Have fun in the summer! 7 Kanagawa music events you can go to with your kids [Part 1]

August 6th (Saturday) Organ Summer Holiday Children's Special

The pipe organ at the front of the stage in the small hall. Photo: Hiroshi Togo

The Kanagawa Prefectural Civic Hall will be hosting an organ concert entitled "Organ Summer Holiday Children's Special." The pipe organ, which produces sound by blowing air into the pipes, is known as an "orchestra played by a single instrument" because of its diverse range of sounds.
The pipe organ at Kanagawa Prefectural Civic Hall is said to be the oldest of any public hall in Japan. It was installed in 1975! Since then, it has undergone repeated maintenance and improvements, and its powerful, rich tone continues to captivate visitors.

Organist Keiko Nakata will be entertaining us with the rich sound of the instrument.

The performance at this concert will be by Keiko Nakata, an organist who has won an international organ competition. You can fully enjoy the organ's light, flowing, and magnificent sound.

After the concert, there is an experience corner where you can learn about the charms of the organ, such as a model exhibit that shows how the organ works and the opportunity to go up on stage and make sounds on the organ (for junior high school students and younger).

A pipe organ produces sound through air vibrations.

When you press the organ keys, you will hear the air flowing through the pipes, which vibrate to produce sound. This is a rare and precious experience that will surely become a memorable summer memory!

A glimpse of the experience corner from the previous time. You can even play the organ pipes.

Location : Kanagawa Prefectural Hall Small Hall (approximately 8 minutes walk from Exit 3 of Nihon-Odori Station on the Minatomirai Line, approximately 15 minutes walk from Kannai Station on the JR and Yokohama Municipal Subway)
Address : 3-1 Yamashitacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone : Ticket Kanagawa 0570-015-415 (10:00-18:00)
Performance date and time : Saturday, August 6, 2016, 14:00 start (doors open at 13:30)

Ticket price : All seats reserved 800 yen (parent and child ticket 1,500 yen)

*Please note: The organ experience is limited to one person per lesson. Please note that you may not be able to play a whole song.

August 6th (Sat) Rooftop Garden Concert Indonesia, Bali Shadow Puppet Theater Wayang Dragon Pulling Battle in the Ocean of Milk ~ Churning of the Ocean of Milk ~

The Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall, which is directly connected to Minato Mirai Station, will once again be hosting Wayang, a shadow puppet show that has been passed down since ancient times on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Wayang is a traditional performing art performed by puppets intricately carved from cowhide.

This puppet show, in which a puppeteer called a dalang manipulates puppets to the unique music of the gamelan and recites a passage from the ancient epic poem "Mahabharata," is a hidden popular program that some families participate in every year. What's interesting is the venue.

The children are always fascinated by the movements of the dalang (puppeteer) behind the scenes!

The puppet show takes place in the rooftop garden above the hall. It's an open space where you can feel the pleasant evening breeze, and you're free to eat, drink, and sit wherever you like.
You can enjoy wayang in a relaxed and free style, whether you want to immerse yourself in the performance from the front, go around to the back to watch the dalang controlling the puppets, or get off your chair and sit on the grass.

Darangs, who are well versed in all kinds of stories and knowledge, are revered figures in Bali.

Comments from previous participants include, "It was great! I want to go again," "It wasn't too formal, so it was perfect for a summer performance," and "It felt like I was in Bali. I'm really glad I got to experience watching theater from a different culture."

Even though it's outdoors, there are walls on both sides so it's easy to hear the sound and enjoy the experience with concentration.

This year's Wayang piece is "Churning the Ocean of Milk." It's an exciting and thrilling story about gods and demons fighting over the "holy water of immortality, Amrita," which lies deep in the ocean. Who will be able to pull the dragon wrapped around a giant mountain, churn the ocean of milk, and get the holy water, Amrita?!

Location : Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall Rooftop Garden (Small Hall in case of rain)
(3 minutes walk from Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai Line)
Address : 2-3-6 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama
Telephone : Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall Ticket Center 045-682-2000
Performance date and time : Saturday, August 6, 2016, 18:30 start (Doors open at 18:00, scheduled to end at 20:30)

Ticket price : All seats open. 500 yen for ages 3 to elementary school, 1,000 yen for junior and senior high school students, 2,000 yen for university students and above. *Free for ages 3 and under

August 9th (Tuesday) Pikachu and Fire Department Band Collaboration

"Pikachu Outbreak! ~This time we're going to get wet???~" will be held again this year in the Yokohama Minato Mirai area. Event period: August 7th (Sun) to 14th (Sun)
Pikachu, who is hugely popular with children and adults alike, will appear all over the city in total of 1,000 during the event, putting on a variety of shows, processions, and performances.

