a venue located in Shibuya, Tokyo, and still in operation today.

4. Pool
(music: Inoue)
album in which song has appeared: Unreleased
date: March 21, 1980 location: Yaneura, Shibuya, Tokyo
musician: Inoue Makoto (synthesizer)
Solo performance by Inoue. Yaneura was a small but quite influential venue, located in Shibuya, Tokyo. Yaneura is Japanese word which means loft or attic. As well as Egg Man in Shibuya, Hikashu used to appear at the place frequently in their early days. It still exists but under different management and it's no longer what it used to be.

5. Muscles and Fruits
(words: Makigami music: Mitama)
album in which song has appeared: Unreleased
date: Autumn, 1982 location: possibly Toei Studio, Setagaya, Tokyo
musician: Makigami Koichi (vocal, bass), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer), Sensui Toshiro (drums)
This number was featured in the independent film "Zokubutsu Zukan" [A Guide of Bad Taste] based on Tsutsui Yasutaka's novel with the same title. Both Makigami and Mitama also appeared in the film (as a bad taste critic).

6. Puyo Puyo
(words: Makigami music: Yamashita)
album in which song has appeared: Hikashu (1980)
date: May 24, 1980 location: Tokyo FM Studio, Tokyo
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer, mellotron), Yamashita Yasushi (synthesizer, rhythm machine), Tobe Satoshi (alto saxophone)
There's chant-like vocal in introduction.

7. Zo Azarashi [Elephant Seal]
(words: Makigami music: Nomoto)
album in which song has appeared: "Ningen No Kao" [People's Faces] (1988)
date: October, 1987 location: Muse Hall, Shinsaibashi, Osaka
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal, cornet), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Nomoto Kazuhiro (alto saxophone), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer), Sakaide Masami (bass), Taniguchi Masaru (drums)
Surrealistic at its best. "it's likely that an elephant seal has started to set up a harem in my room./My country doesn't approve of elephant seals, so told am I./I need to be more tolerant to elephant seals./Naturally I'll come to find the reason why I fear elephant seals someday./I wonder if there's someone dealing with the elephant seals in my room."

8. Mask
(words: Makigami music: Inoue)
album in which song has appeared: Hikashu (1980)
date: March 28, 1980 location: Hitachi Family Hall, Fukuoka

9. Suika No Koshin [Watermelon March]
(words: Makigami music: Tobe)
album in which song has appeared: Hikashu (1980)
date: March 28, 1980 location: Hitachi Family Hall, Fukuoka
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer, mellotron), Yamashita Yasushi (synthesizer, rhythm machine), Tobe Satoshi (alto saxophone), Sensui Toshiro (drums)
Note that in interlude of "Mask," Sensui Toshiro was performing around the rhythmic pattern made by machine. Being an additional member then, he became a regular early next year.

10. Ryuinji
(music: Mitama)
album in which song has appeared: Unreleased
date: August 1977 location: probably "The House," Nerima, Tokyo
musician: Mitama Masamichi (pipe, glass, guitar, percussion)
Mitama, later to be Mita Freeman, improvised at home.

11. Rhetoric-s & Logic-s
(words and music: Makigami)
album in which song has appeared: Hikashu (1980)
date: November 9, 1979 location: Bourbon House, Umeda, Osaka
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal, bass), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer, mellotron), Yamashita Yasushi (synthesizer, rhythm machine), Tobe Satoshi (alto saxophone)
From one of their earliest performances in Osaka. The lyrics of the song was inspired by Paul Goodman's "Speaking and Language."

12. Kujira To Kamome [Whale and Seagull]
(words and music: Makigami)
album in which song has appeared: Unreleased
date: 1980 location: Unknown
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer), Yamashita Yasushi (synthesizer)
Commissioned for the first TV ad of Toto Washlet (wikipedia). "After easing nature, just go washing (ahhhh), and it feels good."

13. Shuffer
(music: Yamashita)
album in which song has appeared: Inoyama Land "Danjindan Pojidon" (1983)
date: September 11, 1977 location: Kid Airack Hall, Meidai Mae, Tokyo
musicians: Yamashita Yasushi (synthesizer), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer)
Written and performed for Makigami's theater troupe "Ulysses."

14. Pike
(words: Makigami music: Yamashita)
album in which song has appeared: Natsu [Summer] (1980)
date: April 1981 location: NHK Studio, Shibuya, Tokyo
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal, cornet), Mitama Masamichi (lead guitar), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer, mellotron), Yamashita Yasushi (synthesizer, rhythm machine), Tobe Satoshi (rhythm guitar, vocal), Sensui Toshiro (drums)
Recorded live for the band's documentary on NHK-TV. Here you can listen the performance entirely - including the latter part which was buried under a narrative by mix for actual broadcast.

