‘Japan-Vietnam Day 2012’ will be held at the Youth Cultural House in Ho Chi Minh City on July 8.
The event will include a series of cultural activities such as Japanese folk games, performances of traditional costumes and cosplay (dressing up as animated characters), and introducing Study in Japan.
A music concert featuring Japanese acoustic guitarist Aki and harp player Kuniko is one of the highlights of the event.
Local singers like Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Vu, Hien Thuc, Noo Phuoc Thinh, the V.Music band, will join the event.
The guitar and harp duo from Japan were established in 2002. They have performed in many concerts in and outside Japan. They released two albums, HA–AKI & KUNIKO in 2003 and Over the Top in 2006.
Acclaimed by music critics, they have been described as a “creative innovative musical partnership” and having “original, genre defying work.” In their first-ever tour in Vietnam, AKI & KUNIKO will participate in the ‘Japan Day’ event at the Youth Cultural House in HCMC.
Acoustic guitarist Aki graduated from the Department of Cinema in the College of Art in Nihon University in Japan. He has produced many albums. His song “How I Feel Now” was ranked as number one in the Jazz section on MP3.com in the US in 2009. He currently serves as a producer at Harvest Moon Record.
Japanese harp player Kuniko received a master’s degree in traditional Japanese music at the Graduate School of Music of Tokyo University of the Arts. She has given recitals since 1990 and been invited to concerts overseas. She has also appeared in several TV programs on NHK and served as a lecturer at training classes for music teachers. Kuniko is now Grand Master of Miyagi Koto School.
The guitar and harp duo will give a performance at the Vietnam National Academy of Music in Hanoi on July 9-10.
