Each year, an incredible event is held at Kumano-Nachi Taisha, a Shinto shrine and World Heritage Site located in the Kii Mountain Range of Wakayama Prefecture.

To kick off the ‘diamond celebration,’ a special concert will mark the 1,250th anniversary of the birth of Kobo Daishi, the Japanese Buddhist monk who founded the Shingon school of Buddhism. Yoshimi Tsujimoto, a shakuhachi player from Hashimoto, will perform in the concert scheduled to begin on October 22 at 13:30. 

Moshi Moshi Nippon sat down with Yoshimi Tsujimoto to discuss her music and, most importantly, her interest in sharing the sound of the shakuhachi with the world.

−How did you become interested in the shakuhachi? 

My father loved the shakuhachi, and because of that, I grew up surrounded by the sound of it. That’s how it all began!

−What attracts you to playing the shakuhachi?

I love the timbre of the shakuhachi. 

Those who play the shakuhachi often say that a single note has the power to bring someone to enlightenment. 

Curiously, individual differences in tone are more easily discernible with the shakuhachi than with other instruments. That means that a person can express themselves in more unique ways.

 −You’ve performed in many different countries. Do you get different reactions to the shakuhachi in other countries when compared to Japanese audiences?

I have a vivid memory of a time I performed a classical shakuhachi piece solo. This particular type of classical music is called ‘wabi-sabi,’ and it isn’t very loud or lively. 

In Japan, when I finish a performance, people usually clap. But when I performed in South America, as soon as the piece concluded, there was a standing ovation with people shouting “Bravo!” That would never happen in Japan, and it left such a lasting impression on me.

−Are there any countries that have left a lasting impression on you, or that you would like to visit in the future?

I have good memories of every country I’ve visited, but I think that Cuba left the biggest impression. I just made me think about how incredible music can be.

I’d love to visit Bulgaria, Morocco, Armenia, Uganda…it’s tough, because I want to visit every country I haven’t been to yet. (laughs)

−You’re from Hashimoto City, near Mount Koya. How did you feel when you heard that this concert would be held so close to your hometown?

What I felt was pure joy.

Personally, I’ve always loved Mount Koya, and I went there many times as a child. It’s such a pleasure to be able to perform there.

−Tell us some of your favorite memories involving Mount Koya.

I go to Mount Koya at least three or four times a year. It’s not a particular memory per se, but every time I go, I love to eat vegetarian food, explore, and buy wheat buns and sesame tofu as gifts to take home.

−Are there any local foods or places that you’d recommend?

The fruit is delicious in Wakayama, and my hometown is famous for persimmons.They are so yummy, and I just want everyone to try them!

Mount Koya and Kumano Kodo are both World Heritage sites, and they are both absolutely breathtaking. Other than those, I’d recommend Adventure World! It has adorable pandas roaming around freely and the most wonderful dolphin shows. Everyone from around the country should visit!

−Finally, do you have a message for Moshi Moshi Nippon readers?

Japan is filled with incredible places and culture. The shakuhachi, a beloved traditional Japanese instrument, is one piece of that culture.

I want audiences around the world to hear the sound of the shakuhachi and to make it more familiar. If you have a chance to hear it, I hope you will.

Be sure to follow Yoshimi Tsujimoto’s activities going forward as she shares the beauty and culture of shakuhachi with the world.

Each year, an incredible event is held at Kumano-Nachi Taisha, a Shinto shrine and World Heritage Site located in the Kii Mountain Range of Wakayama Prefecture.

To kick off the ‘diamond celebration,’ a special concert will mark the 1,250th anniversary of the birth of Kobo Daishi, the Japanese Buddhist monk who founded the Shingon school of Buddhism. Yoshimi Tsujimoto, a shakuhachi player from Hashimoto, will perform, while the event also hopes to bring tourism to the area by sharing more information about Wakayama with the masses. 

Date: October 22, 2022, 13:30
Venue: Danjo-garan Buddhist Temple

Program:

[Part 1]　Chorus of local elementary school students, etc.