15. Yochu No Kiki [Crisis for Lavae]
(words: Makigami music: Yamashita)
album in which song has appeared: Hikashu (1980)
date: April 26, 1978 location: probably "The House," Nerima, Tokyo
musicians: Makigami Koichi (bass), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer, mellotron), Yamashita Yasushi (synthesizer, rhythm machine), Tobe Satoshi (guitar)
Instrumental version, prepared for a film festival in Tokyo. Mitama's wailing guitar, frantic batteries from Yamashita's rhythm box, and Inoue's distinctive sampling sounds (played on his heavily-modified mellotron). Everything's utterly spectacular.

16. Great Conductor
(music: Otomo, Hikashu)
album in which song has appeared: "Hanauta Hajime (Humming Soon)" [Humming Begins] (1991)
date: October 18, 1990 location: ELL (Electric Lady Land), Nagoya
Collective improvisation with a theme conducted by Makigami.

17. Biro Biro
(words and music: Makigami)
album in which song has appeared: "Hanauta Hajime (Humming Soon)" [Humming Begins] (1991)
date: October 18, 1990 location: ELL (Electric Lady Land), Nagoya
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal, cornet), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Nomoto Kazuhiro (alto saxophone), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer), Sakaide Masami (bass), Tsuno-Ken (drums), Otomo Yoshihide (turntables)
This version has a lengthy, percussive, gamelan-like introduction prepared by Inoue.

18. Rakuten
(music: Makigami)
album in which song has appeared: Unreleased
date: February 1987 location: Unknown
musician: Makigami Koichi (synthesizer)
Makigami made this recording for dance piece called "Blue Banana Bar."

19. Acchi No Me Kocchi No Me [Nervous Eyes]
(words: Makigami music: Nomoto)
album in which song has appeared: "Acchi No Me Kocchi No Me" [London Eye and Paris Eye] (1993)
date: November 13, 1993 location: Michinoo Hall, Nagasaki
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal), Mita Freeman (guitar), Nomoto Kazuhiro (bass clarinet), Torsten Rasch (sampler), Sakaide Masami (bass), Tsuno-Ken (drums)
In the second bridge, Makigami shortly referred famous line from the Crazy Cats, one of the most influential musician / comedian group in post-WWII Japan.

20. Live With Viruses
(music: Sakaide)
album in which song has appeared: "Hanauta Hajime (Humming Soon)" [Humming Begins] (1991)
date: October 18, 1990 location: ELL (Electric Lady Land), Nagoya
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal, cornet), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Nomoto Kazuhiro (alto saxophone), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer), Sakaide Masami (bass), Tsuno-Ken (drums), Otomo Yoshihide (turntables)

21. Fushigi O Mitsumete [Watching the Wonderment]
(words: Makigami music: Sakaide)
album in which song has appeared: "Orguss 02 OST" (1993)
date: November 13, 1993 location: Michinoo Hall, Nagasaki
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal), Mita Freeman (guitar), Nomoto Kazuhiro (alto saxophone), Torsten Rasch (sampler), Sakaide Masami (bass), Tsuno-Ken (drums)
Live performance of the lead track from Orguss 02 OST. The album was reissued in 2012 under the different title "Fushigi O Mitsumete," newly remastered and added the short version of the song (the one actually used in the animation) as bonus track.

22. Chimera
(words: Makigami music: Sakaide)
album in which song has appeared: "Teicho Na Omotenashi" [Courteous Hospitality] (1990)
date: October 18, 1990 location: ELL (Electric Lady Land), Nagoya
musicians: Makigami Koichi (vocal), Mitama Masamichi (guitar), Nomoto Kazuhiro (bass clarinet), Inoue Makoto (synthesizer), Sakaide Masami (bass), Tsuno-Ken (drums), Otomo Yoshihide (turntables)
The album ends with this serene number, which is said to be a warning for technomania.


Available worldwide via iTunes and amazon.com (CD - here, mp3 download - here)

Gigs in Shizuoka and Kobe next week

Hikashu will perform in Shizuoka and Kobe next week. The details are as follows.


February 28, 2013
@ Freakyshow
Shizuoka
Open 19:00 - Start 19:30
adv 3,300 yen - at door 3,800 yen
http://freakyshow.net/
tickets available via e+

Freakyshow, Shizuoka

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March 1, 2013
@ Chicken George
Kobe
other act: Fruits in Jelly
open 18:00 - start 18:30
adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
(drink order charge 1,000 yen minimum)
http://www.chicken-george.co.jp
ticket availabe via Ticket Pia or Lawson ticket

Chicken George, Kobe

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