Fusako Watanabe, music teacher and koto virtuoso, plays Harue Momoyama’s (桃山晴衣) ‘Kimi ga Aiseshi Ayaigasa’ (君が愛せし綾藺笠) at her residence in Chigasaki City.
One of the privileges of friendship is a free ticket to their performances. In this recital, the audience is composed of only two people: the videographer and his partner.
I felt it was a kind of command performance – not by virtue of one’s status in the society but by sheer love of traditional music and friendship.
The virtuoso generously extended an invitation to my person to witness a private recital. She performed three long pieces. In between, there was a 15-minute intermission. She also gave us the privilege to pluck the 13-stringed instrument (a treasure – it cost almost a million yen) and learned some phrases from ‘Sakura, sakura.’
It was followed by a lovely dinner and a conversation that lasted until we had had enough drinks. It was a duet of traditional music and traditional hospitality.
