I want to enjoy it because it's summer! 7 Kanagawa music events you can go to with your kids [Part 1]

August 6th (Sat) Organ Summer Vacation Children’s Special

Pipe organ in front of the stage in the small hall. Photography: Hiroshi Togo

An organ concert titled ``Organ Summer Vacation Children's Special'' will be held at Kanagawa Kenmin Hall. The pipe organ, which produces sound by blowing air through its pipes, has a wide variety of tones that are so appealing that it is sometimes referred to as a ``one-piece orchestra.''
The pipe organ at Kanagawa Prefectural Hall is said to have the longest history among public halls in Japan. It was installed in 1975! Since then, it has undergone repeated maintenance and improvements, and now captivates visitors with its powerful, rich tones.

Organist Keiko Nakata will let you hear the rich sound.

The performer at this concert will be Keiko Nakata, an organist who has won a prize at an international organ competition. You can fully enjoy the lightly extending yet magnificent sound of the organ.

There is also a trial corner after the concert. There are programs that will help you understand the appeal of the organ, such as a model display that shows you how an organ works, and an experience where you can get on stage and make organ sounds (for junior high school students and younger).

A pipe organ produces sound by vibrating the air.

When you press the keys on an organ, you will see that air flows through the pipes and the vibrations produce sound. This rare and valuable experience will become your summer memory!

A look at the previous experience corner. You can also play the organ pipes.

Location : Kanagawa Kenmin Hall Small Hall (about 8 minutes walk from exit 3 of Nihon-Odori Station on the Minato Mirai Line, about 15 minutes walk from Kannai Station on the JR/Yokohama Municipal Subway)
Address : 3-1 Yamashita-cho, 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-child ticket 1,500 yen)
Click here for details → http://www.kanagawa-kenminhall.com/detail?id=34378

*Note: Organ experience is limited to a small amount per person. Please note that it is not possible to perform one song.

August 6th (Saturday) Rooftop Garden Concert Wayang Shadow Puppet Show from Bali, Indonesia Dragon Pulling Battle in the Sea of Milk - Churning of the Sea of Milk -

At the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall, which is directly connected to Minato Mirai Station, the ``Shadow Puppet Show Wayang'', which has been passed down from ancient times on the Indonesian island of Bali, will be held again this year.

Wayang is a traditional performing art performed by puppets made of elaborately carved cowhide.

This puppet show, in which a puppeteer called a dalan manipulates puppets to the unique gamelan music and narrates passages from the ancient epic Mahabharata, is a secretly popular program that some families participate in every year. What's interesting is the venue.

The children are always intrigued by the movements of the daran (puppet master) behind the scenes!

The puppet show is held in the rooftop garden above the hall. It's an open space with a very pleasant evening breeze, and you can eat and drink as you please.
You can immerse yourself in the play from the front, go to the back to watch Daran manipulating the puppets, or get off your chair and sit on the grass. Wayang allows you to relax and watch in your own free style.

Daran is said to be a respected figure in Bali, as he is well-versed in all kinds of stories and knowledge.

Previous participants said, ``It was fun! 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 was able to experience theater from a different culture. I'm very happy," comments like "I'm very happy."

Even though it's outdoors, there are walls on the left and right, so you can easily hear the sound and concentrate on your enjoyment.

This year's wayang performance is "Changing the Sea of Milk." This is an exciting and suspenseful story in which gods and monsters fight over the sacred water of immortality, Amrita, which lies deep in the ocean. Who will pull the dragon that wraps around the huge mountain, stir the ocean of milk, and get the holy water Amrita? ?

