Hanshin Storm Enka Concert (3)

  Enka giant Akira Kobayashi performed the second half of the concert. He is an old friend of Dr.Handa’s.

  Kobayashi started his showbiz career as a movie star in 1956. The next year, he broke into the music business and was very successful with “Dynamite ga 150 ton”(150 tons of Dynamite). He earned a solid reputation with “Mukashi no Namae de Deteimasu”(I’m Going by My Old Name), which is still sung in karaoke by elderly fans.

  He performed 15 song set with a medley of nine hit songs, including “Dynamite ga 150 ton”, “Mukashi no Namae de Deteimasu,” “Subarashiki Kana Jinsei”(It’s a Wonderful Life)and “Atsuki Kokoro ni”(Fire in My Heart). During the performance, he said, “The reason I’m still singing is because this song was such a huge hit.”

   For an encore, Dr.Handa sang jointly with Kobayashi “Kyodai Bune”(Brother ship) by Ichiro Toba, “Hokkikou”(Return to North) by Kobayashi and“Atsuki Kokoro ni”. 

                                                       Dr.Haruhisa Handa(right) sings as
                                                       Akira Kobayashi looks on.
                                                       Tokyo Art Foundation

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Nov.22, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2014/11/22/special-supplements/hanshin-storm-enka-concert/

Hanshin Storm Enka Concert (2)

  On Nov.14, the Tokyo Art Foundation (TAF) held a charity enka concert, starring its chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa and enka singer Akira Kobayashi at the Shibuya Public Hall, Tokyo.

  Dr.Handa sang prize-winning 12 enka songs: “Kita-no-Yadokara”(Cry from the North), “Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeshiki”(Winter Scenery of the Tsugaru Strait), “Kanashimi Honsen Nihonkai”(Sorrowful Line by Sea of Japan), “Amagigoe”(Crossing Mt.Amagi), “Kasuba no Onna”(Casbah Woman), “Bed de Tabako wo Suwanaide”(Don’t Smoke in Bed), “Koukou Sannensei”(Third-Year High School Student), “Kuroi Hanabira”(Black Petals), “Isezakicho Blues”(Bourbon Street Blues), “Hakodate no Hito”(Lady of Hakodate), “Hoshi Furu Machikado”(Shooting Stars), “Sora ni Taiyo ga Arukagiri”(As Long as the Sun Shines in the Sky).

  He also sang two original songs: “Kokoro” (Heart) and “Fukuoka Kikou” (Return to Fukuoka).

 In introducing “Amagigoe”, he said, “This is a very scary stalker’s song,” making fun of the line in the lyrics; “May I kill you if someone else has you?”

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Nov.22, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2014/11/22/special-supplements/hanshin-storm-enka-concert/

Hanshin Storm Enka Concert (1)

  On Nov.14, the Tokyo Art Foundation (TAF) held a charity enka concert, starring its chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa and enka singer Akira Kobayashi at the Shibuya Public Hall, Tokyo.

  Enka is a Japanese music genre mixing traditional and modern tastes. 

  All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Lesotho-based charity Sentebale, which promotes efforts to eradicate AIDS.

  At the beginning of the concert, Dr.Handa greeted the audience, saying, "I'll emcee tonight to save on labor costs..."

  Dr.Handa sang 14 enka songs, while changing his costume five times.

Dr.Haruhisa Handa, chairman of the Tokyo Art Foundation, 
sings during the "Hanshin Storm Enka Concert" 
at the Shibuya Public Hall in Tokyo on Nov.14.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Nov.22, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2014/11/22/special-supplements/hanshin-storm-enka-concert/

Blazing Autumn People's Concert (5)

   On Oct.6, the "Blazing Autumn People's Concert," a free concert, was held at the New National Theatre, Tokyo.
  After a short intermission, the program resumed with cantata "Carmina Burana." Dr.Handa and the three guest singers were accompanied by the Alps choir and the Little Singers of Tokyo and were backed up by the orchestra for their performance. After the performance, all the singers received a standing ovation and the audience called for the encore.
  For the encore, they sang "Furusato," or hometown. It is a song written and composed for the music textbooks use in Japanese public schools in the early 1900s. "Furusato" was the best song to wrap up the program.

Dr.Handa (right) and three other musicians greet the audience. IFAC

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.11, 2014)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/10/music/singers-enchant-audience-opera-folk-songs/#.VGtLX_0cRMs

Blazing Autumn People's Concert (4)

   On Oct.6, the "Blazing Autumn People's Concert," a free concert, was held at the New National Theatre, Tokyo.

