A New Year Performance in One of Osaka’s Busiest Public Spaces
We were pleased to perform at “Twilight Fantasy – The Radiant Sea of Time and Space,” an event held at JR Osaka Station City.
The live performances took place on a special stage beneath the illuminated ceiling of Toki no Hiroba (Time and Space Plaza). True to the theme of the “sea,” the venue was decorated primarily in blue illumination reminiscent of ocean waves, while a canopy of star-like lights hung overhead, creating a truly magical and dreamlike atmosphere.
We performed a total of four stages at 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, and 19:00.
Although the audience was relatively small during the first stage due to lighter foot traffic, the crowd gradually grew with each performance. By the final stage, a large number of people had gathered, which was incredibly gratifying.
From 17:00 onward, the illumination was fully lit—just as the event title suggests—and we had the privilege of performing within the glowing “Sea of Time and Space.”
Musically, we explored new possibilities for the shamisen, deliberately moving beyond traditional Japanese styles. Our repertoire included unconventional approaches such as blues and tango performed on the shamisen, challenging preconceived notions of the instrument.
Despite the cold weather, we are deeply grateful to everyone who stopped to listen, as well as to the event staff for their wonderful support.
Toshiaki Goto
Our unusual collaboration—shamisen, clarinet, and guitar—successfully came to an end. At first, we were equally excited and nervous about how the combination would sound. However, once rehearsals began, we were pleasantly surprised by how naturally the instruments blended together.
Hearing the shamisen fit so well into rock and blues styles completely changed my perception of the instrument.
Despite the freezing winds sweeping through the open plaza, all four stages were completed without issue. Once the performance began, the cold somehow faded into the background—well, at least a little.
It was clear that many audience members were hearing this instrumental combination for the first time. Their expressions of surprise quickly turned into enjoyment, which was wonderful to witness. During the evening performances, the illuminated setting added another layer of beauty to the experience.
Mr. Ogura’s MC brought laughter, hand clapping, and even singing from the crowd, making it a joy to perform on stage. Thank you so much to everyone who braved the cold. I sincerely hope we can bring this collaboration to life again.
Takurou Yamashita
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I truly enjoyed performing with full energy. The sound system was excellent, the illuminations were stunning, and it was easy to feel how much the audience was enjoying themselves.
Looking at the crowd while playing, I was struck by how happy everyone looked—that left a strong impression on me.
I’ve performed with guitar many times before, but the harmony with the clarinet was especially interesting. Its tone blended beautifully with the shamisen, creating a unique and compelling sound. I would absolutely love to perform again with this group.
Seizan Ogura
