2 hour private experience
Location: Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
A minimum of 2 guests is required to book. Solo participants are welcome but will be charged the 2-person rate
Meet the Master
A 4th-generation professional koto and shamisen musician, Shoko began studying koto at age six and shamisen at age ten, and went on to graduate from Tokyo University of the Arts. Shoko has received multiple honors in national competitions and has performed at international and high-profile events, including the IMF World Bank Annual Meeting and a production directed by renowned performer Bando Tamasaburo. In addition to concert and event performances, she teaches and conducts workshops domestically and abroad, serves as a lecturer at several institutions, and participates in ensembles and collaborative arts projects.
What you’ll do
Step into the studio of a 4th-generation koto master and learn about the history of the koto. Then, under the guidance of the master, learn how to play the koto and perform a short koto piece, accompanied by the master.
Availability
Monday to Friday
Session 1 (10:00 - 12:00)
Session 2 (13:00 - 15:00)
Session 3 (15:00 - 17:00)
Session 4 (17:00 - 19:00)
Who can attend
Children must be 6+
What to wear
Socks or stockings are required.
Comfortable clothing is recommended.
Access
25 minutes by car from Osaka Station
Plucking at the Strings
The familiar twang of the koto strings echoes through the concert halls of the present, as they once did through the aristocratic halls of ancient Japan. The koto traces its origins to the 3rd century, reaching a complete form during the 8th century, when the instrument known as the zither arrived in Japan from mainland Asia. What used to be exclusively utilized in religious and spiritual ceremonies, as well as a symbol of status, also turned towards becoming a musical instrument taken up by the daughters of nobility as a sign of high education. With the arrival of a unified Japan in the 17th century, the instrument of religion and nobility could be heard amidst the local townsfolk and cityfolk, with the development of musican jobs also facilitating the creation of the two main schools of koto performance: the Yamada school and the Ikuta school. At this koto teacher's studio in northern Osaka, delve into the historical sounds of the koto instrument. Learn about the history of the koto as well as about the instrument itself. Then, under the guidance of the 4th-generation teacher, feel the strings and sounds of the koto beneath your fingertips and learn to perform a short koto piece.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 3 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
