Mesmerising concert

The recent music showcases featuring Japanese minyo group Mikage Project and Malaysian asli singer Asmidar were a celebration of the rich tradition and cultural heritage from both countries.

Held at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre in Bandar Utama, Selangor, the Mikage Project Asean Tour with Asmidar concert also entertained music fans in honour of the 50th Asean-Japan Friendship and Cooperation anniversary.

The 90-minute show saw the trio of musicians from Mikage Project — Sato Kouki, Asano Sho and Honma Takashi — performing on the shakuhachi, shinobue, ohayashi, Tsugaru shamisen, 25-string koto and percussion instruments.

Together with Asmidar's mellifluous vocals, the audience witnessed unique adaptations of Japanese and Malay classic folk songs from Kokiriko Bushi to Puteri Santubong.

Mikage, which means divine spirit in the Japanese language, is an apt name for the music group dedicated to modernising Japanese ancestral folk songs.

A day before the concert, Mikage Project also performed at Dewan Seri Budiman, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, which was a by-invitation-only affair.