[Part 2]　Talk Session

Participants:

Hougen Yabu (Director of Head Temple Kongobu-ji on Mount Koya)

Yoshimi Tsujimoto (Shakuhachi player)

[Part 3]　Concert

Performer: Yoshimi Tsujimoto (Shakuhachi player)

*Will include a percussion, guitar, and keyboard session

<About the Call for Visitors>

350 Guests are Invited!

*If there are too many applicants, a drawing will be held.

*Livestreaming of the event will also be available online.

Application Period: August 23 – September 26, 2022

 *Postcards must be postmarked by September 26. Those applying n the website must do so by 23:59 on September 26.

How to Apply:

1. By postcard

Address: Yamabutai Concert Section
Wakayama Broadcasting Co.
3-3 Minatohonmachi
Wakayama, 〒640-8577

What to Include: Zip Code, Address, Name, Age, Phone Number, Admission
*Can include up to 2 guests.

     2. On the special website

Please apply using the application form on the special website.

URL: https://yume.wbs.co.jp/

Keep in Mind:

1. Incomplete entries will be considered invalid.

2. Only one application per person is allowed.

3. If there are too many applicants, a drawing will be held. Winners will be announced when numbered tickets are sent out.

4. Personal information provided in each application will not be used for any purpose.

(For Reference) Past Performers

2015 – Hitomi Shimatani (Danjo-garan Buddhist Temple)

2016 – Chitose Hajime (Kumano-Nachi Taisha)

2017 – *Canceled due to typhoon.

2018 – Kumiko (Oyunohara)

2019 – May J. (Kumano-Nachi Taisha)

2020 – *Canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.

2021 – Yuki Koyanagi (Kumano-Nachi Taisha)

■Cast Profiles

◆ Hougen Yabu / Director of Head Temple Kongobu-ji on Mount Koya

・1993 – Graduates from Koyasan University

・In 2011, he became the chief priest of Kirihata Temple, where he remains to this day.

        *Kirihata Temple [Fukuoka Prefecture] / Sasaguri 88 Sacred Sites, #10

・In 2021, he became the Director of Head Temple Kongobu-ji on Mount Koya and was also appointed as the director of the 1,250th birthday celebration for Kobo Daishi, the founder of the Buddhist sect.

◆ Yoshimi Tsujimoto / Shakuhachi Player

・Born in Hashimoto, Wakayama Prefecture in 1987.

・Graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, she has attracted media attention since she was a student, and has been active in a number of fields from traditional Japanese music to pop.

・She has been invited to perform around the world, from the U.S. to Italy.

　　(Overseas tours: 33 cites in 24 countries, 53 total performances)

・In 2015, her cover of a song using traditional Japanese instruments went viral.

　She began her solo project Bamboo Flute Orchestra to share the beauty of Japanese traditional instruments with people around the world.

・In 2016, she made her major debut as the first-ever female solo shakuhachi player.

With over 1.7 million followers on social media, Gen-Z singer-songwriter Riria is one of the most popular artists in Japan today. Her voice and ability to express authentic emotion through her music have gained her support from fans around the world. Her song Shitsuren Songu Takusan Kiite Naite Bakari no Watashi wa Mou (All I’ve Done is Listen to Sad Songs About Heartbreak and Cry, Enough) was chosen as the second ending theme for the anime series Summer Time Rendering, and the track is now available to stream!

The bittersweet track was written by the singer as she pondered the story of the main heroine Ushio Kofune, and it’s sure to pull at the heartstrings of anyone watching the series. 

Along with the song’s release, an audio movie has also been uploaded to the artist’s official YouTube channel.

Shitsuren Songu Takusan Kiite Naite Bakari no Watashi wa Mou (Audio Movie)

 https://youtu.be/xSxjhvy8vrU

A LINE MUSIC campaign is also underway, with the special prize being an invitation to a live performance by Riria herself. Those coming in second will grab a special handkerchief. 

