diary-archive

4 days after my performance at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, off to Tongyeong in Korea!! For new production of Toshio Hosokawa "Futari Shizuka - The Maiden from the Sea"!! I will have intense 3 weeks (Tongyeong Music Festival in Korea rehearsal for Hosokawa's opera→Eotvos's piece in Porto→3 days performance of Hosokawa opera in Tongyeong) And after 1 week, I will leave for Madrid for concerts!!

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The hotel is gorgeous!!

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The sea is very beautiful! But I have to work....

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Tongyeong Concert Hall

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Rehearsing!! With, Soprano, Sarah Wegener and the director, Thomas Israel!
  
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With opera team!!

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Everyday we are rehearsing so hard...but we had a half day off!! So, a bit of sightseeing!!

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Tongyeong Central Traditional Market

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Our hotel is different world!!

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We had a shooting!

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With the director, Thomas Israel and the film director, Kika Nicolela!

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After the rehearsal, BBQ!!! Early morning next day, I will leave Tongyeong for Porto to play Peter Eötvös's "Secret Kiss"!! 

Tongyeong International Music Festival 
Friday 29 March 2019 22:00- 
Saturday 30 March 2019 17:00- 
Sunday 31 March 2019 17:00- 
Tongyeong Concert Hall, Tongyeong, Korea 
Director, Thomas Israel 
Shi Yeon Sung, Sarah Wegener, Ryoko Aoki

I was appointed as the Minato city tourism ambassador!!
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I appeared as the main visual of JAPAN SENSES of Mitsukoshi Isetan, Japanese department store group!! I had the special talk session with the pritzker prize winning architect, Ryue Nishizawa on 8 April at Isetan Shinjuku store! 

16:30-17:30, 8 April 2017 JAPAN SENSES special talk session Ryoko Aoki × Ryue Nishisawa Isetan Shinjuku store
 
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After the special talk session with Ryue Nishizawa!!
On April I went to France for Noriko Baba "Nopera AOI". 
At first, we had rehearsals in Reims! IMG_1508.JPG
Cathédrale Notre- Dame de Reims IMG_1440.JPG 
Stained glass window by Marc Chagall is so beautiful! IMG_1439.JPG 
After the work, I think I deserved one glass of champagne...! IMG_1448.JPG 
We had rehearsals at Comédie de Reims for a week! IMG_1511.JPG 
With Mié Coquempot and Jérôme Andrieu! 
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During this week, we had shooting for the video on the stage. 
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We will come back to le Manège de Reims for performance "Nopera AOI" in November!! 
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After Reims, we moved to Paris! Nice apartment near Place des Vosges!
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We had rehearsals at CND in Paris!! IMG_1534.JPG 
Nice bento for lunch!IMG_1554.JPG 
Rehearsing and rehearsing and rehearsing.... IMG_1555.JPG 
After CND, we finally moved to Maison de la culture du Japon a Paris! IMG_1592.JPG 
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New fashion of the conductor, Pierre Roullier!? IMG_1653.JPG 
I have changed the costume three times! IMG_1635.JPG 
Before premiere, many presents! IMG_1652.JPG 
Premiere! After that, happy reception! I can say it was a big success!
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The architect, Tsuyoshi Tane and the fashion designer, Tamae Hirokawa came to see our performance! We will work for Aichi Triennale 2016 this autumn! IMG_1658.JPG 
After the performance, just drink! IMG_1667.JPG IMG_1661.JPG
...and the Eiffel Tower...! 
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We will come back to "Nopera AOI" in November!! Thank you very much!!
I gave a presentation on 25 March at the JAPAN HOUSE Forum organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.  

16:00-19:30 25 March 2016 (Fri.)  
International House of Japan, Tokyo 

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Part 1 
Panelist- 
Junji Tanigawa 
Kenya Hara
Moderator- Chiaki Hayashi

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Part 2 
Panelist- 
Ryoko Aoki
Seichi Saito
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Seijun Nishihata
Kenya Hara
Moderator- Mari Hashimoto

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Part 3 
Panelist-
Makoto Umehara
Shujiro Kusumoto
Isato Kunisada
Chiaki Hayashi
Kenya Hara
Moderator- Tooru Matsubara

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I had a report of my activity as Japan Cultural Envoy on 7 March at the Japan Cultural Envoy Forum 2016. 

