Artmix Japan 2014 was held at Ryutopia in Niigata City over the weekend of 5-6 April.

The 'Japanese Festival' brings together 25 first-class traditional arts performances from all over Japan. The concept of this event is to encourage people to casually enjoy and learn about 'first-class traditional performing arts and music', which are usually difficult to get to, by enjoying a 45-minute performance per show at a reasonable price.

I had free time on the 6th and attended with a same-day ticket.

Same-day tickets are priced in advance plus ¥100. Conscientious. If you see one performance and feel the urge to see more, it's easy to get a ticket for 100 yen more.

I have no idea about Japanese traditional performing arts, but I bought "Shinobue x Taiko x Piano" from 11:35 (2, 100 yen), "Kyogen: Man Kyogen" from 12:40 (2, 600 yen), and "Hanagasa Odori" from 13:45 (free of charge). And free performance 'Hanagasa Odori' from 13:45.

当日券を買っていると、国会議員の石崎とおるさんがいたのでご挨拶。すると、このイベントの総合プロデューサー・新潟総踊りの能登剛史さんを紹介いただくことに。三人でパシャリ！

Now, this is almost my first traditional arts performance. I was thrilled to go to the "Shinobue x Taiko x Piano: Taiichi Kano, Ryutaro Kaneko and Takana Miyamoto" with Mr Ishizaki, who somehow ended up seeing it with me.

'Shinobue x taiko x piano: Taiichi Kano, Ryutaro Kaneko, Takana Miyamoto'

Image: captured from the official Artmix Japan page

At the start of the performance, the general presenter, Sein Camus, begins with a greeting. Yasukazu Kano's shinobue flute then begins.

The Japanese-style Kano-san was paired with a man dressed in a white shirt, and they played a shinobue flute session together. Later, an introduction was made and Charge-(?), who had come from Taiwan for training, jumped in and joined the session. I thought it was a suit, but it was a Taiwanese ethnic costume. I thought he was in a suit, but he was wearing Taiwanese traditional clothes. The unique, clear sound of the shinobue flute echoed through the hall, and I was soothed to think: 'Ah, so this is Japanese music'.

Next was a taiko solo by Ryutaro Kaneko, formerly of Kodo. The audience clapped their hands to the drums! A great sense of unity. Next came a shinobue and taiko session by Kano-san and Kaneko-san. Again, the audience clapped their hands. When I think of traditional performing arts, I have an image of a quiet scene, but I was surprised to see so much audience participation.

Pianist Takana Miyamoto then appeared on stage for two shinobue and piano sessions. Finally, the shinobue, taiko and piano session was a grand success. Even though it is a traditional art form, I felt very much like I had 'seen something new'.

On the way there, Kano-san said, "Isn't Niigata the only place in the world where you can do 25 shows in two days?" I finally realised that we were doing something great in Niigata! I finally realised that we were doing something great in Niigata. And the final words, "We will make it exciting again next year! It will be the centrepiece of Art Mix Japan!" We will be the centrepiece of Art Mix Japan! I couldn't help but raise my hands above my head and applaud loudly.

'Kyogen: Ten Thousand Kyogen'.

Image: captured from the official Artmix Japan page

With the excitement still building, we move on to the next venue. We headed for the Noh Theatre. I am ashamed to say that I didn't know there was a Noh stage at Ryutopia.

Image credit: From the Ryutopia website.

Thrilled to enter a space for the first time.

What we see here is Kyogen. The receptionist at the day ticket office recommended it to me and I ended up buying it, but I was at a "What's Kyogen?" I was at the level of "What is Kyogen? I wondered if I would be able to understand it...

Again, it starts with Sein Camus hosting the event. 'Just a greeting?' I thought, but he and Manzo Nomura, the star of the show, gave a commentary on Kyogen for the first half of the show.

According to its commentary, "Kyogen is what we now call comedy. Noh is opera. Kabuki was started by the common people after the samurai monopolised kyogen". He added: "While rakugo is spoken sitting down, kyogen is more three-dimensional and uses a stage. It is the difference between manzai and comedy". Well, that's easy to understand.

Manzo Nomura then gave a brief explanation of the contents of the performance he was about to give. The story of the performance can be found by searching for the performance "Neonkyoku", but it can only be enjoyed if you know the story. The commentary alone took about 20 minutes. Even as a first-timer, I was able to enjoy it after gaining at least a minimum of knowledge.

And my first Kyogen... in a word, a big laugh! Yes, Kyogen, a traditional art form, was something that made me laugh out loud! I had somehow assumed that I had to be mysterious and understanding, and this surprised me. I didn't realise it could be so much fun!

Thank you Artmix Japan!

Finally, the audience was able to take a peek at the free performance of Hanagasa Odori, a traditional Sado dance, and soak up the afterglow of the paid performance.

Taiichi Kano said this in one of his performances.

'I used to be a jazz drummer. When I was performing in the US, I was shocked to see foreigners playing taiko and getting cheers of bravo. At the same time, I thought, why am I Japanese but I don't know anything about Japanese music... Then I became interested in Gagaku."

'As was the case with me, opportunities to come into contact with the traditional arts that have been handed down from generation to generation in Japan are hard to come by. This is destroying Japanese culture."

'Art Mix Japan is fantastic! Children are raising their voices during the performance, but it's totally fine! It's a chance for them to be exposed to Japanese instruments.'

And. I got goosebumps when I heard this line. At the same time, I was convinced that it was true. As it happens, I might not have had the opportunity to experience traditional performing arts in this way if not for Art Mix Japan. I am really glad I came to this event. No, I am glad that they did this event.

It is really great that Niigata has such an event! Thank you Artmix Japan! We look forward to next year's event!

Events

Art Mix Japan 2014

• Date and Time: 5 April 2014, 10:00-20:00 / 6 April 2014, 10:30-21:00
• Venue: Ryutopia Niigata Citizen's Art and Culture Centre / Hakusan Park Hanging Garden / Furumachi Shopping Street 6 and 7 / Tsubameki Kan / Nabechaya / Gyogeitei
• Admission: 1,500yen - 3,000yen each (all seats reserved) / 21 performances with material, 4 performances without material (to be determined)
• Organisers: Niigata So Odori Festival Executive Committee / Niigata Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Official website: http://artmixjapan.com/
• Facebook page: https: //www.facebook.com/artmixjapan