Location : Yokohama Minatomirai Hall Rooftop Garden (Small Hall in case of rain)
(About 3 minutes walk from Minato Mirai Station on the Minato Mirai Line)
Address : 2-3-6 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama
Phone : Yokohama Minatomirai 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 are free, 500 yen for ages 3 to elementary school students, 1,000 yen for junior high and high school students, 2,000 yen for university students and above *Free for children under 3 years old

For more information → http://www.yaf.or.jp/mmh/recommend/2016/04/post-217.php

August 9th (Tuesday) Collaboration between Pikachu and the Fire Band

"Pikachu Massive Outbreak! ~This time it's going to get wet???~" will be held in the Yokohama Minato Mirai area again this year. Event period: August 7th (Sunday) to 14th (Sunday)
A total of 1,000 Pikachus, which are very popular among children and adults alike, will appear throughout the city during the festival, holding various shows, parades, and various performances.

And speaking of kids in the summer, it's time to play in the water!
From August 9th (Tuesday), the "Soaked Splash Show" will begin at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.

A large amount of water fired from the water cannon and Pikachu's performance. Just by imagining it, you can see the bright smiles on the children's faces!

For more information → http://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/splash_pikachu/

There will be a performance by the Yokohama City Fire Band from 12:00 on Tuesday, August 9th, so be sure to enjoy the performance as well.

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

August 13th (Sat) Keiko Mitsuhashi's "New ☆ Summer Vacation Orchestra!" Everyone's Exciting Edition

Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall was the first public facility in Japan to open as a dedicated music hall. At the time of its opening, this hall's acoustics were acclaimed as having the ``best sound in the East,'' and the acoustics of this hall are still highly praised both domestically and internationally. Orchestra concerts for children are held in this authentic music hall.

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

This year is the 6th time this ``experience-based concert for children'' has been planned. Performers include Keiko Mitsuhashi, a conductor 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 in the world. He is a gorgeous member.

Conductor Keiko Mitsuhashi will introduce you to the highlights while giving a fun talk. (Photographer: Junpei Osugi)

Even families who are not familiar with orchestras can enjoy the show with confidence, as Mr. Mitsuhashi will happily introduce the highlights.

There are many different corners where you can go up on stage and listen to music right next to the instruments, there is a corner where you can actually experience the orchestra's instruments, and after the performance you can interact with the performers! Children's eyes sparkle as they experience music that uses all their five senses.

Last year's musical instrument experience. They will kindly teach you how to play an instrument even if it is your first time playing it. (Photo: Satoshi Aoyagi)

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

Why not give it a try, not only for children who are naturally interested in classical music and musical instruments, but also for families who have never been to an orchestra concert before.

Location : Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall (about 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 1,000 yen for elementary school students, 1,500 yen for junior high and high school students, 3,500 yen for adults

For more details → http://www.kanagawa-ongakudo.com/detail?id=34262

Sunday, August 14th Hama no JACK Summer Performance 2016 Family Chamber Music Concert “Russia”

“Hama no JACK” is active mainly in Yokohama. It is an NPO founded by NHK Symphony Orchestra violinist Haruhiko Mimata and other friends, and continues to carry out activities such as holding concerts for children and people with disabilities.

Scenes from Hama's JACK concert in 2013.

This time, the ``Summer Performance 2016 Family Chamber Music Concert ``Russia'''' will be held at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall, and we will be performing famous Russian songs that you are sure to have heard somewhere.
The first half is a solo song for the instruments used on this day. You can enjoy the simple tones of cello, violin, viola, etc. with their beautiful melodies.
In the second half, the famous "Nutcracker" will be played along with a recitation by voice actor Kazuki Murayama.

Experience musical instruments after the performance. It seems that many children are able to produce good sounds because they are taught properly.

This is a dream-filled story about a nutcracker given as a Christmas present that comes to life in the middle of the night and protects you. There are many songs that are slightly comical, thrilling, and fun, making it an attractive program that even small children can easily understand.
After the concert, you'll be able to try out the instruments, so be sure to try them out and hear the sounds.

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

For more information → http://www.yaf.or.jp/mmh/recommend/2016/08/-83jack2014.php

Furthermore, there are plenty of music events happening in Kanagawa Prefecture even into September!
Click here for the second part ⇒ I want to enjoy it because it's summer! 7 music events in Kanagawa that you can go to with your kids [Part 2]