Have you been watching the anime series? 

© 田中靖規/集英社・サマータイムレンダ製作委員会

Gen-Z singer-songwriter Riria. made her major label debut in 2020 with the song Kaeru-ka Genshou ni Nayanderu Onna no Ko no Hanashi on the new label VIA, part of TOY’S FACTORY.

The singer has gained overwhelming support from the younger generation during her brief career, amassing over 1.7 million followers on social media. Her song Uwakisaretakedo Madasukittekyoku (He Cheated on me, but I Still Love Him) made waves on LINE MUSIC, ranking at #1. Recently, Riria portrayed the heroine Uta in the film Wit Studio film Bubble, also singing the ending theme Jaa ne, Mata Ne (See You, Catch You Later.) 

Riria’s new song Shitsuren Songu Takusan Kiite Naite Bakari no Watashi wa Mou (All I’ve Done is Listen to Sad Songs About Heartbreak and Cry, Enough) has been chosen as the second ending theme for the anime series Summer Time Rendering. The bittersweet track was written by the singer as she pondered the story of the main heroine Ushio Kofune. It’s sure to pull at the heartstrings of anyone watching the series. 

The original Summer Time Rendering manga series was written by Yasuki Tanaka and ran in Shonen Jump+ from 2017 until 2021. The series has been viewed over 130 million times. The anime series is available to watch on Disney+ and has been a hit with international audiences.

Comment from Riria.

“I wrote the melody for this song while pondering my own thoughts on Summer Time Rendering, and wrote the lyrics while imagining the loneliness of the tide. 

I hope you all love it as much as I do!”

© 田中靖規/集英社・サマータイムレンダ製作委員会

Music group Macaroni Pencil has unveiled the jacket for its latest song, Hoshi ga Oyogu, scheduled to be released on April 15, 2022.

The song will serve as the opening song for the anime adaptation of Summer Time Rendering. Yasuki Tanaka’s manga series ran from 2017 to 2021 in Shonen Jump+, quickly becoming a smash hit. A live-action adaptation and real escape game based on the series will also be coming soon.

The band recently performed at Nippon Budokan on their 10th-anniversary tour, becoming a popular topic on social media sites and stirring up plenty of excitement for the new series.

Summer Time Rendering Trailer #2
https://youtu.be/_JgOMtS2FkE

The chorus of the opening song can be heard in the second half of the second trailer, so be sure to give it a watch and a listen!

Adventure World, located in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, has opened its 2022 Spring Festival until April 10, 2022. The event includes a limited-time picnic menu inspired by adorable animals, with desserts made using fresh local fruits. 

Picnic Offerings

Kannonyama Fruits Garden Collaboration Menu

Adventure World Original Menu

Escape rooms invite family and friends to solve exciting puzzles and riddles within a time limit, and have become massively popular around the world. Since the first one opened in 2007, over 8 million people in Japan have participated in one of these exciting events held everywhere from apartment buildings to amusement parks.

The Escape from Godzilla event will be held throughout the Atami Bay Resort Korakuen, and will ask players to solve mysteries throughout the hotel. Visitors will need to explore rooms and sometimes interact with hotel staff to reach the end. SCRAP, known for its numerous crossover escape games, created the project.

Atami is the setting of the decisive battle in the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla. 2022 is the 60th anniversary of the film, and guests are invited to enjoy an original story and original images showing Godzilla’s attack on present-day Atami in cooperation with Toho.

Keep an eye out for more details coming later in February!

©SCRAP TM ＆ © TOHO CO., LTD.

SCRAP, a company known for its unique escape games, have recently started selling its ‘Nazokan’ (Mystery Can) product at stores nationwide starting December 22, 2021. These items sold out instantly upon initial release, and have been highly praised by puzzle-lovers, including popular actress and model Nanase Nishino!

Two kinds of ‘Nazokan’ are on sale: The ‘Golden Angel Can’ and the ‘Silver Devil Can.’ Each large can contains a number of difficult puzzles and riddles.