   Longmuir, a member of the Sydney-based national opera company, Opera Australia, performed "Una furtive lagrima" from Act II of "The Elixir of Love," showing his tenor talent as a winner of many of Australia's major prestigious opera awards . 

   Then, Onuki fascinated the audience with her clear soprano voice in joint performance with Coad of "Quanto amore!" from Act II of "The Elixir of Love." He drew laughter from the audience with his comical mimicking of a chicken.

   The three guests singers then performed together with Coad in singing "Vieni, o levita!" from Act II of "Nabucco".

   The opera songs ended with the chorus of the Alps choir singing "Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate" from Act III of "Nabucco."

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.11, 2014)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/10/music/singers-enchant-audience-opera-folk-songs/#.VGtLX_0cRMs

    

Blazing Autumn People's Concert (3)

  On Oct.6, the "Blazing Autumn People's Concert," a free concert, was held at the New National Theatre, Tokyo.
  The Alps choir also sang Mozart's "Turkish March,” in scat. They received thunderous applause from the audience when they shouted together and thrust their fists high in the air.
  Afterwards, Dr.Handa and Onuki took turns singing a pair of opera songs. The two sang "Tutto e tranquillo e placid" and "Pace, pace, mio dolce Tesoro," from Act IV of  "The Marriage of Figaro."
  Halfway through the performance, Coad discretely walked onto the stage to join them. Coad has performed in major opera houses around the world, including the U.K.'s Royal Opera House and Germany's Hamburg State Opera House. The entire theatre was rumbling when he sang "Udite, udite, o rustici"from Act I of "The Elixir of Love."

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.11, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/10/music/singers-enchant-audience-opera-folk-songs/#.VGtLX_0cRMs

Blazing Autumn People's Concert (2)

  On Oct.6, the "Blazing Autumn People's Concert," a free concert, was held at the New National Theatre, Tokyo.
 Japanese baritone Haruhisa Handa invited Conal Coad, a bass from New Zealand, Hiroko Onuki, a Japanese soprano and John Longmuir, a Scottish tenor. The singers were backed by the Tokyo Art Foundation's 20-year-old amateur chorus group, the Alps choir, and the Little Singers of Tokyo, which is a children's choir group and a member of Pueri Cantores. All singers were accompanied by an original orchestra set up specifically for the concert and comprised of members recruited from Japan's top orchestras.
 At the beginning of the program, Dr.Handa surprised the audience by singing Japan's national anthem, "Kimigayo." Then, the Alps choir appeared on the stage in somewhat comical attire. They put on blue, knee-length aprons emblazoned with a large red circle on white, which represents the Japanese flag. The choir sang two popular Japanese nursery songs followed by a well-known folk song.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.11, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/10/music/singers-enchant-audience-opera-folk-songs/#.VGtLX_0cRMs

Blazing Autumn People's Concert (1)

  On Oct.6, the "Blazing Autumn People's Concert," a free concert was held by the Tokyo Art Foundation (TAF) in cooperation with the International Foundation for Arts and Culture (IFAC).
  Dr.Haruhisa Handa, the chairman of IFAC, has also been well known for a baritone singer. That day, he invited fellow opera singers to the New National Theatre, Tokyo, to entertain audiences of about 900.They were selected by lottery from about 5,800 applicants.
  Besides, the program was also distributed for free on Ustream, viewed by 7,947. 
  The purpose of the program is to give people an opportunity to enjoy well-known songs, not only of operas but also of Japanese nursery songs and folk songs.

International Foundation for Arts and Culture Chairman Haruhisa Handa and soprano Hiroko Onuki sing together at the Blazing Autumn People's Concert in Tokyo on Saturday. IFAC 


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.11, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/10/music/singers-enchant-audience-opera-folk-songs/#.VGtLX_0cRMs

Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert (7)

  On Sept.26, "Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert" was held at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.  
  After Turner's performance, the five joined together to sing the Beatle's "Please Please Me" and "Hey Jude.” The star-studded cast fascinated the audience, helping to raise a considerable amount of money for the charity. The proceeds will be spent on various Sentebale programs.
  Dr.Handa visited Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and inspected Sentebale's activities in July and began supporting the group via Worldwide Support for Development (WSD), a nonprofit organization whose chairman is Dr.Handa. WSD is committed to assisting disadvantaged people and communities throughout the world.

