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Japanese Koto in Canada:

When Atsuko and I decided to relocate to Canada, one of the problems we faced was how to ship the koto to Canada. It was too fragile to send it in the container with our other boxes and there was no way we could carry it on the airplane! To tell you the truth, at first Atsuko thought about leaving it behind. However, I insisted we find a way to bring it to Canada. I thought it was important she continue playing the koto and I knew it would turn some heads when she played it in Canada. In the end we took our chances and told our moving company to wrap it in bubble wrap (no promises it would arrive safely!) and we crossed our fingers and toes.

Miraculously, the koto arrived safely in the summer of 2007 and Atsuko began practicing the koto at our new home in Penticton. Atsuko enrolled in the English language course at the South Okanagan Multicultural Society, and soon people discovered she played this mysterious instrument from Japan. In January 2008 the society asked her to play at Penticton's Cherry Lane Mall as part of their drive to recruit more students for their English courses. It was her first public performance in Canada and dressed in her kimono plucking the 2 metre long instrument she was an immediate hit!

The following month Atsuko played at the Multicultural Festival at the Lakeside Resort Hotel in Penticton. This performance was followed by another appearance at the Cherry Lane Mall in May 2008 as well as outdoor performances at the Heritage Days Festival in June 2008 and the Canada Day festivities in July 2008. The outdoor performances at the band shell downtown were excellent as it was the first time the koto went "electric" with big speakers amplifying the melodic sounds of the strings over the huge crowds. Afterwards, people came up to Atsuko and asked her so many questions about the koto and its origins.

Atsuko also started to go to the schools and playing the koto. Her first "gig" was at the Good Shepard Christian School in Osoyoos in October 2008. Her performance was held inside the Lutheran Church in Osoyoos which was an amazing setting for a koto performance. The children loved the sounds of the koto, and they crowded around her and all wanted the chance to play the instrument. Atsuko also brought origami paper and taught them how to make a crane which is a symbol of good fortune in Japan. The cranes went over big and the children thoroughly enjoyed their first exposure to traditional Japanese culture. In January 2009 both Atsuko and I did a full on Japanese cultural presentation at the Home Schooling Centre in Penticton. I introduced Japan and its culture from a child's perspective by showing photos of Angela and her previous life in Osaka. I also taught the children how to write their names in Japanese. Atsuko followed my cue by playing the koto, and afterwards all the children lined up in a row and took turns playing the instrument. Again, Atsuko did an origami demonstration and the children loved learning how to make the paper figures.

Although it was a risk bringing the koto to Canada, we are both so happy we took the chance and feel fortunate to be in the position to introduce traditional Japanese culture to Canadians. Although nervous at first, Atsuko is having a lot of fun playing in public and she loves the tremendous feedback from the audience. Canadians are truly fascinated by the koto and they love the sound - "so relaxing and soothing, just like a running stream" according to one fan. Atsuko and I hope to organize more performances not only here in Penticton but elsewhere in Canada.

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