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"Japan Cultural Envoy Forum 2016"

This year's "Japan Cultural Envoy Forum" is going to be held in United Nations University on Monday, March 7. In this forum, four envoys who finished their terms either in FY2014 or FY2015 will give a talk about their experiences as a Japan Cultural Envoy, with using visual materials or giving a short performance of their own skills. You will learn what "Japan Cultural Envoy" is all about and how each of them faced the challenge of cultural exchange abroad through this forum. 

1.Date and Time: Monday, March 7, 2016 at 2 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM) 
2.Venue: United Nations University (5-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) 
3.Presenters:   
【Japan Cultural Envoy】 
Ryoko AOKI (Noh Performer) 
Akiko SAKURAI (Biwa Player) 
Naoyuki YANAGIHARA (The School of Kinsa, Yanagihara School of Traditional Japanese Cuisine) 
Tsunao YAMAI (Noh Actor in Komparu School)   

【Moderator and Speech】 
Robert CAMPBELL(Professor of Japanese Literature, Department of Comparative Literature and Culture, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan) 


On 17 November, I went to see Dr. Masanori Aoyagi, Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, to report my activity in Europe as Japan Cultural Envoy. Suddenly Mr. Hiroshi Hase, the Minister of Culture appeared, I was very surprised....!

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I came to Monopoli for lecture at Conservatorio di Monopoli Nino Rota, which was organized by the composer, Federico Gardella! IMG_0948.JPG
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Conservatorio di Musica 'Nino Rota' di Monopoli IMG_0871.jpg 
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IMG_0874.JPG I talked about Noh and contemporary music.IMG_0413.JPGMy lecture was broadcast on the Italian TV by Canale 7!!!

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After lecture, we went to Polignano a Mare!  
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I also went to Alberobello!!  
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Very wonderful meal!! IMG_0979.JPG IMG_0967.JPGVery wonderful time! Grazie mille!!!!!!!

The next destination is Berlin!IMG_0455.JPG 
I had a presentation at the Embassy of Japan in Berlin on 27 July . It was a dialogue between me and the British opera director, Frederic Wake-Walker on new opera works inspired by Noh. Firstly, I made a presentation on "New attempts on Noh and contemporary music". Then I showed a part of new creation collaborated with Frederic, followed by a discussion with him and the audience on the possibilities of the new Noh works.

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27 July 2015 (Mon) 6:30 p.m. 
Event Hall, Embassy of Japan

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After the performance at the Embassy of Japan in Berlin, I and Frederic were invited for a very special dinner by Ambassador Nakane at his residence!!
After tour in Ireland, I went to Paris!!IMG_0167.JPG 
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I will have a presentation with Mario Caroli for Pascal Dusapin. DSC_0036.JPG DSC_0037.JPG DSC_0040.JPG DSC_0075.JPG 
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Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris, France

Presentation "Noh X contemporary music" Ryoko Aoki
Performance
  A part of Classical Noh play with tape 
  Pascal Dusapin "l pesci" for flute 
  Federico Gardella "Voice of Wind" 
  Valerio Sannicandro "Trois chants Noh" 
  Ryoko Aoki (Noh) Mario Caroli (flute)
Talk "Japanese tradition meets contemporary music" : Pascal Dusapin, Ryoko Aoki


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After the performance, with Pascal Dusapin and Mario Caroli!

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And beer with Pascal Dusapin and his wife, Florence Darel!! 


Besides this, I had several meetings for future plans in Paris. 
My friend, Japanese fashion designer, Yoshikazu Yamagata took charge of show window at Colette, a high-end Paris boutique! 
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Nice meeting in Paris with Yoshikazu Yamagata and Noriko Baba for Nopera AOI in December!