From left, Starship vocalist Mickey Thomas, former Toto frontman Bobby Kimball, former Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner, Tokyo Art Foundation Chairman Haruhisa Handa and former Journey singer Steve Augeri pose at the end of their concert at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan on Sept.26.
Tokyo Art Foundation

 (source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.4, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/03/music/legendary-artists-rock-tokyo-raise-money-charity/#.VF2AzamChMs
  

Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert (6)

  On Sept.26, "Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert" was held at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.    
  Joe Lynn Turner joined Deep Purple in 1989. One of the members at that time, Ritchie Blackmore, had been a guitarist best known for his riff in "Smoke on the Water."  He performed with Turner in Rainbow prior to 1989.
   Turner sang four Deep Purple Songs, including "Smoke on the Water." He revealed his love of junmai ginjyo high-end sake, after Dr.Handa told the crowd how much he loves Japan.

  (source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.4, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/03/music/legendary-artists-rock-tokyo-raise-money-charity/#.VF2AzamChMs

Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert (5)

  On Sept.26, "Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert" was held at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.
  Steve Augeri, the third singer, was Journey's fourth vocalist, and remained with Journey for eight years.His first recording in Journey was "Remember Me".
  He sang "Don't Stop Believein" along with three other Journey hits. In introducing "Don't Stop Believin", Augeri said to the crowd, "Tokyo is a magical city to me! Japan is a magical place to me!"
 
 
(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.4, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/03/music/legendary-artists-rock-tokyo-raise-money-charity/#.VF2AzamChMs

Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert (4)

 On Sept.26, former Toto frontman Bobby Kimball, Starship vocalist Mickey Thomas, former Journey singer Steve Augeri, former Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and Dr.Haruhisa Handa sang at the "Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert" at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.
 Mickey Thomas joined Jefferson Starship in 1980s and became the band leader in 1984.The group changed its name to Starship in 1985. The same year,  they got much attention with "We Built this City".
 Thomas sang Starship's five big hits. In introducing "We built this City," Thomas said to the audience, "A lot of people think this song is about San Francisco, but it's about Tokyo!"

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.4, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/03/music/legendary-artists-rock-tokyo-raise-money-charity/#.VF2AzamChMs

Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert (3)

  On Sept.26, former Toto frontman Bobby Kimball, Starship vocalist Mickey Thomas, former Journey singer Steve Augeri, former Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and Dr.Haruhisa Handa sang at the "Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert" at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.
  Boby Kimball was Toto's vocalist. Toto's  fourth album, "TOTO IV" was nominated for nine Grammy Awards and won six in 1982. Afterwards he left the group for a while, but rejoined the band and remained with TOTO until 2008.
  Kimball, whose first concert in Japan was also at Nippon Budokan,  sang four big hits, including Billboard chart-topper "Africa."

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.4, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/03/music/legendary-artists-rock-tokyo-raise-money-charity/#.VF2AzamChMs

Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert (2)

 On Sept.26, former Toto frontman Bobby Kimball, Starship vocalist Mickey Thomas, former Journey singer Steve Augeri, former Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and Dr.Haruhisa Handa sang at the "Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert" at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. The rock concert was held by The Tokyo Art Foundation(TAF), whose Chairman is Dr.Haruhisa Handa.
 Dr.Handa created a new genre "nandemo(everything) rock," where all kinds of songs are performed as rock singers.
 Dr.Handa sang 12 songs spanning a wide range of genres, including anime songs, a pop number from an idle group, enka and American classics. His list featured "Let it Go" from the movie "Frozen," AKB48's "Heavy Rotation" and Tony Bennett's "I left my Heart in San Francisco."

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.4, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/03/music/legendary-artists-rock-tokyo-raise-money-charity/#.VF2AzamChMs

Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert (1)

 On Sept.26, former Toto frontman Bobby Kimball, Starship vocalist Mickey Thomas, former Journey singer Steve Augeri, former Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and Dr.Haruhisa Handa sang at the "Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert" at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. The rock concert was held by The Tokyo Art Foundation(TAF), whose Chairman is Dr.Haruhisa Handa.
 All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Lesotho-based charity Sentebale, which promotes efforts to eradicate AIDS.
 In the opening address, Dr.Handa said to about 11,500 audience, "This is a concert for everybody, enjoyable for those in their teens to people in their 80s."

Tokyo Art Foundation Chairman Haruhisa Handa sings at "Shingeki no Hanshin Kyojin Rock Concert," at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, on Sept.26

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.4, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/03/music/legendary-artists-rock-tokyo-raise-money-charity/#.VF2AzamChMs

The 5th IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition (7)

 On Oct.14and Oct.15, twelve of Japan's finest young singers showcased their vocal talents at the fifth IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition held at the Playhouse auditorium, part of the New National Theatre in Tokyo.
 IFAC started collaborating with the Juilliard School in 1999 by offering support for the production of operas run by their vocal arts and students. As part of IFAC Opera, it also facilitates annual operas, while promoting various other types of performance and art including noh, kyogen, ballet and gallery exhibitions.

