Japanese stuff

Went for a Japanese tradition music concert on Sunday organised by the Japanese Embassy, as introduced by Weijie. I have heard instruments like koto (zither), shamisen (3-string guitar) and taiko (drum) being played live before, but for the shakohachi and shinobue (two kinds of flute), it was the first time. The ensemble played popular folk songs and some contemporary medleys like Miyazaki Hayao's Anime Songs (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Totoro, Ponyo). It was light entertainment, designed as a sampling course for Japanese traditional musical instruments and how they can be used to interpret contemporary tunes. The atmosphere was right and hence the two haikus below:

her fingers dancing
over the koto --
winter moon


taiko beats
from far away --
spring bamboo