(2002/12/26)

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, a concert entitled Transcending Time and Space—Sino-Japanese Music and their Pedigree sponsored by JASRAC (Japanese Music Copyright Association), was played on the evening of December 20 at Tokyo's Toukyuo Cultural Village.

The concert is divided into two parts. The first half, titled To trace back to the source of Japanese music, using traditional Japanese instrument sya misen in contrast to Chinese instruments sanxian (three-stringed Chinese guitar), pipa (a plucked string instrument), mosa pipa, zheng (a 25-stringed plucked instrument) and gu zheng (an ancient zheng) in the form of ensemble accompanied by oral narration, reveals to the audience how Chinese music and musical instruments have been spread to Japan and how they have affected the vicissitudes of Japanese music. The second half is a special performance of Chinese music such as A Moonlit Night on the Spring River, Yao Nationality Dance and O the Sea—My Homeland played by Chinese musicians residing in Japan, which was warmly welcomed by a whole audience of 2,000.

Chinese Embassy in Japan, China Music Copyright Association, Japan's Cultural Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo Municipal Government, Japan-China Friendship Association, Japan-China Association and Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association backed up the concert.

Hoshino Teturou, lyric-writer and president of the sponsor unit JASRAC and Zhang Aiping, cultural attaché (with the rank of envoy) of Chinese Embassy in Japan each made a speech prior to the performance. Tokura Shuniti, composer and director of JASRAC delivered an address entitled Music That Moves from China, Japan and Asia towards the World. At the end of the performance, a small sized reception was held where performers and audience gathered.

By Zhang Yuhong