Satomi Aihara (third from right), Dr.Haruhisa Handa(fourth from right) are joined by other contestants and judges on stage at the Playhouse auditorium, at the New National Theatre in Tokyo. IFAC

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.24, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/24/general/singing-hearts-chance-lifetime/#.VFRIEqmChMs

The 5th IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition (6)

 On Oct.14and Oct.15, twelve of Japan's finest young singers showcased their vocal talents at the fifth IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition held at the Playhouse auditorium, part of the New National Theatre in Tokyo.
 Aihara was chosen as the winner of the prize, but she is not guaranteed acceptance into the Juilliard school. She must still pass the second and final audition in order to be accepted into the school and receive the $50,000 scholarship.  
  Dr.Handa said, "It is important to get a world-class education in a world-class environment surrounded by world-class people, and the younger ther better...Without such a chance, even though you might have the ability, the character and the ambition, you will be like a flower that dies without blooming or a precious treasure that is coveted too long and left to go to waste. That's what we were thinking when we began this Juilliard audition."

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.24, 2014)http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/24/general/singing-hearts-chance-lifetime/#.VFRIEqmChMs

The 5th IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition (5)

 On Oct.14and Oct.15, twelve of Japan's finest young singers showcased their vocal talents at the fifth IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition held at the Playhouse auditorium, part of the New National Theatre in Tokyo.
 On the evening of the second day, the first two encouragement prizes went to Emiri Nakagawa and Mayuko Kominami, and immediately afterwards, Soshiro Ide and Satomi Aihara were chosen to go on to the final.
 A panel of judges at the Juilliard School, who were connected to the auditorium by satellite, observed the performances. They were just counted as the first audition for the school.
 Finally, Aihara was chosen as the winner of the competition and awarded the IFAC-Juilliard Prize.
 "Singing is not just in the sound, not just in the voice. What we judges are looking for is their humanity.We judges can observe a singer's emotions, daily practices and character just by listening to them perform for a few minutes,"said Dr.Handa, chairman of the IFAC, during an impromptu speech given at the closing of the competition. 

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.24, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/24/general/singing-hearts-chance-lifetime/#.VFRIEqmChMs

The 5th IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition (4)

 On Oct.14and Oct.15, twelve of Japan's finest young singers showcased their vocal talents at the fifth IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition held at the Playhouse auditorium, part of the New National Theatre in Tokyo. 
 Competitors were eligible to win one of two prizes, the IFAC-Juilliard Encouragement Prize(also known as Handa Encouragement Prize) and the IFAC-Juilliard Prize.
 The Encourgement Prize gives the winner chance to take voice lessons at the Juilliard School in New York with a round trip ticket to New York and accomodations worth a total of 300,000yen.
 The IFAC-Juilliard Prize includes free English lessons at a cram school in Japan, voice lessons at Juilliard, a round-trip ticket and accomodations worth a total of 500,000yen.
 Moreover, winners also have the opportunity to attend an audition at Juilliard, and those accepted receive a scholarship up to $50,000 to cover tuition and accomodations for one year.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.24, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/24/general/singing-hearts-chance-lifetime/#.VFRIEqmChMs

The 5th IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition (3)

 On Oct.14and Oct.15, twelve of Japan's finest young singers showcased their vocal talents at the fifth IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition held at the Playhouse auditorium, part of the New National Theatre in Tokyo.
 On the first day, seven of the twelve competitors participated in a competition-cum-workshop in which they sang selections from a prepared repertoire and received on-the-spot vocal coaching from Brian Zeger, famous artistic director of vocal arts at Juilliard School.
 On the second day, the remaining five competitors took part in the second round of this competition and workshop. Thereafter announcements were made about who would proceed to the finals in the evening.
 Zeger made strict but encouraging comment on the performance of the competitors."Morzart is repeating this text in order to intensify and show a different dimension of the emotion," explained Zaeger to one of the singers, Miho Washizu, during the competition on Wednesday.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.24, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/24/general/singing-hearts-chance-lifetime/#.VFRIEqmChMs

The 5th IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition (2)