And when it comes to kids in the summer, playing in the water is the best!
Starting on Tuesday, August 9th, the "Soaking Wet Splash Show" will begin at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.

Just imagining the huge amount of water being fired from the water cannon and Pikachu's performance brings to mind the beaming smiles on the children's faces!

Starting at 12:00 on Tuesday, August 9th, there will be a performance by the Yokohama City Fire Department Band, so be sure to come and enjoy the music.

Location : Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Event Square
Address : 1-1 Shinko, Naka Ward, Yokohama City
Performance date and time : August 9th from 12:00
Price : Free

August 13th (Saturday) Keiko Mitsuhashi's "New Summer Vacation Orchestra!" Exciting for Everyone

Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall was the first public facility in Japan to open as a dedicated music hall. When it first opened, the acoustics of this hall were highly praised as "the best in the East," and they are still highly regarded both in Japan and overseas. An orchestra concert for children will be held in this authentic music hall.

You can listen to the orchestra on stage. You can almost feel the power of the music. (Photo: Satoshi Aoyagi)

This year marks the sixth time that this "experiential concert for children" has been planned. The performers include conductor Keiko Mitsuhashi, who was selected as one of the "100 Japanese people respected by the world" by Newsweek Japan magazine in 2009, Gen Yokosaka (cello), and the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, all of whom are active around the world.

Conductor Keiko Mitsuhashi will introduce the highlights of the piece while engaging in some fun conversation. (Photo: Junpei Osugi)

Even family members who are not very familiar with orchestras can enjoy the concert with peace of mind, as Mitsuhashi will entertainingly introduce the highlights of the concert.

There are many different corners, such as going up on stage to listen to music up close to the instruments, actually trying out the orchestra's instruments, and interacting with the performers after the show! The children's eyes sparkle as they experience music using all five senses.

Last year's musical instrument experience. Even if it was their first time handling an instrument, they were kind enough to teach them. (Photo: Satoshi Aoyagi)

Last year's instrument experience session (Photo: Satoshi Aoyagi)

This is a must-see for families who have never been to an orchestra concert before, as well as children who are already interested in classical music and instruments.

Location : Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall (10 minutes walk from JR/Yokohama Municipal Subway Sakuragicho Station)
Address : 9-2 Momijigaoka, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone : Ticket Kanagawa 0570-015-415 (10:00-18:00)
Performance date and time : Saturday, August 13, 2016, 15:00 start (doors open at 14:30)

Ticket price : All seats reserved. Elementary school students 1,000 yen, junior and senior high school students 1,500 yen, adults 3,500 yen

August 14th (Sun) Hama no JACK Summer Performance 2016 Family Chamber Music Concert "Russia"

"Hama no JACK" is an NPO based in Yokohama that was established by NHK Symphony Orchestra violinist Haruhiko Mimata and his friends, and continues to hold concerts for children and people with disabilities.

A scene from the JACK concert in Hama in 2013.

The "Summer Performance 2016 Family Chamber Music Concert 'Russia'" to be held at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall will feature famous Russian pieces that you are sure to have heard somewhere before.
The first half of the concert features solo pieces for the instruments being used on the day, such as the cello, violin, and viola, and you can enjoy the simple tones of each instrument along with beautiful melodies.
In the second half, the famous "Nutcracker" will be performed accompanied by a reading by voice actor Kazuki Murayama.

After the show, the children have the chance to try out instruments. They receive proper instruction, so many of them are able to make good sounds.

This is a dreamlike story about a nutcracker given as a Christmas gift that comes to life in the middle of the night to protect the child. It is a charming performance that is easy to understand even for small children, with many humorous, suspenseful and fun songs.
You'll also be able to try out the instruments after the concert, so be sure to give it a try and hear the sound.

Venue : Yokohama Minatomirai Hall Small Hall (approximately 3 minutes walk from Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai Line)
Address : 2-3-6 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama
Telephone : Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall Ticket Center 045-682-2000 (10:00-18:00)
Performance date and time : Saturday, August 14, 2016, 14:00 start (doors open 13:30, performance ends at 15:45)
Ticket price : All seats open, 3 years old to university students 500 yen, adults 2,000 yen

In addition, there are plenty of music events happening in Kanagawa Prefecture even in September!