COSTA MESA, CA - April 6, 2025 - Under clear skies with gentle breezes and pleasant warmth, Fuji Japanese Music presented a remarkable concert featuring Grand Master Yamato O-Sho, the third-generation head of the Yamatogaku shamisen music, alongside Yamatogaku USA members.
The performance, held from 3:45 PM to 4:40 PM at the OC Japan Event Center, featured five musical pieces: "Edo Festival," "Fox," "Hokusai’s The Great Wave " "Girls Festival Shrine Procession” (Musume Mikoshi), and "Sukiyaki" (Ue o Muite Arukō).
The highlight of the concert was headmaster,Yamato O-Sho's solo performance of "Hokusai’s Great Waves," a musical interpretation of Katsushika Hokusai's famous woodblock print.
Performing alone in front of a large projection of the iconic image, the Grand Master vividly brought to life the crashing waves through music, creating a powerful experience rarely witnessed even in Japan.
The performance depicted the surging and receding of the massive waves with extraordinary intensity.
Accompanying the solo was Mariko Watabe (percussion artistic name: Katada Kimisen), the director and both a vocalist and percussion performer of Yamatogaku (Yamato Kyosho), who played the drum to represent the sound of waves.
The composition was created by Yamato Hisamitsu, father of Yamato O-Sho, under his Nagauta music name Yoshimura Isoshichi.
Presenting even a portion of the "Great Waves" before the giant visual backdrop created an exceptionally powerful experience.
This concert featured a historic innovation by Watabe, who for the first time in Japanese musical history, sang while playing percussion instruments and also served as the master of ceremonies.
Both Watabe and another percussion player/vocalist performed standing up.
Additionally, to save time during Grand Master O-Sho's solo performance, all members exited and later returned to the stage, leading to the unusual approach of having all vocalists perform standing throughout the concert.
The OC Japan Fair venue, significantly expanded from last year, was filled with tens of thousands of visitors and brimming with energy.
The Yamatogaku USA performance was met with enthusiastic cheers and applause. Despite the many attractions at the fair, spectators remained attentive from beginning to end, making this a highlight of the event.
It was announced that on November 2, Yamatogaku USA will hold its 25th anniversary concert at the Norris Theater in Palos Verdes, featuring five exceptional musicians invited from Japan.
This news generated considerable interest among the audience. The upcoming event promises to be an extraordinary opportunity for shamisen music enthusiasts to experience the distinguished and elegant performances of Yamatogaku.
Learn more at: Yamatogaku.jp
Fuji Japanese Music Contact Information:
Phone: (805) 477-8303
Email: fujijapanesemusic@gmail.com