Following its initial launch in October 2021, the first production run sold out in only six days. Puzzle fans have been begging for a second production run, and to celebrate the re-release, actress and model Nanase Nishino has released her comments on the product. Nishino is known as major puzzle fan, so what does she have to say? 

Comment from Nanase Nishino

When I first grabbed a ‘Nazokan,’ I was excited to see what sorts of mysteries I’d find inside, and I was ready to take on the challenge.
Spending my time on each puzzle, I completely lost track of time, and I came away with a real sense of accomplishment.
You can solve it alone,
or work together with your friends,
or even give it as a gift to someone who loves riddles!
I hope everyone has fun with this amazing product!

The Kinokuni Wakayama Culture Festival 2021 in Shibuya, produced by Channel 47 and sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, was held at Shibuya CAST on October 3, 2021. 

The event was held to spread the word about the Kinokuni Wakayama Culture Festival 2021, the largest cultural festival in Japan, being held in Wakayama City from October 31 to November 21. Channel 47, the producer of the event in Tokyo, is a company using the power of pop culture and entertainment to share local Japanese culture with the world. 

Shibuya CAST, located between the popular neighborhoods of Shibuya and Harajuku, was the perfect location for the event, and visitors enjoyed a number of presentations showing off the best parts of Wakayama. Various goods from the southern prefecture were on sale, and celebrity guests and local figures were in attendance. An original Wakayama Panda Mask Cover, produced by ASOBISYSTEM, was given to over 3,000 guests to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Click below for a video of the event highlighting the venue and talks. 

A Market Highlighting Wakayama’s Cuisine

Booths in the plaza of Shibuya CAST were set up, each selling some local goods from the heart of Wakayama, including oranges, dried plums, sake, and shochu. 

Cultural Figures, Models, and Celebrities in Attendance

On a special stage erected on the grand staircase of the venue, a series of talks were held by cultural figures, models, and celebrities, including author Alex Kerr, TV personality Martin, and members of the popular girl group Atarashii Gakko!!

The guests chatted about a number of topics, from sharing what they love about Wakayama prefecture to discussing the tourism issues faced by local governments. A particularly interesting talk discussed how Wakayama intends to attract Gen Z tourists. These discussions were live-streamed on Instagram, with about 1,000 viewers outside the venue tuning in. 

▼Program

Part 1 [Why Come to Wakayama? PR Showcase]

Presenters: Saki Hontani (Model / Special Influencer for Kinokuni Wakayama Culture Festival 2021), Owarai Sumitani (Wakayama-born Comedy Duo), Kii-chan (Wakayama Mascot)

Part 2 [How Local Towns Should Approach Tourism ~How to Blend Tourism, Shibuya, and Entertainment~]

Presenters: Alex Kerr (Writer), Hiroyo Koike (Secretary-General, Shibuya City Tourism Association), Geiko Motoyasu (Director of Industry, Tourism, and Culture, Shibuya City)

Part 3 [Gen Z from Harajuku and Shibuya Discuss Wakayama Ver.1]

Presenters: Yume Kawabata (Model), Mitsuki Hasegawa (Model), MIOCHIN (Model), Saki Hontani (Model / Special Influencer for Kinokuni Wakayama Culture Festival 2021)

Part 4 [Gen Z from Harajuku and Shibuya Discuss Wakayama Ver.2]

Presenters: Atarashii Gakko!! (Music Group), Alex Kerr (Writer), Martin (TV personality), Yuutarou (Model)

Wakayama Panda Mask Cover, Produced by ASOBISYSTEM and Distributed to Guests

An original Wakayama Panda Mask Cover, produced by ASOBISYSTEM, was given to over 3,000 guests. Talent agency ASOBISYSTEM aims to promote Japanese pop culture worldwide and represents a number of popular artists, models, and creators, including Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and AMIAYA. With two available designs, TV personality Martin tweeted out images of the adorable creations. (https://twitter.com/martin_0406/status/1444163519696424963)

PR for on Giant Screens in Shibuya

The Kinokuni Wakayama Culture Festival 2021 in Shibuya was widely publicized around Shibuya on massive television screens. 