On Oct.14and Oct.15, twelve of Japan's finest young singers showcased their vocal talents at the fifth IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition held at the Playhouse auditorium, part of the New National Theatre in Tokyo. The event was mainly sponsored by the International Foudation for Arts and Culture(IFAC) , whose chairman is Dr Haruhisa Handa.
 Before the competition, the pre-screenings were held at the Hamarikyu Asahi Hall in Tokyo, the Phoenix Hall in Osaka on July 17 and 18. The twelve singers were selected from 61 applicants.They were asked to prepare a repertoire of six songs: Italian aria or art song from the 18th-century or earlier, an original song in English, a German lied, a French song, an opera or oratorio aria and other selection from any language.
 The competitors were required to be proficient in at least four European languages besides possessing professional singing talent in order to make the cut. The selection procedure guaranteed that all competitors were the best ones from among Japan's budding operatic singers.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.24, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/24/general/singing-hearts-chance-lifetime/#.VFRIEqmChMs

The 5th IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition (1)

 On Oct.14and Oct.15, twelve of Japan's finest young singers showcased their vocal talents at the fifth IFAC-Juilliard Prize Singing Competition held at the Playhouse auditorium, part of the New National Theatre in Tokyo. The event was mainly sponsored by the International Foudation for Arts and Culture(IFAC) , whose chairman is Dr Haruhisa Handa.
 The purpose of holding this annual competition is to give talented young Japanese singers an opportunity to study at a top-notch world-famous music school. Applictions are accepted in spring every year and there is no charge to apply.
 In the two-day competition, twelve competitors  performed their vocal talents for the IFAC-Juilliard Prize, the award of the winner.

Satomi Aihara (right) receives her award from International Foundation for Arts and Culture Chairman Haruhisa Handa. She was chosen as the winner of the competition and awarded the IFAC-Juilliard Prize. IFAC

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.24, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/10/24/general/singing-hearts-chance-lifetime/#.VFRIEqmChMs

Unconventional performances at the New National Theater (3)

On Oct.11, Dr.Haruhisa Handa, chairman of the International Foudation for Arts and Culture(IFAC) organized an unconventional drama performances at the New National Theatre in Tokyo.
 Of the four dramas performed, the one is a comedy about a man from Malaysia suffering amnesia, who eventually regained his memories by becoming a professional wrestler.As part of the short comedy, the wrestling is inserted as a subplot. It was a surprise Dr.Handa intended to prepare for the audience.No one in the audience could have imagined the professional wrestlers appeared in the ring which was set on the stage.
 Lots of people who saw the four plays might also be looking forward to seeing Dr.Handa's other original plays scheduled to be performed next year.

Performers in one of the plays performed at the New National Theatre, Tokyo
are introduced to the audience on Oct.11  IFAC

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.18, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/17/national/ifac-gives-audiences-unconventional-performances/#.VFOvyKmChMt

Unconventional performances at the New National Theater (2)

 On Oct.11, Dr.Haruhisa Handa, chairman of the International Foudation for Arts and Culture(IFAC) organized an unconventional drama performances at the New National Theatre in Tokyo.

 Of the four short drama performed, three, excluding the wrestling show, were based on novels written by Dr.Handa. They were rather poetic, but very unconventional.Ond of the dramas, featuring rain, was about "conversations" between rains. A soft spring rain and a cats-and-dogs-rain were intermittently falling on Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. The soft spring rain praises the cats-and-dogs rain for its roughness and harshness, while the latter returns the compliment, saying soft rains have been heavily used in important scenes of many well-known performances.Then a blowing rain abruptly cut in, interrupting the performance of the soft spring rain and cats-and-dogs rain. The cats-and-dogs rain starts quarreling with the blowing rain, but they eventually become friends after their finding their "common roots".
 I was quite surprised to see such an eccentric series of plots developed in the drama.It was really Dr.Handa's original and no one could do the same.

 

 

 

Three different kinds of 'rain' jointly perform

at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, on Oct. 11. | IFAC

 

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.18, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/17/national/ifac-gives-audiences-unconventional-performances/#.VFOvyKmChMt

Unconventional performances at the New National Theater (1)

 On Oct.11, Dr.Haruhisa Handa, chairman of the International Foudation for Arts and Culture(IFAC) organized an unconventional drama performances at the New National Theatre in Tokyo.
Some male and felmale pro-wrestlers jumped from the top rope of a wrestling ring which was set on the stage. Some wrestler flew high in the air to deliver a diving head-butt to another wrestler who was barely conscious on the ring.
 I've never seen performance like this on the venue.
 It was  really really funny and surprising!

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Oct.18, 2014)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/17/national/ifac-gives-audiences-unconventional-performances/#.VFOvyKmChMt

I am so happy to join.