Japanese music from another angle

Japanese music today falls easily into two categories. Either it is rooted in it's traditional past, or it attempts to emulate (usually not very successfully) western styles. There is a certain lack of creativity in either approach. Mikako Mihashi is a singer songwriter working in Tokyo, Japan, who is attempting to forge new directions for music in Japan. She was born near Sapporo, in Hokkaido, which is the northern island of Japan, and inherited an appreciation for Ainu music, and other traditional folk styles. Her music blends elements of japanese traditional music, asian folk music, and western music in a unique way. The emphasis is on creativity rather than emulation.

She is involved in several experimental projects including Sohonzan, Kitchen Drinkers, and Ringam. Each presents a different face of japanese music, merging traditional styles with jazz, pop, and even punk elements. She has performed with many famous japanese and western musicians, including John Zorn and the japanese tradional drum ensemble, Kodo.

This website is a multimedia based presentatation of her music and art. The site uses Shockwave, Flash, and Real Audio and Video. Live audio and video sample are available on the site. To fully appreciate this site, at least the Flash 4 plugin is required.

This website is available in english and japanese versions. Click on the appropriate link below to enter.