Adventure World, a zoo and theme park in Shirahama, Wakayama prefecture, is teaming up with the Nanki-Shirahama Marriott Hotel to celebrate the first birthday of baby panda Fuhin. This room plan will only be available from November 1, 2021, until March 31, 2022, and will include a fully themed room, an original mini-photo book of the panda’s growth to date, and plenty of other Fuhin amenities and goods!

Fuhin 1st Anniversary Room

Collaboration Burger ‘Marriott Panda Burger’ 

The Fuhin 1st Anniversary Room is a mixed Japanese-Western style room with an ocean view. The walls, blankets, and tatami are all covered in panda imagery, while portions of the room’s lighting are made from bamboo as a part of Adventure World’s quest to create more sustainable products. The special ‘COCOAR’ app will also allow guests to enjoy a moving photo frame featuring Guhin by holding their smartphone over the word ‘Fuhin’ on the wall. 

The limited-time Marriott Panda Burger uses the same recipe as the normal burger, but with a panda-shaped bun created along with Adventure World staff. How would you like to come and celebrate Fuhin’s birthday beside the sea? 

Your Favorite Panda Instagram Campaign

By taking a picture of one of the seven giant pandas at Adventure World (Eimei, Rauhin, Ouhin, Touhin, Yuhin, Saihin, Fuuhin) and posting it to Instagram with the two campaign hashtags (#推しパンダマリオット and #InsertFavoritePandasNameHere), 20 winners will be selected to receive special Adventure World goods!

ASOBISYSTEM, in cooperation with the Agency for Cultural Affairs, will hold the Kinokuni Wakayama Culture Festival 2021 in Shibuya on October 3, 2021. The event will be free to attend, and will take place at Shibuya CAST, a modern commercial facility located between Shibuya and Harajuku.

The Kinokuni Wakayama Culture Festival 2021, taking place in Wakayama Prefecture from October 30 to November 21, is the one of the largest cultural festival in Japan. This event will bring many popular presentations and goods from Wakayama to Shibuya, allowing Tokyo residents to experience some of the beauty and traditions of this area of the Kansai region. A number of celebrity guests will be in attendance, and local Wakayama goods will be on sale. Measures will be taken during the event to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Promoting the Wakayama Culture Festival Throughout Shibuya!

In a special collaboration with SHIBUYA TELEVISION, the largest media outlet in the Shibuya area, a promotional video produced in Wakayama Prefecture will be aired on eight large screens in the Shibuya area from September 27 to October 3. Select restaurants in Shibuya will also serve dishes featuring ingredients from Wakayama for a limited time.

Get the Wakayama Panda Mask Cover for Attending!

An original Wakayama Panda Mask Cover, produced by ASOBISYSTEM, will be given to visitors on the day of the event. *Quantity limited.

If you’re in the Tokyo area, be sure to come out to this special event where you can experience the charm of Wakayama!

SCRAP’s Mr. Osomatsu themed escape game “Escape From the Black Market Empire,” which is currently taking place in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, has proven so popular that it’s set to open in Fukuoka on August 1.

Exclusive merchandise when buying select tickets: glass, coaster, business card, and card case

Sticker Set ¥300 / Folder ¥1,000 / Pins ¥500 / Acrylic Keyrings ¥800 / Mini Tote Bags ¥2,000 (Tax Included)

The escape game, which is called “Escape From the Black Market Empire,” features an original voiced story (recorded by the original voice actors) that has players using their smartphones to communicate with the six Matsuno siblings. They must work with them to help repay their debt.

The event also has its own exclusive merchandise. In Fukuoka, it will be held at SPACE on the Station on the 6th floor of SOLARIA STAGE which is located not even a minutes’ walk from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station.